Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1881-12-03 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE EXECUTION OF LEFILOY,  THE FINAL SCENE.  Percy Lefroy Mapleton, or " Lefroy," as he has been more generally named, was executed at Lewes Gaol on Tuesday morning for the murder of Mr. Isaac Gold on the Brighton Railway on the 27th of June. The last sentence of the law was carried out in the presence of the usual officials and a few representatives of the Press. Precautions had been taken to preserve order, and prevent any undue assemblage in the immediate vicinity of the prison, but these proved almost unnecessary, as but few persons were to be seen round the prison gates when the black flag was hoisted. The gaol is situated on an eminence a short distance from the town of Lewes, on the Brighton road, and commands a fine view of the South Downs and the valley of the Ouse as far as the harbour of Newhaven. As the mist lifted on Tuesday morning this beautiful paw> rams was unfolded to those whose melancholy errand lay with one who would never see the sun rim again in this mortal existence. The convict Lefroy 'passed a comparatively quiet night, and slept for several hours. In the morning he appeared calm- and resigned. He rose soon after six o'clock and was shortly after visited by the chaplain, who conversed and prayed with him for some time. The condemned man partook of a light breakfast. Mr. Bull, the under sheriff, arrived at the gaol at a quarter past eight o'clock. The representatives of the press, about a dozen in number, were admitted to the gaol at halfpast eight o'clock. As the day advanced the sun came out, lifting the chilly mists off the surrounding hills and valleys, and affording a magnificent view of the peaceful Sussex Downs. The wind fell, and the day gave every promise of being a splendid one, so that the convict saw the last of earth when in its most solacing guise. No movement was made until a quarter to nine, when the prison bell commenced tolling. With its first sharp mournful sound, ringing oat clear and sharp, the last sad preparations were begun. The governor, Captain Crickett, deputy governor, Mr. Varr, and the under sheriff, Mr. Bull, entered the cell Cif the condemned man. Lefroy at the time was engaged with the chaplain in prayer. The representatives of the press were thereafter admitted through the interior of the gaol yard to the north-east yard. There they found Marwood waiting with the pinioning straps in his hand. He saluted several of the gentlemen as they entered, and subsequently explained the formation of the new scaffold. The structure in question is on a level with the ground, and a pit had been dug underneath to allow for the nine feet drop which Marwood said he had arranged for. A descent to the pit was afforded by a brick stairway about twenty feet to the left of the scaffold. The convict's grave was lying open awaiting his remains. At five minutes to nine, Marwood entered the cell and pinioned the prisoner. Lefroy made little or no signs of showing any interest in the proceeding, hippeering in a hall dazed state. It took Marwood but a couple of minutes to complete this portion of his task, so that at precisely one minute to nine the mournful procession emerged from the prison, thc chaplain reading the Buiial Service for the dead in a loud, although tremulous yoke, The sad cortege was