Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1892-04-30 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE CHILD MURDER AT BRIGHTON.  EXECUTION OF WOOD.  George Henry Wood, the Brighton murderer, was hanged at Lewes Gaol ouTuesday morning, Billingt 311 being the executioner. Wood was a mile ay porter, and the crime of which he was convicted was so revolting in character, and created such widespread Indignation, that the facts will doubtless be fresh In the minds of many. Very early one morning in December last a workman visited a shed in a field In the east end of Brighton, and was horrified to discover there the dead body of a little girl. The unfortunate child proved to be Edith Jeal, only E years of age, the daughter of a Brighton labourer. She had apparently been violated and then brutally murdered. Suspicion fell upon Wood, and he was arrested, and charged with the crime. It was 'hewn that he had been regarded as a steady, respectable man, and, indeed, a teetotaller, but witnesses came forward who deposed that on the night prior to the murder he was under the influence of drink, was sent away from his work in consequence, and was subsequently seen to accost a child. On this and other circumstantial evidence the accused was committed for trial. The indictment was heard at Lewes Assires, and eventually Wood was found guilty, and sentence of death was passed.. During his subsequent incarceration the condemned man wrote a pathetic letter to his parents, in which he asserted that the events of the fatal night were a perfect blank in his mind. He earnestly repeated this statement to these in attendance upon him. A petition praying for Wood's reprieve was forwarded to the Home Secretary, and the governor of the gaol informed the culprit that, If this application proved unsuccessful, the sentence would be carried out on Tuesday. The prisoner was much overcome, and wept bitterly, but was not, apparently, without some gleam of hope; but on Sunday last it was announced that the Home Secretary declined to interfere with the sentence, and that the law must take its course. Shortly before this announcement was made Wood had been visited by his father and other relatives, and the scene was of a most affecting character. The condemned man was seen on Monday by his father and relatives,and the interview, which lasted about a quarter of an hour, was naturally of a painful character. The culprit slept fairly well at night, and rose soon after 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning. lie partook of breakfast, consisting of coffee, bread and butter and an egg, and was subsequently visited by the Rev. B. Wilkinson, Congregational minister, who had been frequently in attendance upon him since his condemnation. Shortly before 9 o'clock Billingten entered the condemned man's cell, and pinioned the prisoner, a process to which Wood submitted quietly. A procession was then formed, and marched slowly. to the scaffold, which had been erected in an exercise-art, Mr. Wilkinson reading the opening sentences of the Burial Service as the party walked along. Wood, who looked exceedingly pale, was supported by two warders, but he walked with great firmness. Billington quickly placed the rope round his neck, the minister meanwhile conUnsung to read the Burial Service, and as the sentence "in the midst of life we are in death " was reached Billington drew the bolt and Wood instantly disappeared into the pit. The execution was earned out in an extremely prompt manner, scarcely two minutes elapsing from the time the procession left the rid] until the drop fell.