The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1875-04-03 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF THE SHORNCLIFFE  MURDERER.  John Morgan, a young soldier, was executed on Tuesday morning, at nine o'clock, at the County Gaol, Maidstone, for the murder of a comrade at Shorncliffe Camp under very extraordinary circumstances. The offence for which the prisoner suffered was only committed on the evening of the 6th of March, he was committed for trial on the following Monday to the assizes for the county, which commenced on that day, and on the following Thursday after a long investigation the jury found him guilty of the offence. Theca,se was a somewhat remarkable one. The prisoner and the deceased, about his own age, did-not appear to have had any quarrel, and no motive appeared to be assigned for the commission of the terrible deed. It appeared, however, that on the night in question the prisoner, the deceased, and two drummer boys, were in one of the huts at the camp, the only other person present being another soldier, who was on his bed, but so drunk that he had not the slightest cognisance of the terrible act that was being committed before his eyes. The prisoner then appeared to have gone to a shelf where a razor was kept, and the evidence went to show that he attacked the deceased from behind, and inflicted no fewer than eleven fearful wounds upon his neck and face. The unfortunate man had sufficient strength to stagger into an adjoining hut, but as the windpipe was severed he was unable. to speak. He, however, made signs for writing materials to be brought to him, and he had just sufficient strength to write upon a piece of paper the words, "John Morgan done this just now ; " and when the prisoner came into the hut, he pointed at him in a solemn manner and expired. This was really the principal point against the prisoner, but this paper, by the rules of evidence, was excluded from the jury. It appeared, however, that no one else was present, and the surgeon expressed an opinion that it was physically impossible for the deceased to have inflicted such injuries as he had sustained with his own hand. There was this remarkable piece of evidence in addition, that it being Proved that the prisoner had sent the two boys out of the but upon different pretences, one ot them happened, accidentally, to turn his head round as he passed the window of the hut, and saw the prisoner in the at of reaching down the razor from the shelf where it was kept.  For some time after his conviction the prisoner persisted in asserting that he was innocent, but within the last few days it appears that he has admitted to the Rev. Mr. Harrison, the chaplain of the prison, that he committed the crime, and he also divulged the motive, but only upon the condition that it should never be made known. With some difficulty the chaplain appears to have obtained the consent of the prisoner that the motive for the crime should be divulged to the Secretary of State, but he insisted that on no condition it should be divulged to any other person.  The prisoner, who was a healthy, strong young man, did not appear to have realised his awful position until within the last few days, but as the day for his execution approached, he seemed to feel his position, and he several times expressed to the chaplain and others about him his deep sorrow at having deprived a fellow creature of life.  The prisoner was visited on Sunday by his father for the last time. He has been an old soldier. The prisoner requested him to give some photographs that nacl been taken of him in the gaol to some of his comrades at the camp, and he was promised that this should be done.  At a few minutes before nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, Mr. Breman, the acting 'Under Sheriff, arrived at the prison, and the prisoner was soon afterwards pinioned. He exhibited extraordinary firmness to the laßt. He was attended to the scaffold by the Rev. Mr. Harrison and the schoolmaster of the prison, and he did not utter a word while the rope was being adjusted. When the drop fell he appeared to be dead almost instantaneously. _ _ _ _  The black flag was Twisted, and the usual formalities were gone through, an d in the course of he day the body was buried in the yard where the execution took place.