Widnes Examiner. — 1886-08-14 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE ASHTON POISONER. Mary Ann Britland, c.indemned to death at the last Manchester Assizes for the murder of Mary Dixon, at Ashton-under-Lyne. was executed on Monday morning within Strangeways Gaol, Manchester. Berry was the executioner. The woman was partly pinioned within :he cell, from which she was conducted to the scaffold a few minutes before eight. She was much distressed, and as she walked across the corridor was supported by two female warders, the male warders coming behind. She was accompanied by the chaplain, reading the burial service, and the usual gaol officials, and the execution was witnessed also by a magistrate from Ashton and four reporters. The scene as the procession moved to the scaffold was very painful. The voice of the chaplain, as he read the usual prayers, was drowned by the screams of the woman, "Oh, Lord, have mercy! Oh, Lord, forgive m, ! " she piteously cried out. While standing on the scffild Mrs. Britlend was supPortsd by the warders, who left her side just before the drawing of the bolt. When once en the scaffold the necessary details were at once completed. and when the bolt fell the woman appeared to die instantly. A drop of seven feet bad been allow, d. T,e woman is reported to have made a full confession of her guilt of the first crime, and when asked by some reletivi s who visited her on Saturday whether she had done away with tier husband and daughter she hung her head and did not deny it. During Sunday night the convict, who I,el listened to the ministrations of the prison chaplain wit'i gratitude, was greatly excited, and at midnight she was heard singing snatches of hymns. On Monday morning, when offered refreshment she was unable to take it.  Teta TRADES UNION CONGRESS —The ".Final Notice" of the Nineteenth Annum Trades Union Congrese, which is to be held at Hull on Monday, September 6, and five following days, together with the " Ptoposed Parliamentary Programnie for the Session 1886," was issued by the Parliamentary Coenmittee of the Congress on Saturday. APpended to the " Final Notice " is first "The Order of Business," which is as follows :—" 1. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee will take the chair at 12 o'clock prompt on September 6th. 2. Election of officers for the Congress. 3. Election of Standing Orders Committee. 4. Parliamentary Committee's Report. 5. Reports of Standing Orders Committee on the credentials of delegates. 6. Prestdent's opening address." The following is the "Proposed Parliamentary Programme for the Session of 1886" :—" 1. Employers' Liability Act (1880.) 2. Certificates of competency for men in charge of steam engines and boilers. 3. The -desirability of increasing the numher of factory and workshops inspectors. 4. The right of the relatives of deceased miners to be represented at coroners' inquests. 5. Co-operation and i.e rehtion to trade unionism. 6. li, presentation of labour in Parliament. 7. Codification of the criminal law. 8. Codification of the laws summarily administered in petty sessions. 9. Reform of the land laws. 10. Public inquiry into sudden and accidental deaths in Scotland. IL Mines reguletnon reform. 12. Law of Distraint Amendment Bill." In a footnote it is stated that the programme in relation to subjects to be discussed "is not foal, and can be aAded to or amended as the Congress may think fit," providing the questions to be submitted are "in harmony with the conduct of the Congress."