The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1876-08-19 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

DOUBLE EXECUTION AT LIVERPOOL.  On Monday morning, at eight o'clock, another double execution—the third within two years—took place at Kirkdale Gaol, Liverpool, the culprits being William Fish, the Blackburn murderer, and Richard Thompson, a Liverpool stonemason. Fish's crime was committed on the 28th March, and was of so brutal a nature as to cause a deep sensation throughout the country. The murder for which the other prisoner suffered was that of a labourer in Liverpool, named John Henry Blundell, by stabbing, and was entirely unprovoked. Nevertheless, a petition was got up on his behalf, and, after being signed by a number of persons, including several clergymen, was forwarded to the Home Secretary. Mr. Cross, however, intimated that aftor full consideration of the memorial and the circumstances of the murder, he was unable to discover sufficient grounds to justify him in advising interference with the due course of the law. Both prisoners listened with patience and earnestness to the administrations of the Rev. Mr. Pigott, Protestant chaplain, and appeared to resign themselves to their fate. Fish was particularly docile, owing, perhaps, to his deficiency of mental power. As the clock struck eight, the culprits and the prison officials came out of the pioning room in a short and solemn procession. Fish was very weak, and mounted the steps of the scaffold with difficulty, notwithstanding the assistance of the warders. Thompson, who was a man of 21, and of great physique and power, was more composed and firmer, but nothing approaching to bravado was observable in his demeanour. The Two men were placed under the beam by Marwood, the executioner, the nooses were adjusted, the caps drawn over the faces, and the legs pinioned, during which process—an apparently long and tedious one—the culprits both uttered short and rapid sentences of prayer. Then the executioner stepped back, and they were left standing apart for one tnoment, when, with a loud shock, the bolt was drawn, and the prisoners fell. In the case of Thompson a fall of about six feet was given, but Fish's rope was nearly a foot longer, he being a lighter man. Death was instantaneous in each case, no movement beyond the usual convulsive tremor. Both prisoners slept pretty well during the night, and, after a light breakfast, received the Holy Communion from the chaplain. A large number of persons had assembled outside the gaol, although they could see nothing of what was passing within. A black flag was run up immediately after the execution. After hanging an hour the bodies were cut down, and an inquest was held ,by Mr. C. E. Driffield. coroner. Major Leggett, the governor, and Dr. Hendry, acting surgeon, gave evidence, and the latter gentleman, in reply to the Coroner, said the use of the long drop made death instantaneous, by causing a dislocation of the vertebrae. Some further questions were put as to the nature of death by suffocation and dislocation, and the Coroner remarked that he had arrived at the conclusion that the use of the long arop was not a strict carrying out of the sentence of the law, which provided that the prisoners must be "hung by the neck" until he died. He requested the Governer to communicate this to the authorities.  On rriday, a monument was erected in the south transcept of Dumferline Abbey, to the memory of the Lady Augusta Stanley. It is composed of a bas relief cut in white maelle, from a beautiful design by Miss Mary Grant, of London. In the central panel there is a figure representing Lady Augusta Stanley being carried upward by an angelic group. During the holding of a meeting of Irishmen at Glasgow, on Saturday, in favour of the liberation of the imprisoned F.enians, great excitement was occasioned owing to a boy being wounded by a bullet, believed to brivo been discharged by some volunleel v.L.L practising in the vicinity. The mob seivd the rifles belonging to the volunteers, and are said to have used considerable violence to some of the men.  The Hon. and Rev. Horatio Powys, Bishop of Soder and Man, has announced his intention to resign his see at the close of tne present year. His lordship has been in failing health for some time, and has resided at Bourne mouth for upwards of two years. Efforts will be made by a party in the local legislature to reduce the income of the see and increase that of the clergy. The governor of the island intimated some time ago that he had advised the bishop not to resign, in order that this legislation might be accomplished before his successor could be appointed.