Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-12-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

IMPORTANT CONTE'. SION BY THE CULPRIT. . . On Tuesday morning, ELnly WainwriAt was executed in the pribon of Newgate, for the murder of Harriet Lane in Whiteohapel, in September of last year, under circumstances which wil be perfectly fresh in the minds of our readers. A large number' of  persons asi.embled at the prison a fall hour before he time which had been fixed by the Sheriff for carrying out the sentence. Outside the gaol there was nothing to be seen, but morbid curiosity caused slime hundreds of persona to gather at seven o'clock, and to wait until eight o'clock, in order to see hoisted the black flag, which ann runced that Henry Wainwright had expiated a foul murder. Inside the prison the preparations commenced early. The scaffold is in the chapel yaid, and stands at right angles with the position in which the drop used when executions were publicly cohincted occupied. It stands on a level with the fldor of the yard, which has been exaavatedtathe depth of about eight feet to allow for a drop which shall .ensure the painless and almost InsMitanlions death of the culprits whose fate it may ughpppily be to die the deaths of murderers.  Shortly before eight o'clock the bell of St. Sepulchre's cammenoed to toll, and as occakei/ally warders passed to anti fro 'in the Moan yara, one corner of which was occupied by the scaffold, the suspense existing in the minds of the spectators became almost unendurable. The rope which, we may remaik, was of unasualthickness, was attached to some dozen links of a stout chain, and dangled over the platform on which the culprit was presently to stand.  A few seconds after the clock had struck eight, a door in the western corner of the yard was opened, and Marwood the executioner emerged, walking side by side with Wainwright and followed by Mr Sidney Smith, Governor A Newgate ; the Rev. Lloyd Jones, ordinary; the Sheriff, Under Sherriff, and from warders.  Wainwright was dressed in the clothes which he wore on his trial, and consisted of a black frock coat and vest with striped trousers, .and patent leather boots. He seemed the least concerned of the group, and betrayed no sign of the almost sleepless uight which he had passed, or fear of tie fearful doom which was impending, During the night he had slept little, and in answer to the question of the warder he that morning said "It matters little how I rested during the night, as I am about to enter upon a long sleep." Taking a brief glance at the chain dangling loose, Wainwright placed himself upon the drop, and the ordinary commenced reading that part of the Burial Service, which is used on these occasions. While this was proceeding Marwood took the culprit in hand and made the last dread preparations. In the first place, he drew a white cap over Wainwright's face, and then proceeded to put the rope round his neck. This was not easy, owing to the fact that the culprit wore his beard long. The noose was placed under the chin of the condemned instead of behind the ear, which was the custom of Calcraft. While this was being done the Ordinary proceeded with his reading of the service—the culprit taking no part in the ceremony, and in fact, utterly disregarding everything that was going on around him.  Marwood then drew the bolt, and the drop being close upon six feet, death was instantaneous. At nino o'clock, the body was cut down and placed in a coffin on the drop. The placid features showod the painlessness of the death. At eleven o'clock, on Monday night, the culprit placed in the hands of the governor of the pri,on a written statement, in which he appeals to the lovingkinciness of a merciful God that t his transgressions may be blotted out, for the sake of t 'that blessed Savour whom he had so long neglected. I He then acknowledges the justice of his punishment, and says he deserves it, though he does not absolutely confess .to the murder. He then exprerses his sincere thanks to the Governor and all the officials for their attention, and to his many friends, known and unknown, who have with Christian sympathy rendered assistance to his family. He hopes and truly believes that their many prayers for his eternal happiness and peace have been answered by a gracious and ever forgiving God, and concludes by commending his family to the hands of that Almighty Father who is the protector of the widowed and fatherless.