The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1885-01-16 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

MECDTION AT WANDSWORTH.  Horace Robert Jay, aged 23, a barmsn, who was convicted at the last session of the Central Criminal Court of the wilful murder of n girl named Florence Ellen Kemp, 18 years 014 i, WAS executed on Tuesday morning in Wandsworth prison. The cu!prit slept soundly for several Lours on Monday night, and early on Toex.lay morning he was visited by the Rev. Mr. Gi whoremained withhim till the timeappointed for, he execution. The prieoner 'walked wilt a firm st.‘p to the scaffold, and did not utter a word a bile ho was being pinioned by Berry, the executioner. He had a drop of over raven feet, and eppearrd to die almost iustantaneounly. An inquest was subsequently held by the coroner, and the usual fennel verdict WAS returned. A considerable number of persona assembled outside the prison. but very soon atter the black flag had been hoisted they quietly dispersed. The following lite. went Was completed by th• culprit on the night I.ionoun to his execution, and he expressed • desire that it should be made public. lie said he had takert the opportunity of penning a few lines as that W:11 his last night on earth. He had just a few words to say from which he hoped one and all would take ethics. He little thought on the 22.1 September, when he went away to Faringdon, it Hampshire, that he should be inside that pricer. at that date awaiting such a terrible fate. They would see, then-fore, that they never knew what a day might bein, forth, lie hoped that one and all would turn to the Lord at once, if they had not done so already, and have Him always with them, so hi to provide against such terrible ends. Ile was sorry to say that he did not find Him when he ought to hash done, but he was blippy to have found Him now, and He wan great comfort to him, so close to his end in this world. He hoped that his friends would study their Bible*, and persevere to find that Saviour who died for them all. He knew that if they did find Him, and did keep to Him, that He wonli he their beet friend in the tints of trenble, or any other time. He-hoped that one and all would take warning by the terrible ottourrenite, and when they had a good eituatien, and were earning good money, they would not forget to have the Saviour as their guide to lead them in the right way. He thanked Mr. Mills, the chaplain of 'St. Thomas's Hospital, for his great kiudi ens to him, and also to the nurses of the hospital. He also thanked the governor, chaplain, and warders of the House of Detention for the kindness he had experienced at their bends while awaiting trial. He had felt very comfortable since his last trial, and he had told all who had seen him that he felt. quite forgiven for all hie sins. He hoped /10011 to be in Heaven, where there would be no more pain and trouble, murder, or bloodshed, crying or tears. He trusted that one and all would take • warning by that fearful crime, and get the Saviour as their guide, and then they need not fear. He wished he had done so before, and then he should not want to write those lines as a warning. Everything had been done for his comfort in the prison; but only nature would sometimes trouble him, when be thought of bi gone days and how wicked he had been. He would close these lines with every expremeion of repentance and grief that he could towards the relatives of the deceased, whose n other bad visited him since he had been in prison, and had given himegood advice.