The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1874-11-21 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION AT WINCHESTER.  Thomas Smith, of the 20th Hussars, was executed at Winchester, on Monday morning, for the murder of Captain Bird at Aldershot. The crime, it will be remembered, was prompted through a feeling of revenge which Smith entertained towards the deceased for having carried out regimental piudahment, to which Smith had rendered himself liable. During carhine practice at the butte of a *quad under Captain Bird's command, Smith deliberately fired at him, being only a few yards' distance; and from the effects of the shot the officer died very shortly after. Since his condemnation Smith conducted himself in an exemplary manner, showing an earnest desire to profit by theserrices of the prison chaplain, and to prepare himself for his approaching death. On Sunday he partook of the Holy Sacrament, and the evening and night were partly spent in prayer by the prisoner. On 'Monday morning he submitted with wonderful firmness to the ordeal of pinioning, and this calmness and steadfast bearing he retained to the very last, ascending the scaffold with a firm step. lie appeared to expire without much ;Jain, and after the body i had hanged au hour t was interred within the precints of the prison. A black Hag was hoisted over the entrance to the county prison announcing the end of the criminaL - - • - •  The wretched culprit wrote the following voluntary confession of his crime, and requested that it might be made public after his execution •  "I own with shame and sorrow that I am guilty of the crime for which I have to die, and I pray God to have mercy upon my soul, for Jesus Christ's sake. I am aware that nothing can justify the dreadful sin. I committed in shooting Captain Bird, though I feel that my request to fall out ought to have been granted, especially as I twice asked leave to do so ; and I also think that the authority that is committed to non-commissioned officers, and especially sermant majors ought to be exercised with more care and consideration. If officers were to inquire into the statements made by sergeant-majors, and would give private soldiers more chance of making their own explain"Cons, I am sure that the life of a private soldier would be happier, as I have known many a man to come to grief through being misrepresented. I particularly wish to say that I do not say this through ill will to any man; I only wish to do soldiers some good. I know that I had no business to do what I have done, but if Captain Bird had been told that I had asked once before to fall out I feel sure that he would have given me permission to do so. I know that the neglect of my Bible and giving way to drink has brought me to this sad position, as I warn more or less under the influence of drink from the time I was sentenced to the extra drill on the Friday till I committed the crime on the following day. Had I not been drinking I should never have done such a deed. I cannot sufficiently thank my relatives for all their kindness to me, and especially those who procured me the counsellors who defended me at my trial. I pray God to reward them, and I pray them to forgive the shame and distress I brought upon them. I also very gratefully beg to offer my respectful thanks to Captain Bird's father for his great mercy to me in saying that he forgives me. I cannot thank him as I would, but I pray God to bless him and reward him. I did not deserve such kindness from him. I wish that I could tell him how bitterly I regret having caused him such sorrow. I wish to thank all the officers of the prison for their kindness to me. Everything has been done for me to enable me to spend my last clays in this world in peace, and to prepare for the time when I must stand before my Judge. I put my sole trust in the merits of my blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, and I pray God, for His sake, to have mercy upon me, and to receive me; and I bless God's Holy Name for the gracious fill, itstions and promises held out to me in the Gospel ; and I humbly trust that God, for Jesus Christ's sake, will have mercy upon me."