The Northern Guardian. — 1893-01-18 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE EXECUTION OF WKEOWN.  GHASTLY SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.  THE CULPRIT'S NECK TORN OPEN.  At eight o'clock this morning Win. McKeown,l who murdered Elizabeth Connor, in West Lodge, Pollokshields, Glasgow, on October 11th, and thereafter cut her .body up into bits and buried the remains in the garden adjoining the house, was executed within Glasgow Gaol. An angry wind moaned all the morning. As the day dawned a crowd of 6,000 persons collected outside of the prison walls; experience of previous executions telling them that if the traffic without was quiet at the hour when the dread sentence was being carried out, the bang of the gallows floor giving way could be distinctly beard. However, fifty policemen ' kept the thoroughfare clear, while an equal number within the precincts of the gaol guarded the various passes so that no one would witness the deathscene but the two magistrates (Bailies Alexander and Parnie), the Catholic priest in attendance on the condemned man, the joiner, master of works, and the two town officers. The! last-named carried their halberts. At a quarter from eight the prison bell began to toll the death knell, but the sound was more of an impatient. tinkling, 118 if it grudged the very warning it gave to him who was being pinioned in his lonely cell. Onside the prison a street-preacher held forth, warning the crowd of the the curse of drink, and said had it not been for the demon drink McKeown would not be walking to the scaffold. The preacher's voice could be heard even on the gallows. The, reporters were not permitted to witness the execution, but were accommodated in the watcliroorn within the gate.: The policemen who were on guard inside stated that in the dark they could see the rope dangling on the scaffold. McKeown was restless all night. Indeed, since Sir Jas. Marwick, town clerk, informed him yesterday that the law was to take its course, the condemned man was excited. The only remark he passed was that "he had more time to prepare for death than the poor woman whose life he took." At fiveminutes to eight a turnkey went to a little room at the front gate, and having opened it showed Billington, the executioner, out. He wore a small velvet-peaked cap. He was led away to the condemned cell, where he pinioned McKeown. The sad procession started a few minutes after eight o'clock along the corridor, and at eight minutes past the hour the noise of , the platform .giving way was distinctly heard in the reporters' room, and at the same instant the black flag was hoisted. The crowd outside began to get anxious that the sign of the capital punishment being carried out was not seen sooner. They,thought something was wrong, as it was known that McKeown's neck was tender through his having when caught attempted to commit suicide. Immediately thereafter the procession wended its way back to the Governor's room, the officers holding their halberts down. Dr. Sutherland stated that McKeown walked ' calmly to his doom, but when the platform gave way the rope burst his neck, but the head did not come off. There was no blood, the wound which the culprit had inflicted on himself at his cap,ture being readily opened up. He did not sleep till three o'clock this morning, and then his rest was only fitful. For an hour he was attended by Fathers Clifford and McGrath, who administered the last rites of the Church to the condemned man. When pinioned he never spoke a word to the magistrates or the executioner. As he walked to his doom he made responses in an undertone to the service read by the clergymen. McKeown, who was 11 stone, received a drop of 7ft. fin. The Governor of Glasgow (Duke Street) Prison states that before McKeown had the white cap drawn over his face he kissed the crucifix. He was on his knees praying when Billington entered his cell. He had several paroxysms of grief throughout the morning, and when he walked to the scaffold his eyes were suffused with tears. At the inquest medical evidence showed that death had been instantaneous. The larynx was severed.