The Sun. — 1852-04-30 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. On Thursday last John Walsh, alias Shaun-na-Shioge (John the Fairyman), underwent the last sentence of the law for the murder of Thomas Ball, on the new gallows in front of our county prison. The spectacle, at all times most shocking, was rendered more appalling on the present occasion from the appearance of the wretched culprit on the drop with the white cap, which usually covers the face of the person about to be executed, all stained with blood, caused by an ineffectual attempt at suicide which he had made shortly before the arrival of the hour fixed for his being led to the place of execution. It appears that the Roman Catholic chaplain was in attendance on the culprit a: an early hour of the morning, and at breakfast time left him apparently in a tranquil state of mind. The usual breakfast of atirabout and milk was supplied to him; however, he only ate a few spoonsful of the former, but drank off the ' milk. He was then left alone in his cell for some time, till the chaplain arrived again. The clergy man and turnkey upon entering the cell found him upon his knees, but they were shocked at observing a stream of blood gushing from either ear, and upon questioning him he appeared too weak to supply any information as to the cause. He was immediately carried to the adjoining dayroom, and having been placed on a bed, the attendance of Dr. Lalor, the medical officer of the prison. was procured. Three small pieces of stick, measuring respectively about three inches, two inches, and an inch and a half in length, and not thicker than a pipestopper, were found lying in a pool of blood on the floor, and he appeared to have torn off a portion of his shirt, which he had plaited into a kind of cord. The object of the latter was not very apparent, but there can be no doubt that he bad endeavoured to force the pieces of wood into his ears, probably under the impression that he could thus penetrate to the brain. When fully restored, and questioned on the matter, he positively denied having made any attempt upon his life, alleging that he had accidentally fallen off his bed, and that the violence with which his head had struck the floor had caused the blood to, gush from his ears. The pieces of wood, ho said, had fallen upon the floor previously out of the window sash, upon his opening it, and the blood bad dropped upon them. Dr. Lalor, however, stated that this story could not possibly be true. At one o'clock it became necessary to prepare for the execution. Walsh was still in a very weak state, but fully able to speak and walk with assistance. The wretched man distinctly said that he was innocent. The culprit was able to walk out of the press-room to the platform over the prison gate, and he stood, although evidently very weak from loss of blood, while the rope was being adjusted round his neck. Having the white cap placed over his face, he was put in his proper position on the drop, from which he shrunk back, and the executioner was obliged to push him forward. Here he made use of a few confused words, all that was intelligible to those near him being, "Boys, I'm sorry for my sins," but even these words were inaudible to the people below. Ile was then immediately launched into eternity, struggling a little for a few moments after he received the tall before life became extinct.—Kilkenny Moderator.