The Northern Guardian. — 1892-11-15 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

SPZCIAL CORTJAPONDINT.  LONDON, Tuesilav Morning. _  The convict Neill was executed this morning in Newgate Gaol. To the surprise of his warders, he appeared to have slightly recovered his composure as the hour of death approached. During the last two days he had fallen into the most restless and nervous condition. In the language of one who saw him on Monday, he was a perfect wreck, and he trembled so much and so continuously that he was almost unable to stand. Two things were feared— suicide and epilepsy. To guard against the former an unusually close watch was placed upon the prisoner. Six warders were in constant watch upon him, and additional men were always within call. But the wretched man appeats to have been too depressed and broken up to attempt selfdestruction. The fatal news that no reprieve need be expected, that the penalty of death would be sternly carried out, crushed him into utter helplessness and dejection. To the last he had faint hopes that the American affidavits might bring him escape from death. It may have been the result of resignation or collapse under the strain of intense anxiety, but last night he was more tranquil. He was restless, but at intervals he fell into troubled sleep, groaning and crying out every now and then in his slumbers. The execution was not until nine o'clock this morning, and the convict was called shortly after six. The fearful announcement that he had risen upon this world for the last time seemed to strike him with the force of a great blow. For a moment he was dazed, silent, and despairing. Then he recovered himself with an effort, and he accepted the breakfast offered him, drinking a cup of coffee and eating an egg. The chaplain then began his ministrations, and the doomed man listened and responded with bent head and respectful devotion. He thanked the chaplain in a' broken voice for his kindness. He also conveyed to the Governor of Newgate his thanks for the consideration with which be had been treated, and also the officials. Shortly before nine o'clock the entrance of Billington, the executioner, told that the fatal hour had arrived. Neill showed no further emotion, and quietly he submitted to the partial pinioning in the cell. Then the gloomy procession was formed, and slowly moved to the scaffold. Neill remained passive and docile ; his legs were secured, the white 'cap was drawn over his eyes, and instantly Billington drew the bolt. The, body disappeared, but on examination death was shown to have been instantaneous. Immediately the black flag ascended over the gaol, and following this, the certificate of the sheriff, stating that Neill had been properly executed according to the demands of the law, was posted on the walls, and eagerly examined by the crowd outside. The chaplain afterwards told the reporters that the dead man made no confession before going to his doom.  The inquest on the body was held in Newgate Prison at eleven o'clock, and the jury returned the .customary formal verdict. The convict Neill had two interviews yesterday with his solicitor, Mr Waters, of Messrs Waters and Bryan. On the first occasion Mr Waters took instructions from the convict for the preparation of his will. This was done in accordance with his desires, and last evening the solicitor was accorded another interview, when Neill affixed his signature to the document in the presence of the necessary witnesses. The nature of the testamentary disposition made by the condemned man cannot be div ulged for the present, but it is understood that he gave his instructions in the most clear and businesslike manner. lip to this point Neill had preserved the cool and almost cheerful demeanour which had distinguished him since his condemnation, but, when the time drew near when it became imperative for Mr Waters to leave, and the convict realised that it was his final interview, he became visibly affected, and broke down. Neill made no statement in connection with the crimes for which he was executed, but Mr Waters urged him, in the short time remaining to him in this world, to pay due heed to the ministrations of the chaplain, and that, if he had any desire to unburden his mind on any subject, he should do so to the reverend gentleman. It was only in this final scene, and after the exhortation of his solicitor, that Neill for the first time gave any outward manifestation of realising his terrible position. He expressed his indebtedness to Messrs Waters and Bryan, and in particular to Mr Waters, for the exertions which they hail made on his behalf, and admitted that they had done everything in their power to save his life. The scene was a painful one when the last words came to be spoken, and the condemned man was deeply moved.. Neill was told by the Rev. Mr Merrick on Friday evening that Mr Asquith had been unable to see any grounds for granting a reprieve. Since then the condemned murderer had fallen into a very nervous and depressed condition. His appetite, which was formerly considerable, fell away, and he was not able to finish his meals. On the other hand, he drank his ale—of which he had two pints daily—with eagerness, and FO great was his thirst that at frequent intervals he drank quantities of water drawn from a tap in the cell. His nervousness was so intense that he constantly twitched in all his limbs, and the authorities were not without fear that he might be seized with epilepsy, even at the last moment. The warders told off to be in his cell were six in all—instead of four as under ordinary cases—and in lieu of twelve hour stretches they were on guard for eight hours only. In addition to these there was a man on guard outside the cell, whose duty it was to peep through the "inspection hole," which commands a view of the whole apartment, and he had to indicate those visits on a tell-tale clock every ten minutes. Signals passed between him and the warders inside, so that he knew all was right. Further, his relief was resting close by, so that on the slightest sound four men would be inside the cell in less than half a minute. Billington, the hangman, arrived on Saturday night.