Runcorn Examiner. — 1893-01-21 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

KEOWN. HORRIBLE SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.  At eight on Wednesday morning William M' fiecl who murdered Elizabeth Connor in West Pollokshields, Glasgow, on October 11, and there cut her body up into bits and buried the remains in garden adjoining the house, was executed within C.O gow (Duke-street) Gaol. An angry wind moalw.l the morning. As day dawned a crowd of 6,003 pero collected outside the prison walls, the experience previous executions telling them that if the traffic out was quiet at the hour when the dread sentence being carried out, the bang of the gallows floor givi, way could be distinctly heard. However, fifty pou: men kept the thoroughfare clear, while an equal nuor, within the precincts of the gaol guarded' the vario passes, so that no one would witness the death scenel the two magistrates, Baillies Alexander and Paiine.P Catholic priest in attendance upon the condemned the joiner, master of works, and the two town oil' The last-named carried their halberds.  The reporters were not admitted to witness the e cation, but were accommodated in the watchro within the gate. The policemen who were on °I)I inside stated that in the dark they could see the dangling on the scaffold. M'Keown was resz.le6s night ; indeed, since Sir James Marwick, ToWn-cle,l informed him on Tuesday that the law was to tak,' course, the condemned man was excited. The °I remark he passed was that he had more tune to prePi for death than the poor woman whose life he took.. At five minutes to eight a turnkey came to ali room at the front gate, and, having opened it, silo: Billington, the executioner, out. He wore a small! vet peaked cap. He was ied away to the condeo)! cell, where he pinioned M'Keown. The sad procel a few minutes after eight o'clock started along the, rider, and at eight, minutes past the hour the noll the platform giving way was distinctly heard lao reporters room. At the same instant the black flag,. hoisted. The crowd outside began tu get anxiousr, the sign of the capital punishment having been out was not seen sooner. They thought something. wrong, as it was known that M'Keown's neck was,:i der through his having when caught attempted tos mit suicide. Immediately thereafter the i.r)cer,4 wended its way back to the governor's room, theoV holding their halberds down. Dr. Sutherland stated that M'Keown walked to his doom, but when the platform gave way the burst his neck, but the heau did not come off. ~,co was no blood, the wound which the culprit had iIIMI j on himself at his capture being readily opened up. to did not sleep till three o'clock in the morning, and his rest was only fitful for an hour. He was atteil by Fathers Clifford and M'Graw, who administeretled last rites of the Church to the condemned man. pinioned he never spoke a word to the magistrate the executioner. As he walked to his doom he made responses in an undertone to the service read hi reverend fathers. M'Keown, who was list., recei drop of 7ft. sin. The Govenor of Glasgow kDuke-st.) Prison state; before M'Keown had the white cap drawn over he kissed the crucifix. He was on his knees pt when Billington entered his cell. He had $1 paroxysms of grief throughout the morning and he walked to the scaffold his eyes were suffused tears.