Weekly News. — 1890-10-02 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE BENWELL MURDER.  SENTENCE OF DEATH. The evidence in the trial of Birchall, at Woodstock, Ontario, for the murder of Mr. Benwell, a young Englishman, was concluded on Monday, and the prisoner's counsel delivered a lohg and impassioned address to the jury. At the conclusion of Mr. Osler's reply for the prosecution, the judge summed up and delivered his charge to the jury, the latter part of his address being strongly against the prisoner. At 9.63 he asked the jury to retire and consider their verdict, adding that he would return at 11.30 to hear their decision. The jury thereupon retired, and the court room was eared, he prisoner being taken back to gaol. Before leaving the dock he shook hands with Detective Murray, and said that he was sorry that people had disagreed with regard to his guilt. He asked the detective to call on him to-morrow, and if free, he would buy a bottle of wine. Mrs. 13irchall had left the court when Mr. Oiler began speaking, and did not return again. A telegram dated Tuesday says:—The condemned man Birchall slept well last night, and rose this morning with his usual self possessed manner, lie passed the morning in his cell sketching. To prevent any attempt on the part of the prisoner to commit suicide, his guards will be doubled, and he will be kept ender clise watch both day and night until the date of the execution. Opiates were administered to Mrs. Birchall before the conclusion of the trial, and she was kept under their influence until this morning, when she was informed of the sentence by her sister, Mrs. West Jones. The news was a fearful shock to her, although she had little hope of any other result. Mrs. Birchen said that she would be taken to England before the sentence was executed. (inc of the jurymen has stated that they were unanimous in their verdict, and that if the Judge had not adjourned the Court for an hour and a half the verdict would have been returned in ten minutes. The fact, be said, which had the greatest effect upon the jury's decision MIR that Birchall made so effort to explain his movements on February 17th, the day of the murder. The prisoner's couusel is of opinion that nothing more can be done legally to save Birchall's life. Although a petition might possibly be got up, he believes it would be useless. On the assembling of the Court the jury retureed verdict of guilty. The judge then addressed the prisoner as follows , " Stand up. John Reginald Birchall ! What have you to say why sentence should not be passed upon you ?" The prisoner thereupon stood up, and said, 'Nothing, except that lam not guilty of the crime, my lord." The judge then continued as follows: " I must concur with the jury that you conceived the murder of a fine young man, destined to live for many years, in order ; that you might receive a miserable reward in the draft asked from England as the price of blood. It is sad that a young nian of education should have been guilty of such a crime, after a short period of marriage, and connected RA you are with an estimable family, upiu which you have brought disgrace. I can hold out no hope of a commutation of sentence, and I urge upon you to change your heart in the short time that you are left on earth. The sentence of the Court is that you be taken hence to gaol, and hanged in the , yard between 8 a.m, and 0 p m., on Friday November 1 the 14th." The prisoner did not show I!. 'ast trace of emotiou.