Transcription
Execution! Dennis Doolan and Patrick Redding were ex- ecuted yesterday morning at Crosshill, about three miles north of Glasgow, in pursuance of the sen- tence of the Justiciary Circuit Court held there upon the 22d ultimo, for the murder of John Green, ganger upon the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. The murder, which they have expiated with their lives, was committed on the 10th of De- cember, 1840. Every precaution was taken by the authorities to awe down any attempt which might be made to break the peace, either on the line of road, or at the place of execution, and accordingly, in addition to the infantry guard, which escorted the gallows, and remained over night, two pieces of artillery were also sent out, and planted in commanding situations near the spot. At eight o'clock on Friday morning, the proces- sion moved from Glasgow prison in the following order :? Cavalry,Infantry,and Police Cavalry. City Marshal Culprits. Cavalry. The Executioner. Sheriff. Lord Provost. Magistrates. Cavalry. Cavalry,Infantry and Police The culprits were placed, loosely pinioned, in a large open carriage, accompanied by their religious instructors, Bishop Murdoch and one of his clergy. Thoir seats were considerably elevated, so that they could be seen by almost every one of the dense mul- titude who accompanied them to the place of execu- tion. In this manner the procession moved up the Saltmarket, the High Street, and out the Kirkintil loch road, to Bishopbridge, where, as we have stated, a gusrd of infantry, with Mr Sheriff Bell, were al- ready present. The number of the military escort was estimated at about 600 or 700 infantry, and about 200 cavalry. Two troops, we underitand, of the 4th dragoon guards, from Piershill barracks were ordered west for the occasion. Arrived at the spot, the culprits descended from the vehicle, and again accompanied by their con- fessors, ascended the platform with a firm step. Af- ter some time spent in religious devotion, the exe- cutioner proceeded to do his duty. In adjusting the rope, it was observed that this officer gave Red- ding, who was a slender and small man, about 18 inches more of a drop than he did to Doolan, who was a stout and heavy person. After the clergyman had left the culprits, and all Was ready, Doolan turned round to his companion in crime to bid him farewell, and in doing so it was observed that the knot on the noose of the rope slipped from under his left ear to the back of his neck, and the consequence was, that he struggled severely for several seconds after the drop fell; Redding seemed to die instantly. After hanging the usual time, the bodies were cut down, and being put in cossins, were placed on the vehicle which had a short time previously car- ried them out in life, and escorted in the same man- ner back to Glasgow, where they were interred in the evening within the precincts of the prison. None of the Railway labourers were at their work but few of them were to be seen, either at the execution or on the line of procession, and we are informed that many of them had resolved to stop away, to show their contempt of the insult which they conceived had been offered to them in bringing the execution to Crosshill. Menzies, Printer.
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Date of publication:
1840 shelfmark: L.C.Fol.74(359a)
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