EXECUTION OF FENIANS AT MANCHESTER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 822, 25 January 1868, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXECUTION OF FENIANS AT MANCHESTER.

(Compiled from. English, papers.) Five Fenians, named Allen, Larkin, Gould, Shore, and Maguire, were tried at Manchester for the crime of murdering a policeman of the name of Brett, who was guarding two notorious Fenians to jail. The two prisoners escaped in the melee. The five persons named were found guilty and left for execution. Great efforts were made to obtain the pardon or reprieve of the convicts. The cases were carefully examined, and Maguire was shown to have had so little to do with the business that he was pardoned, and at his own wish had been restored to the navy. Shore was reprieved, as he was not shown to be armed with a pistol, as was each of the other three. Then, in compliance with the feeling of the nation, which is intolerant of murder, the law took its

course. A few minutes after 8 o’clock on Nov. 23 the men were brought upon the scaffold. Allen was first upon the drop. After the rope had been put round his neck, and the cap over Iris eyes, Larkin stepped up to him, and shook him by thehand. Gould was next brought forward, and on being brought under the beam he stepped up to Allen, shook hands with him, and then kissed himCalcraft then put the cap over Gould’s eyes and the rope round his neck. Larkin was then brought forward, trembling very much and looking very pale. The cap and noose having been put over his head, the tremb. ling increased. The Catholic chaplains and the gaolers then moved away from the drop, when Larkin fainted away and fell against Gould. One of the gaolers quickly lifted him upon his feet, the bolt was removed and the unfortunate men were launched into eternity. The scaffolding was so erected that after the fall of the drop no portion of the bodies of the men could be seen from the outside of the gaol For several seconds, however, the ropes on which Gould’s and Larkin’s bodies were attached, swayed backwards and and forwards, betokening the fact that both men had struggled somewhat violently. Allen apparently died very easily. The three men, previous to the fall of the drop, repeated the prayers aloud, which were spoken to them by Fathers Gadd and Quick, and after the chaplains had left the scaffold, Gould was heard saying firmly, “Jesus, have mercy on us.” The crowd around the gaol was very great, but the utmost quietness was maintained throughout, which may perhaps be accounted for by the fact that so small a number of persons would be able to witness the appearance of the men on the scaffold. The arrangements made by the police were of a very satisfactory character, and happily no hitch occurred in the carrying out of the proceedings.