...continued... Irish Catholic Chronicle And People's News of the Week Dublin, Ireland Saturday, 30 November 1867 THE EXECUTION As the moment drew nigh there was a stillness in the crowd that might be felt. The jail clock rang out eight in sharp cold tones, and the units were repeated by the anxious multitude. At the moment the cap of the officer commanding the Third highlanders inside the jail appeared above the wall, and soon the gleaming guns moved briskly towards the scaffold. At two minutes past the hour the door was opened and Allen appeared. By those who looked up and saw that young but distorted face, it will never be forgotten. he stepped firmly on the drop, his wan and convulsed countenance raised to the sky; in his pinioned hands he clasped the cross, and in agonizing tones fervently cried, "Jesus, have mercy on us; Jesus, have mercy on us." Calcraft was by his side instantly, quickly drew the close-fitting white cap over his head, and threw the noose round his neck. Allen continued to pay loud and fast. The executioner just touched his hand and turned to receive Gould who boldly stepped on, raised his bound hand, and laid it on Allen's; he then kissed him on the cheek, and immediately joined in prayer. At this moment Larkin stepped on and looked collected, but almost immediately reeled, staggered, and fell with bent knee and helpless body slightly against Gould and fainted in the arms of a warder. Gould turned and looked on Larkin, who was held up while Calcraft with rapid hand adjusted the cap and noose. A dull crash was heard, and the three ropes sprung to their utmost length. Allen's was perfectly still, Gould's quivered for a moment, Larkin's had a rotary motion, and then all was still. The clergymen continued to repeat the prayers for the dead, standing uncovered over the suspended corpses. For three quarters of an hour the prayers were repeated, and then all retired. At seven minutes past nine the door was re-opened and Calcraft appeared to remove the bodies. He looked a comely old man, with a large, flowing white beard. He wore a velvet travelling cap and stood right firmly on the scaffold. With one hand he held the single portion of the rope, while, with the other, he undid the knot which ran round the beam. he then held in his two hands the rope from which was suspended the body; and so on to the end of his foul work. He was assisted by a young man who is practicing this vile trade in Chester ,and who is styled in a Manchester paper, " a manly fellow." At half-past nine the huge crowd began to melt - the deed was done - the law was revenged - the sight was over. And every man went into his place. AFTER THE EXECUTION The Times says - "When at nine o'clock the bodies were cut down, hardly any persons but those on duty round the spot were present. The remains of the culprits were at once carried down the ladders leading from the scaffold, and taken across the prison yard into a little soil, where they were laid on benches. The straps which had bound them were then removed. and the surgeon came and certified formally as to their deaths. Singularly enough, as far as the expression of their features might be judged, Allen seemed to have suffered most, through he died earliest and apparently without a struggle. The features of Larkin, who jerked the scaffold itself in his convulsive struggle, were as placid as though he had merely fallen asleep. The remains of Gould, too, showed equal signs of tranquility in death as those of Larkin. The hands were opened wide; those of Larkin were merely folded together; but with Allen, who had apparently never moved, the finger nails seemed almost dug into the flesh. About the middle of the day the bodies were buried, without form or ceremony, in the jail passage where Burrows the murderer is laid, the only murderer - indeed, the only other criminal- that has ever suffered death in Salford jail. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/