§ MR. HORATIO DAVIES () ChathamI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is true that a mishap took place at the execution of Fowler, Milsom, and Seaman at Newgate, on the 9th instant?
§ *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am glad the hon. Member has afforded 398 me this opportunity of publicly giving an unqualified denial to the rumours which have been circulated in certain papers that the execution of the convict Milsom was not properly carried out. The pinioning of Milsom was completed before the drop fell, and death, which was caused by dislocation of the nock, was instantaneous. It is a mistake to suppose that the signal for execution depends in any way on the reading of the burial service; it is not given by the sheriff until everything is ready. The incident which is at the foundation of the story is as follows: the assistant executioner had not stepped back as promptly as he should when the lover was pulled, and he fell into the pit, 9 ft. 8 ins. deep. He fell, however, clear of Milsom's body; and it is perfectly untrue that he clutched at Milsom's legs, or in the slightest degree impeded the proper execution of the sentence.