HL Deb 19 April 1847 vol 91 cc947-8
The MARQUESS of WESTMEATH

said that he wished to call the attention of the Government to a statement which had appeared in the public newspapers of that morning with respect to the execution of an unfortunate woman at Bury St. Edmunds for poisoning her husband. It stated that 11,000 persons were at the execution, and that it was conducted in such an improper manner that the sufferings of the unfortunate woman were prolonged for a considerable time. The assembly of persons congregated at the execution were so horrified at the proceedings that they cried out "Shame!" and "Murder!" For his own part he believed that the punishment of death could not be expunged from the Statute-book; but he was sure no one would say that the sentence of the law, when passed on those who were consigned to an untimely end, should be performed in such a manner as to lead to such protraction of the pain and sufferings of the person to be executed, through the carelessness or cruelty of the executioner. Some time ago a similar thing took place, and the attention of the Secretary of State was called to it in the other House, who promised that the matter should be looked into, and the recurrence of such a circumstance be prevented. He recollected when he was quartered at Sligo some years ago, an execution took place there from a lofty scaffold, when the rope broke, and the man fell to the ground and broke both his legs; he was, however, picked up and carried up to the scaffold, and was then executed. There was, perhaps, no means of preventing this, as the sentence of the law was specific for his execution; but common attention could prevent the extension of the sufferings of the party to be executed. If the punishment of death must be inflicted, he would recommend that they should adopt the mode used in Germany, or the garotte, as in Spain.

The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE

was not aware of the circumstances of the case which had appeared in the newspapers; but he was sure that his right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Department would cause inquiry to be made into the matter. While he considered, in the present circumstances of the country, that the punishment of death was indispensable for certain aggravated crimes, he felt that the punishment should be effected in such a way as not to cause unnecessary suffering, or to outrage public feeling.

House adjourned.