I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
A CAMPBELL,
Deputy City Clerk.
Mr. James Berry,
52, Thorpe Street,
Shearbridge,
Bradford, Yorks.
P.S. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter immediately.--A. C.
Of course, my reply was to the effect that I accepted the engagement,
and although I felt many misgivings between that time and the
day appointed for the execution, the work was carried through
satisfactorily.
[Illustration: Calton Gaol, from Calton Hill.]
CHAPTER III.
My First Execution.[A]
On the 21st March, 1884, I received a letter from the Magistrates'
Clerk, City Chambers, Edinburgh, appointing me to act as Executioner
on 31st March, 1884, at Calton Gaol; and that I was to provide all
necessary appliances for carrying out the same. I undertook the
duties; and on Thursday, March 27th, 1884, I departed from my home,
Bradford, and made my way to the Midland Station, and booked 3rd
class for Edinburgh, to carry out the execution of the Gorebridge
murderers. I arrived at Waverley Station 4-20 p.m., and I hired a cab
to drive me to the gaol. On arrival at the prison I was met at the
doors by a good-looking warder, dressed in ordinary prison garb, and
very courteous; and on entering the large portal gate, was asked my
name, and after entering it down in the prison book, time, etc., he
pulled a string, which rang the Governor's bell, and in a few moments
I was confronted with the Governor, a very nice gentleman, of military
appearance, and very good looking. After passing the usual conversation
of the day, and the weather, and what kind of journey I had up from
Bradford, he said after such a long journey I should require a good,
substantial tea; and as soon as I had washed, and combed my hair, the
tea was there, everything that could be desired. I sat down, and quite
enjoyed my first Scotch meal in Bonnie Scotland....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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