On the Monday morning I arose at 6-30, and was conducted from the
Bedroom by a Warder, at 7-30, to the place of execution. Everything
appeared to be as I had left it on the Saturday afternoon. I fixed
the rope in my ordinary manner, and placed everything in readiness.
I did not try the Trap-doors as they appeared to be just as I had
left them. It had rained heavily during the nights of Saturday
and Sunday. About four minutes to eight o'clock I was conducted
by the Governor to the condemned Cell and introduced to John Lee.
I proceeded at once to pinion him, which was done in the usual
manner, and then gave a signal to the Governor that I was ready.
The procession was formed, headed by the Governor, the Chief
Warder, and the Chaplain followed by Lee. I walked behind Lee and
6 or 8 warders came after me. On reaching the place of execution
I found you were there with the Prison Surgeon. Lee was at once
placed upon the trap-doors. I pinioned his legs, pulled down the
white cap, adjusted the Rope, stepped on one side, and drew the
lever--but the trap-door did not fall. I had previously stood upon
the doors and thought they would fall quite easily. I unloosed
the strap from his legs, took the rope from his neck, removed the
White Cap, and took Lee away into an adjoining room until I made an
examination of the doors. I worked the lever after Lee had been
taken off, drew it, and the doors fell easily. With the assistance
of the warders the doors were pulled up, and the lever drawn a
second time, when the doors again fell easily. Lee was then brought
from the adjoining room, placed in position, the cap and rope
adjusted, but when I again pulled the lever it did not act, and in
trying to force it the lever was slightly strained. Lee was then
taken off a second time and conducted to the adjoining room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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