The execution of Gilbert Oswald Smith convicted of murdering his wife took place this morning at Gloucester Prison. He was 35 years old, by occupation a farm labourer, was an ex-soldier and had seen a good deal of service abroad. He obtained a Queen’s Medal for South Africa 1899-01 with Orange Free State and Natal clasps and a King’s South African Medal and clasp for 1901-02. He was discharged on the 13th November 1906 his character reference was 'Very Good'.
Smith and his deceased wife were married at Uley in 1907 where he lived up till the time of the tragedy, there were no children of the marriage. It appeared that some 9 weeks before July 21st, Mrs Smith, for some reason or other, left her husband’s home and went to the home of her neighbours Mr and Mrs Brown. At Dursley Fete on July 20th, Smith and his wife were seen together in the refreshment tent; Mrs Smith was heard to say to her husband that she had been informed that he was going to waylay her.
They were together with other neighbours for most of the evening, then Mrs Smith went home on her own. Smith, while walking to his lodgings with a neighbour, spoke of his domestic troubles and said 'Some morning you will find I have made a job of it. I shall do for her and myself’.
On the Sunday morning of the tragedy, Mrs Smith left the house at 7.30 as usual to go to work at the workhouse; seeing her husband waiting in the road she returned and asked Mr Brown to accompany her to the workhouse. As they proceeded down the road Smith got off a stile and said 'Harry, I am not going to let her go down the road this morning'. Brown replied 'Don’t be stupid, Gilbert: you will get yourself into trouble'. Smith replied 'I don’t care'. He then walked with them, his hands in his pockets. They walked about 30 yards. Suddenly, Smith clutched the woman by the neck with his left arm.
Brown saw the flash of a razor in his right hand. Smith then cut his wife’s throat from ear to ear, all she said was 'Oh!'. Brown hit Smith then went for assistance while Smith walked away towards Dursley. When Brown returned he heard groans from the hedge a short way away from the scene; he investigated and found Smith lying in a field with his throat cut.
He was taken to Berkeley Hospital where he subsequently recovered, the blame for the tragedy being laid firmly on her sister (Mrs Smith’s) for coming between them.
At the trial, Smith, although listening to all the evidence with the closest attention, at no time manifested any signs of emotion, and when invited by the Judge to speak elected to maintain his silence.
T.W. Pierrepoint of Bradford was engaged as the executioner, Mr A.F. Lumb was his assistant: both arrived on the Monday and remained in the prison until after the execution. In order to comply with modern prison arrangements, a new scaffold has been erected at the gaol in substitution for the old one in the uncovered quadrangle. The new one is under cover and in close proximity to the condemned cell. Smith was the first culprit to be hanged on the new gallows.
The condemned man rose at an early hour on Tuesday morning and the Chaplain was with him before it was light. Shortly before eight o’clock the executioner proceeded to the condemned cell for the purpose of receiving the prisoner into his custody.
Smith submitted quietly to the pinioning process by Pierrepoint and with an escort of Warders walked the short distance to the scaffold — unaided and with a firm step, being preceeded by the Chaplain reading the opening sentences of the Burial Service. Without having spoken a word, Smith took up his position on the trap doors, his legs having been strapped, the rope placed around his neck and the white cap drawn over his head — the bolts were drawn and the doomed man launched into eternity, the whole process occupying less than a couple of minutes. Death was instantaneous. The prison bell was tolled for a brief period and 10 minutes later the departure of the Under Sheriff and his clerk denoted to those gathered outside the gaol that the law had been carried into effect.
The body of Smith was left to hang for one hour after the execution as per the requirements of the law. It was then taken down for the formal inquest. After the Jury had viewed the body and the prison officials had given their evidence, he was buried within the prison walls.
Excerpts from The Gloucester Journal 1912
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