Shortly before the sentence of death was carried out at HM Prison Gloucester on Wednesday on Ralph Smith convicted of murder, a crowd of nearly 100 gathered outside. When the notices of execution were placed on the prison gate at 9.07 am, seven minutes after the appointed time for the execution, many of the people crowded around to read them.
Ralph Smith aged 41 years was sentenced to death at the Old Bailey for the murder of Mrs Beatrice Delia Baxter at Swindon on March 4th 1939. An appeal against the sentence was later dismissed. Smith was tried before Mr Justice Atkinson. Smith had lodged with Mrs Baxter at Swindon from the Autumn of 1938 to January 1939 and according to Mr G.D. Roberts KC, prosecuting, he had conceived an affection for the woman. He appeared to have become jealous if she went to dances or had acquaintances with other men.
ATTACK WITH A RAZOR
On March 4th, Smith was seen talking to Mrs Baxter. She was going to a dance. She was found screaming and bleeding with a cut on the back of her neck inflicted with a razor. Medical evidence was that if the wound had been plugged soon enough she would have lived. Smith stated that Mrs Baxter spoke to him about going to a dance with another man and he lost his temper.
During the hearing of the Appeal, Mr Bryant Irvine, who appeared for Smith, submitted that the defence which was that of manslaughter had not been adequately put to the Jury. There was some evidence of a quarrel between Smith and Mrs Baxter and some evidence of provocation. In giving judgement the Lord Chief Justice said that in the opinion of the Court there was no ground for the criticism which had been made of the summing-up.
NOTICES OUTSIDE PRISON
The Notices outside the Prison this morning stated that Doctor Edward O’Driscoll Graham (surgeon of the prison) certified that Smith had been executed and also that the execution had been carried out in the presence of the Governor of the prison (Mr H.G.H. Evered), the Under Sheriff of Wiltshire, the Rev C.S. Donald, Chaplain, and Dr Graham.
At the inquest held later at the prison by Mr J.D. Lane, coroner for North Gloucestershire, formal evidence was given by Mr Evered who stated the execution was carried out by Thomas William Pierrepoint, assisted by Albert Pierrepoint. The execution was carried out expeditiously without hitch and according to law.
Dr Graham, (Medical Officer for the prison), said that Smith had been in good health, was a normal person, and gave no trouble at all. He was present at his execution at 9.00 am and had, since, in his examination, found that death was due to dislocation of the vertebrae of the neck. Death was instantaneous.
The Jury’s indictment stated that judgement of death was carried into effect for murder. Mr Frederick Percival Evans was Foreman of the Jury.
FOOTNOTE
Ralph Smith was the last man to suffer 'death by hanging' in Gloucester Prison.
Excerpts from The Gloucester Journal 1939
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