After the convict had thus delivered himself, Marwood drew the white cap over his face; and, whilst this was being done, Peace turned his head slightly towards the executioner, and said—
“I should like to have a drink. Have you a cup of water you could give me?”
No attention was paid to this request, and Marwood proceeded with his duty.
From beneath the cap, however, the voice of the culprit was again heard: “May I not have a drink?” and again, as the rope was being adjusted to his neck, he exclaimed: “Oh! that’s too tight.”
The voice of the chaplain was then heard saying: “In the midst of life we are in death. Of whom may we seek succour but of Thee, O Lord, who for our sins are justly displeased?”
Then was uttered the commendation: “Into thy hands, O Lord, we commend this soul, now about to depart from the body. Lord Jesus receive his spirit. Amen.”
As those words were being uttered Marwood stepped forward and drew the bolt. The drop fell and the body disappeared. There was a distinct thud, but not the slightest quivering of the rope, and Mr. Price, the surgeon, said death must have been instantaneous.
The drop was 9 ft. 4 in. long. It was about four minutes past eight when the execution took place, and the black flag was immediately hoisted from the prison tower as an indication to the crowd outside that all was over.
Those who had been much with Peace during the last few days said that the speech from the scaffold was not altogether unexpected by them, because the convict was a man who talked much.
What he said during the previous few days was fully in keeping with what he said on the scaffold, and they believed what he said, and died penitent.