July 19, 1902

The execution of Samuel Middleton, the Foxlydiate murderer, took place at Worcester prison on Tuesday morning.

Middleton was very pale as he approached the scaffold.

He murmured not a word, looked neither to the right nor to the left and not a muscle of his face moved as far as could be observed during the few moments that his features were exposed to view.

The wardens supporting Middleton stepped each aside from the fatal trap doors and with a pull of the lever down dropped Middleton.

There was a dull thud as he fell into the pit where beyond the swaying and twisting of the rope there was no motion of the body, death having apparently been instantaneous.

As the drop fell the gaol chaplain in scarcely audible terms uttered a few sentences from the Burial Service, asking for mercy for the now dead man.