57 The End

The morning of 10 June 1896 dawned dark and gloomy. The almost tropical temperatures of the past weeks had finally eased and a warm, heavy rain fell on the streets outside Newgate Gaol, turning the hard-baked ground into wet sludge. Amelia Dyer had spent the night thrashing about on her hard bed, muttering and quietly sobbing. She was barely able to touch the bread and butter, eggs and tea which were offered to her for breakfast. She had been brought her own clothes to dress in and her hair had been scraped up into a knot on the crown of her head so as to leave her neck bare.

The condemned cell at Newgate Gaol, Weekly Dispatch, 7 June 1896

After requesting pen and paper mother wrote what was to be her very last letter.

My Child, my dear Child,

May god Almighty Bless you and keep you. It is a great relief to me to know you will not be prosecuted. I knew it yesterday. Now my child for Willies and Annie’s sakes don’t go abroad no doubt you will have a letter from our Chaplain. I myself can say no more only god Bless and keep you both. Mother

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.

James Billington was born to be a hangman. From an early age he had constructed model scaffolds in his backyard and played at executions. When not performing his duties for the prison authorities he worked as a barber in his home town of Bolton. Just before nine o’clock he entered Amelia Dyer’s cell and swiftly pinioned her arms. Supported on both sides and barely able to walk, the condemned woman was virtually carried to the scaffold shed where she was asked to make a final statement.

“I have nothing to say” was the reply.

James Billington placed the bag over her head and adjusted the noose. At nine o’clock precisely the lever was pulled and Amelia Elizabeth Dyer dropped to her death.

On account of her weight and the softness of the textures, rather a short drop was given. It proved to be quite sufficient.

Extract from Prison Commission File: record of execution.