Ar 17 Chwefror 1903 cafodd William Hughes, 42 oed, ei grogi yng Ngharchar Rhuthun a chladdwyd ei gorff o fewn ei gyffiniau.
Cefndir
"Hughes was a native of Denbigh, who had enlisted in the army [Cheshire Regiment] when 18, and had served in foreign parts, including some years in India. Upon his return in 1890 he worked as a collier in Wrexham neighbourhood, and married the deceased woman [Jane Hannah Williams] who was his first cousin, in 1892. There were three or four children by the marriage."
(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 Chwefror 1903.)
Y Drosedd
Rhyddhawyd Hughes ar 6 Tachwedd 1902. Yna llwyddodd i gael "a double-barrel
gun, together with two cartridges" ac yn gynnar y bore ar 10 Tachwedd
aeth i dy Maddocks:
(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 Chwefror 1903.)
Yr Achos Llys
Ildiodd Hughes ei hun i'r heddlu, a chynhaliwyd yr achos llys ym Mrawdlys Dinbych, Rhuthun, ym mis Ionawr 1903. Dywedwyd fod hanes o salwch meddwl yn y teulu - "a plea of insanity was set up" gan yr amddiffyniad. Er bod Dr Cox, "chief expert of diseases of the mind" yn Ysbyty Gogledd Cymru, Dinbych, wedi datgan fod Hughes yn wallgof, dim ond deng munud a gymrodd y rheithgor i'w gael yn euog o lofruddiaeth:
(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 Chwefror 1903.)
Ar ôl y prawf trefnwyd llawer o ddeisebau i'w hanfon
at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, ond cadarnhawyd y ddedfryd:
County Of Denbigh
Rules...
For the Treatment of Prisoners condemned to Death...
In all cases when Sentence of Death has been passed, and Convicts are left for Execution, the Keeper, or Matron, shall immediately on their return to the Gaol from Trial, cause them to be thoroughly searched, and shall remove from them any Articles which may be considered either dangerous or inexpedient for them, to retain in their possession.
The Cell or Room to which the Convict is reconducted after being Sentenced to Death, shall invariably on all such occasions be previously examined by the Keeper of the Gaol, who is to satisfy himself of its fitness and safety, and insert the result of his examination in his Journal.
In all cases when Sentence of Death has been passed, and the Condemned Prisoner is left for Execution, such Prisoner shall be placed under the constant charge and superintendence of an Officer of the Prison, both by day and night.
The foregoing Rules and Regulations have been perused in open Court of General Quarter Sessions, held at Denbigh, in and for the County of Denbigh, on Tuesday the 19th Day of October, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Seven, and approved.
By the Court,
JOSEPH PEERS
Clerk of the Peace.
"H.M.Prison, Ruthin [13 February 1903]
My dear Mother, - I sincerely hope that you are getting better. Although
in great trouble, I am compelled to tell you that I have had no reprieve.
I received definite news this morning to this effect. Well, dear mother,
the chief and most important thing I have to depend upon is the Lord and
his mercy. I will do all in my power to be at peace with my great Judge.
I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you in a better world than the
present one... I am extremely sorry that I have caused you so much pain
and unnecessary trouble. I hope you will pardon me, mother for all I have
done. The Lord have mercy upon me, and may He also be a source of strength
and joy to you in your old age. With my best and sincerest love to all,
- I remain, your son, WILLIAM HUGHES".
"H.M. Prison, Ruthin Feb. 14th, 1903.
Dear Brother, - Just a short word to inform you that I shall not be reprieved.
This information was conveyed to me yesterday morning. All that now remains
for me is to endeavour to prepare myself for the terrible ordeal that
awaits me. I sincerely hope that God will be merciful to me. I wish to
thank you for all coming here to see me and for your kindness. If we do
not meet again in this world, I sincerely hope that we shall do so on
the other side. It is not my desire to write a long letter to you, and
I therefore conclude with the most loving remembrances to you all. God
bless you all. Yours truly, your brother, William...
Os gwelir fi, bechadur
Rhyw ddydd ar ben fy nhaith
Rhyfeddol fydd y canu
A newydd fydd yr iaith
Yn seinio "Buddugoliaeth"
Am iachawdwiaeth lawn,
Heb ofni colli'r frwydr
Y boreu na phrynawn."
"The prisoner occupies as his condemned cell, two cells which had been knocked into one, and in which were a bed, table, and a stool. The cell was about fifteen yards or so from the scaffold so that he had only but a short distance to walk. In the wall of the prison a hole had been knocked through, which led on to the second storey of the gallows, so that the condemned man would walk direct onto the trap door and have no steps to ascend."
(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 Chwefror 1903.)
"Great curiosity was evinced both in Denbigh and in Ruthin to see the hangman Billington...From appearances no one would think for a moment the two quiet looking, pale faced persons attired in dark cloth suits, with bowler hats, were the men who would be chief actors in the launching of a human being into eternity... They bore absolutely no luggage - that had previously been forwarded to the prison to await them... Upon arrival at the jail Billington had hardly put his hand to the bell when the ever attentive warder inside opened the door and admitted them... Once inside the two men remained there, attending to every detail associated with the execution of the wretched man Hughes... Billington announced everything to be in perfect order before he retired early. Billington and his brother slept close to the condemned cell in which their prisoner was sleeping his last earthly sleep..."
(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 Chwefror 1903.)
Y Crogi
Roedd chwech o bobl yn dyst i grogi William
Hughes, ar 17 Chwefror, 1903, yn cynnwys yr Uwch Siryf. Adroddwyd mai'r
peth olaf a wnaeth Hughes cyn gadael ei gell oedd edrych ar lun o'i deulu.
(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 Chwefror 1903.)