William Taylor

On 31 July, twenty four year old William Taylor, a Birmingham born private in the 57th Rifles Regiment stationed at Raglan Barracks, Devonport, was among several soldiers told to report for extra drill by Corporal Arthur Skullen who was thirty five. . Taylor came onto the drill square without his knapsack and the Corporal told him to go and fetch it. Taylor put down his rifle and walked off, but Skullen bawled at him to pick up the weapon. which he then did. When he reached his room he loaded the rifle, walked out onto the parade and shot Skullen in the head. He was disowned by his relatives, including his wife and young son. and received no visitors in his cell before being led to the scaffold in faltering steps and sobbing loudly. He was hanged by William Calcraft on the 11th October 1869 at Exeter.