NEW SOUTH WALES

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 101, 20 April 1866, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES

THE EXECUTION OF DUXN. [From the Sydney Morning Ueruld, of March 20.] A sadder scene was never enacted m that arena of sorrow, suffering and sin comprised within the walls of Darlinghurst Gaol, than when John Dunn the last of .the notorious trio who, setting religion and law at deiiance, excited feelings of indignation, and terror throughout the colony — died an ignominious death on the scaffold. Sad was it, indeed, to see a young man cut off m the very flower of his youth, before twenty summers has passed over his head, und steeped to the eyes m crimes at which humanity may well shudder ; and yet it was evident from the calm fortitude displayed by the youngoutlaw when the awful hour of execution came, that with proper training he would have proved himsi-lf worthy of a better fate. Mifre fortunate than his two quondam friends, Hall and Gilbert, who fell by the avenging bullet, Dunn had the advantage of a trial, with all the solemn forms of law ; and with a lenity which he accorded nut to his victims, ho was allowed time to prepare for his appearance before the. Great J udgo ; he was permitted, moreover, to avail himself of the services of a clergyman of the faith which he professed, to instruct and aud direct him m his appeals for mercy to an ever merciful God. It is satisfactory to know that these services were not rendered m vain, but that the guilty man, whose short life had been stained by ouh'agcs and blood, gave proof of the sincerity of his repenbtincu, and a desire to atone for his past sins. We understand that from the time of his conviction he was must attentive to the admonitions of his religious instructor, giving no trouble to his keepers, and questioning not lor a moment the justice of his sentence, aud was perfectly resigned to his fate. J lulgiug f rom the improved physical condition which ho exhibited as he left the couduinnud cell yesterday morning, his mind could not have been much disturbed by the thought of his impending doom ; for he was much more robust than when ho lirst arrived iv Sydney. He gained iv weight upwards of a stone during his .ucarceratioa m the gaol. We are informed that the iiomau Catholic chaplain of the gaol, the ltov. J. Dwycr, and the llov. T. M'Cartney of St .Benedict's (to whom the Uushrauger Vauu surrendered), were with thj coudemnail culprit uut.l half-past 11 o'clock on Sunday night, aud that soou attar they left hu fell into a sound slumber, aud re.named asleep until half-past six o'clock yesterday morning, when he awoke and performed his ablutions. He ate a hearty breakfast, and having smoked a pipe of tobacco, and to all appearance enjoyed it, he was ]>repartxl to receive two of the Sisters of Chanty, who now paid him a visit. Between seven and eight o'clock the two clergymen who were with him over-night again preseuted themselves, and the two sisters bade him a final adieu. The clergymen now endeavoured by the usual religious exercise 3to prepare the mind of the wretched man for his approaching end, and at a few minutes to nine o'clock the shei-ilf proceeded to the cell, and with the customary formality demanded Dunu's body. The two executioners then pinioned the culprit, and the mournful cortegs moved slowly from the wing of the gaol towards the gallows erected at the eastern side of the yard. Dunn, who limped slightly from the efieot of the wound iv his leg, walked between th« two clergymen, and repeated after them the solemn words of prayer which they uttered. Arrived at tLe foot of the grim instrument of death, the condemned man proceeded without assistance to mount the steps, followed by the ltev. Mr. Dwyer, iv h ; s clerical robes, and the executioners. Upon the platform the reverend gentleman read a slrjrD prayer, shook haiids with the poor misguided youth, who was about to pay the peualty of his crimes with his life, and left the scaffold. The fatal ropa was bpaedily adjusted, the white cap was drawn over the condemned man's face, the bolt wa3 withdrawn, aud, with the heavy thud which immediately followed, the young outlaw ceased to live. The neck was evidently broken by the fall, for there wa3 not the slightest movement of the muscles to indicate that auy life reniaiuud. After hangiug about twenty minutes, the' body was cut down, aud subjsequiiutly given to a Mrs. Pickard (who when the dcul man was au innocent infant, stood as his godmother), for private interment. Thus perished on the scaffold, by the hands of tue common hangman, the last at large, aud the most bloodthirsty, of Gardiner's gang. Of this once formidable baud of highwaymen, which for so many year 3. kept the colony m awe, it may not bs oub of place to mention, that four still survive, viz., Gardiner, the chief, who is undergoing a sentence of thirty-two years' peual servitude ; Vaue, who surrendered through the instrumentality of father M'Carthy, and was sentenced to iifteen years ou the roads; Bow and Fordyce, sentenced to, death, w^hieh was afterwards 'commuted to lilieeu years' .penal servitude. , Peisley and Maims were hung; and other live, namely, Lowrie, JJurke, O-Meally, Bju Hall, and Gilbert, . were shot dead— Burke aud. O'Meally by private hauds, and the remainder by the police. - The last who joined the gang was the "Old Man," who gave himself 'up to the police, and is now iv penal servitude.