EXECUTION OF A MURDERER AT MELBOURNE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 116, 25 May 1885, Page 4

EXECUTION OF A MURDERER AT MELBOURNE.

William Barnes was executed for the murder of J. B. Slack on the 15th instant, at 10 o'clock, in the Melbourne Gaol. Barnoa was born at Chillingham, near Chatham, England. His father was a bootmaker. The family removed from London when Barnes was eight years old, where he was taught his father's trade, and also given a fair education. When « young man he was arrested for being concerned in a burglary, and was transported to Western Australia, where he again committed burglary, for which he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. When released he went to Victoria, and entered on a successful career of crime. Since the sentence of death for murdering Mr Slack was confirmed, Barnes has taken great interest in conversing with Dwyer, the governor of the gaol. He listened to the exhortations of the Key. H. F. Scott, the Church of England gaol chaplain, with great despondency; but the last two or three days he has prayed earnestly with the chaplain, frequently shedding tear. He epen t a sleepless night, andrefused to take any foodorstimulantonthemorningof execution. At ten o'clock the sheriff arrived, and made the usual formal demand for Barnes's body from the governor of the gaol. Then the hangman, who goes by the alias of John Jones, commenced to pinion the arms of Barnes, who submitted passively. The procession then marched to the drop, which is situated in the centre of the prison galleries, and there the noose was adjusted. The prisoner's legs, in accordance with the custom of the Melbourne Gaol, were not pinioned. Death was instantaneous.