EXECUTION OF BRIGGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

EXECUTION OF BRIGGS.

FINALE TO THE SUMMERHILIi

MURDER CASE.

Stuart Wilson Christopher Briggs, of Summerhill murder fame, was executed in Darlinghurst Gaol, Sydney, on April 5. The execution passed off without mishap, death being instantaneous. At ten minutes past 9 o'clock the- condemned man stepped upon the scaffold, accompanied by the hangman, Howard, and his assistant. Briggs, clad in his sombre suit of grey, and with arms manacled, walked firmly, and stood upon the drop without a tremor. Once there a few seconds sufficed for the adjustment of the fatal noose, and the lever of the drop was pulled almost before the spectators realised that the preparations had been commenced.

Save for a slight swaying- motion, the body hung . motionless after the drop. There was an absence even of the muscular contraction which frequently follows an execution by hanging. . .

The crime for the perpetration of which Briggs paid the penalty with his life was committed on the evening of December 14 last at S9 Douglas-st., Petersham, and can only, be described as a cruel, premeditated, and determined attack upon the lives of two persons whose position arid helplessness should have won for them the sympathy, and protection of all, more especially of the man who so callously terminated their existence in blind obedience to the dictates of his own passionate and murderous nature. The victims were Miss Maggie Dutt, the daughter of a long deceased Indian medical officer, and her grandmother, Mrs Margaret Miller. Miss Dutt was, or had been, Briggs' sweetheart. She was but 21 years of age—on the very threshold' of life and was employed as a teacher in a private school at Summerhill. Mrs Miller was 60 years of age, and a widow. With a younger sister of Miss Dutt they lived quietly in a two storeyed house at the address where the tragedy occurred. About twelve months before the crime was committed the . family had- made Briggs' acquaintance, and acquaintanceship ripened into feelings of affection between Miss D.utt and Briggs. He became a constant visitor to the house, and after a lapse of a few short months they were engaged to be married. Then changes followed in rapid succession. Briggs, who had hitherto been only affectionate and generous, began to display jealousy and hotheadedness accompanied at times by violent outbursts of temper, which thoro-ughly-alarmed the young woman. His jealousy would appear to have been unfounded, but it was none the less deep. At length, feeling that she had been mistaken in her estimate of the man, she intimated that she would like to terminate the engagement. The thought of losing his sweetheart appears to have exasperated Briggs still more, the true inwardness of his nature became evident, and the poor girl' learned to dread him. For several months he was the dark shadow which passed at intervals across her life., Though his visits were almost discontinued, he occasionally met her, his manner at these times alternating from deep repentance and contrition to a threatening demeanour, acconipanuied by words of bitter recrimination.

Things "were in this condition irt the early part of December last. On the Sunday preceding the tragedy (December 11) the last interview prior to the shooting took place betwpen the former, lovers. Me had written,'pleading for forgiveness, and, contrary to the wishes of her grandmother, Mi&s Dutt had consented to see him. When he called he was not in an amiable mood, and he' asked, sneeringly, if anybody else was with her. Miss Miller refused to see him, but remained in the diningroom, and Miss Dutt left Briggs for a few minutes to speak to her. -While she was away, Briggs. stole on tiptoe to hear what they were saying, and Miss Dutt, detecting him, upbraided him for his contemptible conduct. His only reply was to strike her in the mouth with such force as to break a tooth, and he then fied from the house. About fhat time, it was subsequently ascertained, Briggs took a revolver to Mr H. R. Leach, of Georgest., to be repaired. On the following Wednesday morning he wrote a long letter, in a clear hand, plainly setting forth his intentions, and endeavouring to excuse himself for the commission of the cowardly deed which he had planned. That evening, with thte newly repaired and fully loaded revolver in one pocket and the letter in the other, he proceeded to the house of the girl, whom he intended to destroy. ,

Shortly afterwards the police at the Stanmore station were startled by the sudden appearance of a young girl, who rushed into the place, and had only breathlessly gasped out' 'Murder, 89 Douglas-st.,' when she went off into hysterics.

Proceeding to the address named, Senior-constable Skinner and Constable Hawthorne found the two women lying in pools of blood upon the sittingroom floor, quite dead. The murderer's hand had been steady when the shots were fired. In the back of Miss Dutt's head were two bullet wounds, one within an inch of the other.. Both oullets had passed through the skull. Mrs Miller was killed by one bullet, which went through the temple and remained embedded in the brain. The murderer had then disap-

peared. From the story told by the surviving sister, Miss Kimini Dutt, Briggs was admitted to the house by Mrs Miller, the sisters being upstairs. He asked for Miss Dutt, whom the grandmother called, and the two women entered the drawingroom together. Almost immediately, shots v/ere heard, and Kimini Dutt went out into the balcony in time to see Briggs leave the house and walk away. Then going downstairs she was horrified at the tragic scene which met her view and ran.to the police station! Meanwhile the murderer after leaving the house hid thq revolver on a piece of vacant ground near Templest. Shortly afterwards he was seen to jump into the water at Johnstone's Bay, Annandale; but a gentleman who ran to rescue him saw him pulling his dripping form on to some rocks; contact with the water having apparently, cooled his suicidal tendencies. In answer to questions he confessed his crime; and agreed to .give himself up to custody; saying 'I suppose I'll hang for it.'

At the inquest which followed Brings was very violent, and tried to injure his head with the manacles which fastened his wrists. It took th# united exertions of five policemen to hold him down on several occasions; as he fought and struggled handcuffed though he was, with what seemed demoniacal strength. The sullen and vindictive glances which he bestowed upon his captors and others in the court alienated nearly all sympathy from him. He was committed for trial, and was arraigned before His Honor Judge Cohen on February 16 at Darlinghurst. The trial . lasted two days, ihe defence being, an endeavour to prove that the .accused was insane.- After a retirement of less than half' an hoiir the jury found the prisoner guilty, and the judge passed sentence of death, holding out no hope of mercy..

An agitation to dbtain a commutation of the sentence proving futile Briggs was hanged as above stated.