THE BALLARAT MURDERER.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7873, 26 May 1891, Page 5

THE BALLARAT MURDERER.

(YBOH OUJt COB&SSPOSitiSST.)

(By Telegraph—From the Bluft) MELBOURNE, May 19.

The Government having appointed a Medical Board to consider the sanity of Johnson, the Ballarat murderer, its members unanimously reported him sane. Dr. Coul, who was one of the members of the Board, informed the Chief Secretary that in his opinion the case was an undoubted one of malingering, and that Johnson was Bimilating the physical infirmities from which he was apparently suffering. If the lower portion of Ms body were really paralysed there would be symptoms which were absent. While the doctors were examining Johnson they asked to put out Hiq tongue, and he sirnpiy opened hia mouth. Dr. Youl thereupon remarked, just loud enough to be heard by the prisoner, that if he were mad hie tongue would come out of his mouth, and roll about. Shortly afterwards Johnson was again asked to show his tongue, and immediately he put it out a.,i allowed it to roll about. Dr. Youl ia firmly of opinion that the prisoner was neither dumb nor paralysed. The execution took place yesterday at Ballarat Gaol, yp to the very last Johnson displayed the same dogged assumption of innocence that characterised him throughout, making no statement, other than that he know nothing of the horrible tragedy. He desired the Governor to thank the warders for their attention to him since hia incarceration, and also repeated the request that no postmortem should be held over his remains. Since the final decision of the Executive was conveyed to him he maintained a most cheerful demeanour, and so indifferent did he appear to his fate that when being taken across the yard he gazed at the gallows and smiled. On Sunday night he slept soundly and in the morning he ate ravenously.