EXECUTION OF DEEMING

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8187, 1 June 1892, Page 5

EXECUTION OF DEEMING

* HIS LAST WRITINGS.

MELBOURNE, May 25.

■ The closing chapter in the history of th* Windsor and Raiahill murders relates to the execution of the murderer, Frederick Bayley Deeming alias Albert Williams, which took place within tho Melbourne Gaol at ten o'clock yesterday morning. It may be described in very brief language, the proceedings being marked by the utmost simplicity. This waa not anticipated, the extraordinary behaviour of tho prisoner throughout the Coroner's inquest and the proceedings at the Supreme Court trial having suggested the idea that his boastful spirit wonld cause him to make a speech on the scaffold or that ho would exhibit some violence, but in < his last.'"hoars .Deeming became a changed man, and by the time that the hour oi execution &»proacued hie

nhvaical condition was reduced to almost SnHf coUapse. He had yielded to" the SvicVof the Rev. H. F. Scott, the gaol •aZSSsb, that it would be better for hvm to fewbehind him a written statement in Werenoe to making;, one verbally immediately before he execution, bat ifcib very questionable whether he could have succeeded in making a speech if, he had made the attempt. Owing to the sudden indisposition or the daol chaplain the prisoner was attended before tht the Rev Mr W. Wfaitton, the assistant chaplain, and the Rev. W . is.. Forbes. His last hoar he devoted to spiritual exercises, and daring bis final prayer he uttered words which virtually amount to a confession of his guilt in regard to the Rainhill rourdars. In this he appealed to Heaven to be forgiven for having despatched his family withouo warning. Unusual interest was manifested in the execution, and as 10 o'clock approached a fairly large number of persons who had obtained orders from the Sheriff were admitted to the gaol. Outside the walls of the prison, in Victoria street, a lurge crowd, numbering thousands of people, collected in order to get the hist tidings of what took place within. At three-minute 3to ten o'clock the bheritt, ivlr W. H. Anderson, arrived at the gaol, and proceeding to the place of execution along with the governor of the prison, Mr fehegog, and the Government medical officer, Dr. Shields, made a formal demand for the body of Albert Williams. It was then exactly ten o'clock, and the condemned prisoner, who had been previously .pinioned by the hangman, left his cell and took his position on the drop. He presented a most woe-begone appearance; With his clo3ely cropped hair and cleanshaved face the criminal characteristics were particularly noticeable. His face was blanched with fear, and his shivering form had to be supported by the assistant hangman and a warder. Addressing the prisoner the Sheriff said, " Albert Williams, if you desire to say anything you will now be afforded an opportunity of doing so." A gurgling sound came from the prisoner's throat in response. To those who were below the gangway on which the drop is situated it sounded like " No," but those who were near the prisoner could distinguish the words, "Lord, receive my spirit." The hangman then placed the white cap over the prisoner's head and face and carefully adjusted the noose round hia neck, and the Chaplain commenced reading the first portion of the burial service. During the few seconds that elapsed before the bolt was drawn the prisoner's body could bs seen swaying from one side to the other, and it is probable that by this time he was in a semi - conscious condition. The moments of suspense were soon over, and with a sudden thud the body of the prisoner fell through the trapdoor for the distance of about 7ft, and remained suspended without a single motion or quiver. The neck was completely dislocated, and life and all its signs disappeared in one instant. On Sunday afternoon the prisoner had expressed a wish to see the Gaol Chaplain, and as his manner showed him to be earnestly desirous of the interview, no time was lost in summoning Mr Scott from his residence in footscray. Whatever the impulse was which, caused him to send for Mr Scott, it had passed away before the rev.' gentleman's arrival at the gaol, and the interview thus strangely sought was After all only of* a common-place character. When Mr Scotfc visited the gaol he had nothing more important to say than that he desired above all things in the world an interview with Miss Rounsevill. Mr Scott pointed out to him that as Miss Rounsevill had finally assured him that she would not see him, it was useless to pester her with further requests. • Deeming pleaded that every thing should be done that could be done to secure him just one more interview and he would die thoroughly happy. Mr Scott was firm and refused to convey his request, and ultimately recognising, probably, that he was only wasting time by his appeals, Deeming said no more on the subject. Mr Scott left the cell much moved, and during his evening service at Footscray he found himself quite incapable of continuing his duties. The, task of. attending-the convict in his last hours of life thus devolved upon the Rev. T. M. Whitton, who took .with him the Bey. Mr Forbes. They found Deeming in a prostrate condition, and thoroughly unstrung. He joined in the devotional exercises with apparent earnestness and sincerity, and wept and sobbed. bitterly during much of the time. Amongst the Utterances he made in prayer was the significant , sentence of "God forgive mc for- haying despatched my poor wife and family without warning." This was the first- admission he had made of his guilt in the Rainhill crime—previously he had strenuously denied having murdered .bis first wife and children, and blamed his second wife and an acquaintance of hers for the deed. Mr Whittou besought him to; unburden his mind of everything connected tvith hia crimes, as he must see that only in a full confession lay any prospect of peaceful death. Deeming met this" advice by. saying, "I have nothing to confess beyond what I have already ■written in my papers." . SL'he Cabinet decided pot to grant the application of the Victorian Branch of the .British Medical Association for permission .to examine Deeming's brain, Ministers failing to see why this prisoner's body should be treated differently from that of any other murderer who had been hanged at that gaol. Deeming spent a great part of bis time latterly in writing, and sent letters of thanks tojbhe gaoler, the chaplain, his solicitor, &c. Regarding his biographical writings and other papers, Mr Marshall Lyle has all vhich were written prior to the sentence of death being passed, and the .remainder were taken possession of by the Governor of the Gaol and handed over to the Sheriff, who, in turn, gave instructions for them to be forwarded to , the Chief Secretary, The papers included two wills, scene jottings relating to his 40763, and four statements intended for fiblicatioa in the Press, and dedicated to he Times, the Liverpool Mercury, the Pali HaU Gazette and the Argus.

. It is curious to note how, in his- last days, Deeming varied his signature. During his trial, and until within a few days ago, he etylsd himself, and insisted on beiug styled " Baron Swanson." He refused to recognise the name of Williams, or of Deeming, and invariably •aid, if addressed by either of them, ♦* That is not my name, I am Baron Swaneon." With death approaching, however, lie was not so careful of his signature, and signed the first of his aliases that struck Ilia fancy. The last writing done by the prisoner was a hymn entitled "To God I 'call," and subscribed "Composed by F. B. Deeming on the day before his death, 22-5-92, The last verse reads as follows j—

The&aor opens up. perplexed I start; Timid, yet confident I stand; Sesouftdistrust, no more apart Shoiad lovers dwell; I eeize thy hand and nestle next thy heart;