THE SILVERSTREAM MURDER.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9993, 24 March 1898, Page 3

THE SILVERSTREAM MURDER.

EXECUTION OF PHILPOTT.

THE MURDERER'S CONFESSION.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 23. Frank Philpott, alias Stanhope, was hauged at the Terrace gaol at eight o'clock this morning for the murder of his mate, Ernest A. Hawthorne, at Silverstream, on September 7th last. The convict slept soundly from 1 a.m. till 5.30 a.m., and was watched all night by the warders in turn. After rising he had half an hour's exercise, and took a light breakfastThere were present at the final scene the Sheriff and head gaoler, the Rev. C. Dallaston, of the Vivian street Baptist Church, who had bean in constant attendance on the convict, Mr E. Arnold, J.P., Mr C. E. W. Willeston, Visiting Justice, Mr Richardson, Chief Clerk of the Prisons Department, Dr. Teare, prison doctor, Mr Sayers, and members of the Press. Constables were stationed on the hills above the gaol to prevent spectators from gathering, but a few were present, and in any case they could have seen nothing as the scaffold was surrounded by high screens.

When the offiotal procession reached the scaffold Mr Dallaston asked Philpott whether there was anything he would like to say. The condemned man iv a voice on the whole firm, but betraying some signs of emotion, said that he had acknowledged and confessed his sin in the face of God. He had confessed to Mr Dallaston and Mr Garvey, the gaoler, and given them power to make his confession public. He thanked the gaol officials for their extreme kindness to him and wished everyone " goodbye." : Long, the executioner, then arranged the rope, and Philpott stood firm. There was a slight increase of colour in his face, and it was evident that he keenly realised his position, but he showed no signs of breaking down, and met his fate manfully. The executioner curiously forgot to draw on the cap till he was reminded by the gaoler, and as he stepped forward to do so Philpott closed his eyes. When the drop fell death was instantaneous. There was no straggle and no movement of the body. As soon as it was cut down a jury was empanelled and a formal verdict returned. The remains will be buried this afternoon at Karori cemetery. Mr Jellicoe, counsel for Philpott, has published letters from the convict, urging him to move on his behalf, reiterating his innocence repeatedly. He kept up his protestations until yesterday, when finding all efforts on his behalf of no avail, he made a confession.

[By Telkoiraph.]

(PBOM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

WELLINGTON, March 23. •What purports to be the confession of Philpott, has been supplied to the newspapers here, but apparently the Department of Justice has amended the .original confession or has not supplied it in full. The following is an exact copy of the confession:—"H.M. Prison, Wellington— Ou the afternoon of September 7th, 1897, I, Frank Philpott, shed the blood of Ernest Alexander Hawthorne during a quarrel over a woman, the full circumstances of which have been explained verbally to Mr Garvey, gaoler., as above, and also to the Rev. C. Dallasfcon, of the Baptist Church. It is my earnest desire • that this, my confession, word for word, should be published the night of Weduesday, 23rd March, 1898. - Signed by mc in the presence of and'witnessed by S. G. Miilington, on this the 22nd day of March, 1898. P.S.—One of the reasons why I made this confession is because 1 .could not go nut of this world leaving, as my defence, implied, a stain upon the character of Mr ' Frederibk* Charles Sowerby. — (Signed) Frank PmLPOTT. March 22nd, 1898."

In regard to the allusion to Sowerby, it is explained that during the trial if was suggested for the defence that Sowerby had caused the quarrel against Hawthorne, and might have been guilty. Philpott, before hie arrest, had tried to excite Sowerby to jealousy against Hawthorne. ,;-