THE BREELONG TRAGEDY

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10869, 19 January 1901, Page 7

THE BREELONG TRAGEDY

JIMMY GOVERNOR EXECUTED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 18th, 12.41 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 18. Jimmy Governor, convicted of the Gft> gandra murders, was executed this morning. As the condemned man left the cell and walked to the scaffold ho made an attempt to appear calm, and smoking a cigarette took his place on the drop. In reply to the usual question, he said he had nothing to say. As the fatal moment approached he gave evidence of fainting. The bolt was drawn and death was in' stantaneous. (Received January 18th, 10.56 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 18. Amongst the spectators at the execution of Jimmy Governor was George Mawbey, brother of the man whose family was so ruthlessly massacred. After the execution he remarked —"Now I am satisfied. I would never have beeD satisfied unless I had seen this." The absorbing events of the past few weeks have altogether withdrawn public attention from the man whose deeds attracted to himself such a large share of it for several months last year, the Breelong murderer Jimmy Governor. During the period of bis incarceration, Jimmy Governor's state of mind seemed to be one of indifference, at any rate as far as outward appearances went. So long as he had plenty to eat and drink and plenty of tobacco, he was evidently content, living with no thought further ahead than the morrow. His spiritual welfare was at first in ih& care of a. Church of England chaplain ; but the condemned man did not take kindly to this pastor, and let him know it. He also let the gaol authorities know it, and suggested rather forcibly, it is understood, that the visits should be discontinued. He received in a better spirit periodical visits from a Salvation Army "lass," who xindertook the task of endeavouring to guide his thoughts in the right direction during the remaining days of hia life.