DEATH PENALTY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 230, 23 June 1920, Page 8

DEATH PENALTY

DENNIS GUNN EXECUTED

FINAL SCENE IN MT. EDEN • GAOL CONDEMNED MAN'S LAST MESSAGES By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckfarid, Juno 22. . Dennis Gunn, convicted on the charge of murdering Mr. A. Braithwaito, Into postmaster at Ponsonby., was executed this morning at 8 o'clock, within Mount Eden Gaol. The tanging was witnessed by about a dozen persons, all officials except tlie representatives of the newspapers. Precisely at' the hour, Gunn was led out of his cell and took his place in the little procession, which had to traverse a dozen paces to the yard at tlio eastern end of tno main gaol buildings, where the scaffold had been eif.cted. In front of tho condemned' man walked Father Herring, reading the l.urial service. Gunn wore his prison clothes without a coat. He was bareheaded, and had his arms pinioned at his sides with .leather straps. The scaffold, tfcie same that is used at various gaols of tho Dominion, was erected alongside tho prison wall and was covered over with a temporary canvas roof. While the hangman, _ tho same man wlio. acted at tlifi execution of Eggers ai)d Hothman, was making his final arrangements, the burial service was continued, and at its ?nd Gunn made his responses, several in number, calmly and with his eyes deed. He. was pale and novor opened his eyes, but showed no.feeling whatever. Just before the end his body swayed slightly as though' he were faint. , After the last of tho responses m the burial service, Gunn held out the_crucinx which hie had been carrying, and, handing it to tho priest, stid m a low voice, "Givd this to my mother and say tioocl'^riien 1 the Sheriff stepped forward and asked the prisoner if 1® Kid Anything to say. Gunn replied clearly and cvenlv "I am prepared to ncet my God and my Creator." The r.gngman then quickly drew the white cap ever the man a head fixed the rope, and drew the holt. Death was instantaneous. ' Among those who witnessed, the execution this morning wag Detective-Sergeant Cnmmings, police officer, who waß engaged on the trial, and a few minutes before Gunn was led '..'lit from bis ce' l " message was brought to tho l Father Herring to the effect that Gunn wished to say that he bore no ill-will against those who had been engaged n the prosecution. Gunn asked specially •thht the message bo conveyed personally to Detective Cnmmings. In former executions it was customary to toll the gaol bell as the man left his cell and until he waf It was also' usual to fly the black flag from some part of the jtaol. • A number_ of people in the vicinity of the gaol this morning waited a long time for the flag to go up. but both this uistom and that of the tolling bell have 1-eein Tho inquest rcouired b> the Crimes Act was held at the gaol this afternoon before Mr. Wilson, S.M., and a jury of four. Evidence 1 m r A cent (tho gaoler), th, 9 Sheriff nnd tho crnol Kurceon (J/r. i>lur ray) The iury found that death was due to hanging, and that the sentence of the Supremo Court had been carried out.