PRICE EXECUTED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 232, 28 June 1935, Page 13

PRICE EXECUTED

Showed Little Emotion on Scaffold GUILT ADMITTED At Mount Crawford prison, Wellington, the sentence of death passed on Charles William Trice for the murder of Evelyn Mary Madden at Argyll East. Hawke’s Bay. on February 8, was carried out. yesterday morning. The condemned man walked flrnny to the scaffold, and had nothing to say. He admitted his guilt a few days ago. Price was awake when called at 6.15 a.m. yesterday. He had slept little during the night, and his face was showing signs of mental strain. The last Sacrament was administered by the Rev. Father Uhlenburg, of Kllbirnie, and at seven o’clock Price had breakfast. ' The sheriff, Mr. W. W. Samson, went to the prisoner’s cell about four minutes to eight. Price appeared with hands bound. Supported by two, ward-* ers, he walked erect through the corridor and out into the yard to the scaffold, which wits under cover of a high wall. The procession was headed by the medical officer, and the superintend; nt of the prison, Mr. J. Down. Price mounted the steps to the platform with two warders and Father Uhlenburg. His arms were strapped. Standing near the top of the steps, the sheriff rend the following* formula: “Charles William Price, having been sentenced ‘that you lie taken to the place of execution and there hanged by tlie neck until you are dead,’ have you anything to say before the sentence is carried into execution?” “No.” he' almost shouted. Turning to Father Uhlenburg, he said in a quiet voice: “Good-bye, Father.’ 1 “Good-bye. God bless you,”-replied the priest. Without delay, a white hood was placed on the prisoner’s head, the sheriff raised a roll of papers as a signal, and itapied lately the body vanished into the screened enclosure below. Death was instantaneous. Four minutes had elapsed since lai left his cell:

At nine o’clock an inquest was held before the coronqr. Mr. E. Gilbertson. The medical officer gave evidence that death was caused by complete fracture of the vertebral column. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the sentence of the court. The body was buried at Karori yesterday afternoon, at the expense of the State.