EXECUTION OF CAPT. JARVEY. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] Dunedin, Oct. 24th, 2.10 a.m.

Evening Post, Issue 224, 26 October 1865, Page 2

EXECUTION OF CAPT. JARVEY. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] Dunedin, Oct. 24th, 2.10 a.m.

At a quarter after eleven this forenoon William Andrew Jarvey was hanged within the Dunedin Gaol, for the murder of his wife, Catherine Jarvev.^fr The convict died without confession. The scaffold was erected in the small yard of the female division of the gaol, and, including the officials, about twenty persons witnessed the execution. About eleven o'clock last night the Rev. Wm.

Smith, the gaol chaplain, visited the convict at his own request, and remained in conversation and prayer with him until one o'clock. Then the chaplain w ithdrew, and when he returned with the governor, bet*den four and five o'clock in the morning, the convict was sleeping. The Rev. R. Connebee, in fulfilment of his promise, was at the gaol early this mornins, and he and Mr. Smith remained constantly in the cell. Both the .ninisters, together and separately, more than once referred to the awful question, " Are you guilty or not guilty ? " but in no case would he listen. When the last question was approached by the Rev. Mr. Connebee, the convict replied to this effect : "Do not persist with that subject. I wish you would not." Several times the convict asked for and partook of coffee. He ate but little during the morning. The sheriff reached the gaol before ten o'clock, as did Mr. S. M. Hocken, coroner. At a quarter before eleven o'clock the tolling of the prison bell was commenced. The cell in which the convict was adjoined the day- j ! room, and in the latter the prisoner was ' pinioned. Those who were admitted to the day-room could hear the fervent toues of Mr. Connebee, and the convict responding , firmly and earnestly. Then the voice of the chaplain could be heard, and when it ceased Mr. Connebee pronounced a benediction. When the sheriff and the governor of the gaol presented themselves at the cell door, and the clergyman entered the dayroom, the sheriff made the formal demand of the body of William Andrew Jarvey for execution, but the convict requested that he might once more see Mr. Connebee. That gentleman and the chaplain returned to the cell. Again the voice of prayer was to be heard. The ministers prayed first ; then the convict prayed briefly, but with seeming sincerity. Once more the benediction was pronounced, and then the convict walked into the day-room. He wore the suit of black clothes in wuich he appeared during the trial, and his hands were gloved. He looked pale, but only slightly so ; there was not a sign of nervousness or agitation about him. He advanced to the gaoler, shook hands with him, saying, " Bless you, sir;" he also shook hands with the sheriff, also with some of the officers of the gaol, with a brief " Good bye." frhe hangman had now entered ; a light snaTby frieze coat, a slouched white hat, and a muffl.r for his disguise. The pinioning was commenced, the comict standing firmly erect, and shifting his position to facilitate tlie hangman's work — nay, he directed it, speaking to this effect — " Don't bind me too tight ; there, that will do, let me go a little more free ; loosen that turn a little ; let it go dowu by the side, so that they may be straight." The sheriff made an observation, and the convict added — v Ob, this will do, sir, so that they come straight." While the hangman was knotting the rope at the back, the convict remarked, with slight impatience, " There, that will do now, you have done enough ; you are a long time about it ; tuck that end in ; he will pull me back presently if he pulls in that way ; they are quite tight enough, Mr. Sheriff— make them straight down across the arms, sir. 1 tell you they are quite tight enough." Tne piuiom.i D ' was completed, and the convict made two steps forward, us it to watk ut once to the scaffold. He was directed to wait, ihe hangman then produced a white lineu cap, ou seeing which the convict exclaimed, "Now, there is time enough for that when I am out there; it is always done outside." But the cap was put upon lib head, and he, stooping, was enabled to raise his right band to take it off. The sheriff said, " You must submit, Mr. Jarvey ; it must be put on ; do not take it off again." The convict submitted, and the cap was replaced. By this time the convict's face was pallid, but he spoke firmly still. "Does any one want to shake hands with me P" he asked, and the clergymen and officials did shake hands with him. Then he Jtorned to the door of the cell and advanceTk The Rev. Mr. Connebee supported him, though he evidently did not need support ; and, with • firm, even,, spriuging step, he walked

the short distance between the day •room ' and the doorway which opened out at once upon the upper landing of the scaffold. He was still firm as he mounted the few steps, and with equal firmness he placed himself directly under the beam. Mr. Connebee, as soon as the day-room had been quitted) commenced reciting the burial service : — " I am the resurrection and the life, ice.'' The rev. gentleman continued while the rope and cap were adjusted. He was ghastly pale as the cap was drawn over his face. The instant before this was done he softly called to Mr. Connebee, who stood at one corner of the scaffold. The reverend gentleman advanced, and the convict spoke two or three words ; they were, we believe, his last farewell. Certainly they were not a contession, nor an indication of any yield* ing towards one. Half a minute elapsed, and then with an indtscribable clank the bolt was drawn, aud tiie body of the murderer disappeared from the few spectators who stood in the yard. The fail was terrific. The tvvaug of the rope was a sound not easily to be be forgotten. A fur a few seconds had passed, the hands were twice slightly raised with a sharp, convulsive movement; then there were several movements of the throat and chest, and, later, a tremor ran through the body. That was the last visible sign of lite in the human frame of Win. Audrew Jarvey. The required declarations were signed by Dr. Hulme and tbe other officials, and at three o'clock the Coroner will hold an inquiry, which is directed by the Criminals Execution Act. — Lyttelton Times.