UTMOST PENALTY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 56, 8 March 1915, Page 8

UTMOST PENALTY

♦ I ROTTMANN EXECUTED AT TERRACE GAOL THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY. j Arthur Rottmann, tlie young German who was sentenced to death at Wanganui on 13th February for tlie murders of Joseph M'Cann, Lucy Mary M'Cann, arid John Joseph M'Cann, their infant child, at Ruahine, on 28th December last, paid the full penalty of tlie law at The Terrace Gaol this morning. The execution took place at 8 o'clock in the presence of the Sheriff, Mr. W. A. Hawkins ; the gaoler, Mr. M. Hawkins ; the Methodist chaplain, Rev. J. G. Chapman ; the medical officer of prisons. Dr. H. A. Gilmerj Mr. E. Arnold", Visiting Justice of Prisons ; two warders, and three press representatives. Contrary to the usual custom, the service, at Rottmann's special request, was held in the prison cell instead of on the way to the place of execution. The scaffold had been specially constructed in a secluded wing of the prison, and was quite concealed from the world outside. At two minutes to eight Rottmann, who had his arms securely pinioned, was brought from his cell, and with a warder on each side of him, walked firmly and unsupported up the steps to the scaffold. His demeanour was calm to the end. Just prior to the execution he was asked by the Sheriff if he wished to say anything, and in a firm but low voice remarked to the small group around him :— * "I know nothing of what I have done to these poor people. lam willing to pay the penalty of my crime. It does not appear to me like a horrible sentence, but a great relief. I will die happy, facing the great entrance into a better life, and may God forgive the man that caused my death and a great many more deaths. If this war had never taken place I would still be a free man. I say good-bye to you all, and God be with .you till we meet again." The arrangements were carried out under the supervision of the Sheriff. Death was instantaneous. Ten minutes previously to leaving his cell Rottmann wrote the following verse on an envelope and handed it to the chaplain, remarking : "This is how I feel about it." "There is a stream of precious blood, Which flowed from Jesus' veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains. (Signed) Arthur Rottmann, 8/3/15." 'The handwriting of the verse (which is a paraphrase of a well-known hymn) was quite firm and legible, and a good specimen of caligraphy. Since his committal to prison under sentence of death, Rottmann, who stated he was a Lutheran, had been frequently attended by the Rev. J. G. Chapman as spiritual adviser, and never at any time did he show any signs of breaking down. Ho retired to bed early last night, and was sound asleep when awakened by a warder this morning at 6 o'clock. An hour before the execution he ate a hearty breakfast. At a formal inquest conducted at the gaol by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, Coroner, an hour after the execution, a verdict Was returned that death was due to hanging, and was instantaneous. The interment will be made at Karori.