THE LAST OF EGGERS.

Grey River Argus, 8 March 1918, Page 2

THE LAST OF EGGERS.

After his execution last Tuesday the body "of Eggers was taken, from the prison gates at Lyttelton at 4 p.m., and conveyed to the public cemetery ia an ordinary trap. The burial_ service was conducted by the Rev. J. H.-Hew-land (who attended Eggers m his: last hours), the grave being in the southeast corner of the cemetery. A representative of the Prisons Department, AVarder Macalpine, was present. There were.no mourners. The coffin was an expensive and handsome one. Prior to the execution, Eggers who had since his conviction been lodged in the customary condemned cell at Lyttelton Gaol, in the north wing under constant surveillance,* spent much time writing, mostly in the preparation of a long statement in which he declared with much repetition he had not done the actual shooting. At the same time he wrote certain letters, some of which were sent out in the usual way through the gaoler, and were subject of course to censorship. Two others were written apparently with the hope that they might be smuggled out. In: one of them, addressed to Mrs McMahon; he suggested that she should obtain a small quantity of strychnine which he already had among his belongings in Christchurch and should smuggle it into the gaol, sewn in the hem of some underclothes which were to be sent for his use. In another long letter which was also written clandestinely, he had made a statement virtually confessing to the crime. In_a later portion of :'this letter, however, he .stated that he had not actually done the shooting and that it was done by another man for £500 which was paid lover. These two letters were inter- \ cepted by" the authorities, but were I not used against the accused on his trial. Eggers was such an exemplary prisoner that it is doubtful whether he realised the fujl significance of his situation. He is reported to have frequently cracked a joke with the warders, or discussed • the war or other topics; but he never showed any hope of a reprieve, and this hope was never encouraged by those around him. In view of the nature of the crime. On the contrary Eggers was given to un-^ derstand, immediately after his conviction, that he had little to hope for in that direction. The gaoler, Mr. J. Scanlon, supplemented the prisoner's diet with various extra items,' but Eggers went steadily off his food/ and neither ate not slept Well, losing weight all along.The Sheriff, stated, regarding the written statement; that he could not give it for publication, but it Would be sent to Wellington along w^itfi the statement (partly inaudible jo the* pressmen) which the condemned . 'nfcn ON THE SCAFFOLD. In this statement Eggers, speaking deliberately and without any trace of emotion, asked that a sum of £500 winch he claimed w^as not part of the m ,°s e y stolen, should be paid to Mrs McMahori. lie added that : he had prepared eighty-five foolscap sheets covering 37,000 words which lie desired to be published. Failing •jbhat, he asked that the statement should be handed, to his* solicitor, Bjtt. Hunter and he particularly requested that the original copy should be shown to Mrs McMahon. He stated that he. wished to thank the gaoler and all the staff tor their consideration. > Then the prisoner raising his voice a little, declared tfiat he would go out unflinchingly, realising" that he was relying on his Creator. "Standing here as a condemned man, with two moments to live," he added.. "' say I am not the man that d)(3 the scooting." He repeated this phrase three times, and added, "Lei it be the last words I speak, I never shot John Coulthard." The only persons to mount the scaffold were the hangman, the two warders with the condemned man, and the sheriff and Mr. Hawkins. The chaplain remained* ait the foot of the steps. He had recfted portions of the Fifty-first Psalmy and several prayers, the time being too short for a recital of the customary semefe.' Mr. H : ewland-< continued to pray as the execution went forward. Eggenj was calm, and walked firmly. .. H,e had-de-clined breakfast. It .. was marked that his power to take hold of himself was extraordinary ■ as he fiad. betrayed som&j£mqtfqn djiring the mourning, and had been in tears a few minutes before the sheriffV party arrived at his. cell. . . . ; " . . The last remarks heard by the reporters were not Eggers^a final words, for there followed a^n&udible «entfciice presumably of far"ewetf/ * *She tiahgra&n, adjusted, the w^£e cap and in three, seconds the execution _jj»><H«Qß|^