THE EXECUTION OF THE MAUN.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 6 October 1866, Page 3

THE EXECUTION OF THE MAUN.

G-ATAPU MURDERERS. The order for the execution of the three prisoners convicted of the Manngatnpu murders having, as we have already stated, arrived from Wellington by the Claud Hamilton, on Wednesday last, it was determined by the local authorities that the sentence should be carried into effect on the following Friday (yesterday) morning. Probably in anticipation that a longer time would elapse between the arrival of the order and its execution, the requisite preparations for the construction of the scaffold were not completed until late on Thursday evening. Shortly after eleven o'clock at night, workmen were busily occupied with its erection ; and we believe that their task was not terminated until an early hour of the following morning. The noise of hammers, &c, breaking with ominous sound upon the stillness of the night, told of the dismal work which was going on within the precincts of the gaol, and must have grated with awful significance upon the ears of those for whose doom it was so shortly to be instrumental. During the greater part of Thursday, the three prisoners ■were engaged with the varioua ministers of religion whom they had selected as their spiritual advisers ; Kelly being attended by the Eev. G. H. Johnstone, who was with him up to an advanced hour of the night, and who, visiting him early on the following morning, remained with him until the awful scene had concluded. We are informed that Kelly occupied himself, during Mr. Johnstone's absence, chiefly in smoking, and was very communicative, being apparently desirous of talking to everybody who approached his cell. Burgess was engaged with the Eev. Mr. Davis, a minister of the Baptist persuasion, and Mr. Daniell, in prayer and reading religious books, nearly the whole of the day ; he was attended by these gentlemen early on the morning lof and during the awful Bcene at the execution.. Levy preserved the same stolid demeanour which has characterised him throughout. The Eev. D.M. Isaacs remained with him until one a.m., after which time he slept soundly, until the return of the Eabbi at half-past five on Friday morning. Kelly, we are told, was very restless and feverish during the night, bufc Burgess appeared to sleep very calmly. We may mention that Levy addressed a letter, which we give below, to his mother, brothers and sisters, vehemently protesting his entire innocence of the crimes laid to his charge, and acknowledging, in grateful terms, the kindness and attention $ the Eabbi. This letter, as our readers will perceive, was written after ten o'clock on Thursday night. At an early hour on Friday morning a large number of persons might be observed hurrying to take their places on the various eminences surrounding the gaol, from which it was hoped that some view might be obtained of the last awful scene in this terrible tragedy. The summit of the Church Hill, as well as other available spots overlooking the gaol, was crowded, although we are informed that but little save the upper beam of the scaffold, or at | most the heads of the criminals, could be discerned from these points. At half-past seven the Nelson Volunteers took up their position, under Captain M'Tavish, around tbe exterior of the gaol ; a procedure which had been deemed advisable, in order to repress any possible demonstration on the part of the populace, with a view to obtain forcible entry to its precincts. This precaution, however, we are happy to state, was rendered quite unnecessary by the extremely orderly demeanour of the persons who had congregated outside the gaol. On entering the building and passing through the corridor in which the cells of the prisoners were situated (and in which the various ministers of religion were taking a momentary rest from their j labours) we reached the gaol yard, which is ordinarily used as a place of exercise for the prisoners — an open space occupying probably little more than thirty feet square. Here the eye was at once arrested by the scaffold, which rose in all its unsightliness at the south-west corner of the yard. This structure was of the most solid character, and at once dispelled any doubts which might have been entertained as to its strength or sufficiency for the purpose to which it was devoted. The scaffold was seventeen feet high, and about thirteen feet long, by some nine feet wide ; the height of the beam from which the ropes were suspended, from the flooring on which the prisoners were placed, being eight feet ; whilst the height, from the flooring to the ground, was nine feet, thus allowing a fall of five feet. The " drop," three feet six inches wide by nine feet long, was in the centre of the structure, and was kept on a level with the rest of the flooring by an iron rod ■with three flanges, which, at the fatal moment, were simultaneously withdrawn by means of a species of i trigger, placed, at the side of the scaffold. Here we may remark upon the great efficiency of all the arrangements made to ! insure the carrying out of the sentence with decency and expedition. Those to whom these arrangements were confided, are entitled to the greater credit when we rememi ber that this is the first occasion on which such a ceremony has taken place in this city, and that in localities where such events are commoner, contretremps of the most distressing nature have not unfrequently occurred. According to the regulations laid down by the law, the number of persons admitted to the interior of the gaol was extremely limited, including only tbe ministers of religion in attendance on the prisoners, the representatives of the Press, and a few Magistrates, together with some of the officials connected with the Government. It would be impossible to furnish a better argument in favour of private executions, than was afforded on the present occasion. The opportunity for the display of that morbid excitement, which the presence of a crowded audience is only too likely to create in the minds of criminals of this class, was entirely wanting ; and the attempt made by Burgess to engage the sympathy of the spectators, by an exhibition of mock-heroism,

whicli seemed tinctured with the idea that he deemed himself entitled to the crown of martyrdom, were received simply with pity or disgust by those before whom it was displayed. But we must return to our narrative. At twenty minutes to eight, the Acting-Gaoler, Captain Clouston, entered Burgess's cell, accompanied by the executioner, whose face was covered with black crane, and by whom the irons were removed from the prisoner's person; his arms being pinioned, but not so tightly as to prevent his raising his hands to his head as occasion demanded. A similar process was gone through with the other two prisoners, and, after some short delay, they entered the yard, attended by their spiritual advisers, apparently much composed in manner. Immediately on the three prisoners meeting in the yard, they shook hands with each other evidently with much fervour of manner. Burgess then immediately stepped forward and, addressing those around him, said that he was grieved to see " this poor Jew" and Kelly in so painful a position, brought there by false testimony ; he then stated his anxiety to declare, with his dying breath, that Sullivan had murdered Battle, De Pontius, and Dudley; that Sullivan was the veritable murderer of Mr. Dobson, and that he had been engaged, with himself, in six different murders. He then stated that he was not himself guilty of taking part in the actual murder of Mr. Dobson, but had become an accomplice in consequence of having been made privy to the transaction afterwards. Sullivan had committed those crimes, but he forgave him. He must forgive him as he looked himself to God Almighty for forgiveness of his own offences. He said he wished it to be understood that he made this asseveration in the most solemn manner, as he was incapable of calling upon the Almighty to witness a lie, when he was so soon to be ushered into His presence. After some few other remarks, he went up to Mr. Tatton, Mr. Hamilton, and Dr. Cotterell, and, shaking hands with each, acknowledged in energetic terms the kindness they had shown him in various ways since his conviction. He then passed on to Mr. Inspector Shallcrass, and complimented him on his efficiency and on his recent promotion ; and to Sergeant-Major Edwards, whom he also congratulated, expressing a wish that he might continue in the same upright course that he had hitherto pursued, and in showing humanity to all whom he had occasion to arrest. The next person whom he addressed was Mr. Daniell, who has attended him most assiduously since the commencement of his incarceration, and whom he styled " his friend of friends." He then passed on to Captain Clouston, and expressed his gratitude for the kind treatment he had met with at his hands, describing him as a very efficient officer, and " tbe right man in the right place." He also shook hands with the Eev. Mr. Davis, acknowledging his attention to him in conjunction with Mr. Daniell. He then addressed a few words to each of the subordinate officials of the gaol, shaking hands with them, and wishing them farewell. In conclusion, he addressed Dr. Vickerman, the medical officer of the gaol, in similar terms. It is worthy of notice that each of these speeches was made with a readiness and appropriateness of diction which, under such trying circumstances, was most astonishing ; and that in no instance did he use the form of words which he had previously employed. His manner was decidedly patronising, and even jubilant, and frequently I his eyes lighted up with a fire and brilliancy which seemed to denote that he was only too conscious of the fact that the attention of all present was riveted upon his words; and that the necessity of playing out his role effectively to the end had entailed upon him an exertion of the most extraordinary character. If this was indeed the case (as seems too probable from his demeanour on previous occasions) , and the excitement which he exhibited was really forced and unnatural, we can only say that he overacted his part, at all events so far as the majority of his audience was concerned. He resumed his address by asserting that he had no more fear of death than he had of going to a wedding; that indeed, although this was the morning of his death, he considered it as the morning of his wedding. He then expressed his readiness to obey the commands of the law, and prayed that God would have mercy on his soul. Immediately afterwards, perceiving the Eev. Father Martin standing in the doorway of the corridor, he went up to him, and thanked him warmly for the kindness he had shown him in calling to see him. In explanation of this circumstance, we may observe that Burgess (although he stated himself to be a Protestant, on his first entering Nelson Gaol), had described himself as a Catholic when confined in the Gaol at Dunedin, and had, with the other Catholic prisoners, regularly attended the services celebrated by Father Martin, whilst stationed in that city. That reverend gentleman, therefore, being on a visit to this city, and recollecting the circumstance, requested permission to see Burgess, who repeatedly expressed his gratitude for his services ; and in a letter addressed by him to one of his mates in Dunedin Gaol, he stated his determination to die a Catholic. This resolution, it appears, he was afterwards induced to change, owing, it is believed, to the great kinHness which he had experienced at the hands of Mr. Daniell, and probably to a general indifference to all religious distinctions whatever. | We may add that, during the time occupied by the other two prisoners in making their final statements, Burgess was moving about in different directions, addressing all who came in his way with the utmost vivacity of manner, and assuring them of his wellfounded hopes of forgiveness hereafter. Kelly then commenced reading, at first, in a very slow and deliberate manner, the following written statement, during which he was two or three times stopped by the Sheriff (Captain Walmsley) who reminded him that the time (eight o'clock) fixed for the execution had already expired. To these remonstrances Kelly replied by the most abject appeals to

be allowed to conclude it, and in these requests he was for some time indulged ; bufc at length seeing, we imagine, that the statement contained no real confession of his guilt, the Sheriff obliged him to desist, Kelly expostulated against this decision in the most piteous tones. This document has been placed at our disposal by the Sheriff, and we print it intact, with the exception of some alterations in the spelling : — The Dying Speech of Thomas Noon, called Kelly, Octobeb 5, 1866. A good morning, bufc an unpleasant morning, to you all, gentlemen, countrymen, brotherly men, and spectators of one of the most awful, terrible, dreadful, fearful, shameful, painful, mournful, sorrowful, hateful, wrongful, unjustifiable, ignominious, and inglorious deaths and murders that ever took place in the wide world since the creation of Adam. And a sad and sorrowful morning to myself. And may Grod be merciful to me, a sinner — the prayer that sent the publican home at ease and rejoiced. And I pray Grod will asaist and give me fortitude, in my hour of need, for to leave this wicked and sinful world to make my presence before the Judge of Judges, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Heaven and Earth, who sent his only -begotten Son to die the death of ignominy for my sins, which faith I believe in, having been taught from my childhood that the blood of the immaculate Lamb can wash, cleanse, and purify the soul of the most wicked, and prepare it for eternal salvation. I know Christ came into the world to effect a renewal in man, and I believe He does effect ifc in all who receive Him. I believe the Spirit of God dwells in them, leads them, and guides them in truth, and causes them to set their affections on things above. I also believe, if a man is in Christ, he is a new creature, and old things are passed away — that is, things that are natural to the heart, and would bo allowed in my practice, if I were left to myself — are exchanged for higher desires and heavenly views ; and thus I have been gradually prepared to leave a state of being in which I believe, after all, there much remains of any that is polluted, v^o, or unsatisfactory ; and although it is nearly at the end of my days that I began a real, glorified state of spirit, soul, and body, I firmly hope and trust that the Almighty God, who has searched me and knows my heart, tried me, and examined even my very thoughts, and seen if there be any such wickedness in me as to ever know, for a certainty, of the Maungatapu mountain murders until Sulliyan had made a confession. I say that, may I never be forgiven my sins upon this earth, or after I shuffle off this mortal coil, and appear before my Almighty G-od, if I am not innocent of killing — or being with any person or persons that did kill when they were killed — the unfortunate men upon the Maungatapu mountain, or any other murdered men in the world. If my asseverations, declarations, and dying words be not the truth about these men, and nothing else but the truth, I hope that after I ascend the fatal and unwelcome scaffold and the bolt is drawn that will launch me out of this world, and that whilst my frail and worthless body of clay is dangling in the air, that the devil will be waiting for the moment my soul departs from this body, for it to be borne on the wings of the devil to the bottomless pit of hell, at a speed more rapid than lightning, or than the light of the sun reaches our earth ; yes at a speed as quick as thought, which I believe to be the fastest thing that travels, for I can think to heaven in an instant. I was fatigued and worn out from the hardships of my long trial which caused mo to make so brief a defence, for I had a long defence prepared, which I was not able to deliver, and I was so overcome by an unfathomable depth of emotion, that I did not have the thought or power to do more than I did, or I would not have asked his Honour and the jury to be my counsel ; I ought to have requested to have been allowed some ono to read my defence, which was thirteen sheets of foolscap paper. The world cannot my surprise and amazement at not being allowed to say why sen ten co of death ought not to be passed upon me, unless what I said was [on a point of] law. Oh my dear God! help me; nine-tenths of the inhabitants of the guilty town of Nelson would not be allowed to speak if (though God forbid) they were in my unfortunate, unhappy, and sorrowful position. Oh ! I might as well have confined myself to the solving of the problems of Euclid, for I know no law. I would have dearly liked to have been allowed to speak, it would not have taken long ; though I would have said a great deal — something about his Honour Mr. Justice Johnston and one of my jurymen, and Mr. Carter, and the ma?i who said he was with Mr. Bown; also Sullivan, the demon of the West Coast, and, I believe, of the Maungatapu mountain assassination. I am going to die in the morning, and I forgive everybody as I hope the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to forgive me ; and may the Lord have mercy upon my soul and bring me to h'fe everlasting, and the eternal bliss, joy, glory, love and happiness of heaven. Too much credit cannot be given to the Christian-like community of Nelson, for I heir zealous, persevering conduct, in searching out the whereabouts of their own missing and murdered fellow-creatures, totally regardless of fatigue or danger, which rain, hail, frost or sunshine, hunger or thirst, and the hardships of traversing the matted and entangled, and thick, and closely unturned jungle of parts of the forest and bush that grows more and more, both winter and summer, in the wilds and valleys and other parts of the colony of New Zealand. I have often thought of the professions of sorrow expressed both by ladies and gentlemen, of the pretty (and once peaceful and quiet) town of Nelson, whilst I was at times in the company of Sullivan (whom I believe to be as guilty as Burgess) ; and I pray God, if he is, he will not reach the other side of the grave without the world knowing it. Oh yes, the residents of this town did not spare money or anything that would lead to the discovery of their injury, and may God bless them for it, for I believe, from the circumBtances that have taken place, the Almighty God guided, assisted, and directed them. Yes, I say again, may God bless them for it, though poor, innocent me (of the unfortunate men's murders), has to die the death of ignominy and shame nine hours after coming to this part of my writing, it being now nearly eleven o'clock at night. These are the sentiments of my poor understanding (from what I have learned since my arrest) of what has taken place on the part of the people of the town named alter the gallant hero of the sea and oceans, the conqueror of the enemies of Old England, my country — Nelson, the inimitable wonder of sea-fighting ; and now I hope he's happy. God blesa him, for I like a patriot. A good-bye to all. * There is an hour when I must part, With all I hold most dear ; And life with its best hopes will then As nothingness appear. There is an hour when I must die, Low on affliction's bed j And anguish, tears, and bitter pain, Become my daily bread. There is an hour when I must sink, Beneath the stroke of death ; And yield to him who gave it first — My struggling vital breath. There is an hour when I must stand, Before the Judgment Seat ; And all my sins, and all my foeß, In awful vision meet. There is an hour when I must look On one eternity ; And nameless woe, or blissful life, My endless portion be. Oh ! Saviour, then in all my need, Be near, be near to me ; And let my soul in steadfast faith, Find life and Heaven in thee. And this hour has been fully, clearly, sincerely, and conscientiously before me the greater part of my life, but never as it should have been, or as it has been since my arrest. But, may I find life and heaven with God. So good-bye, and adieu, and farewell to everybody. Fbok Tomre Nook, oailed Kellv,

Immediately after handing over this paper (which, Are should mention, Burgess had volunteered to read for him), Kelly sat down on a bench close by, and exclaimed, " God bless us all, I have cried all night to myself, aud I can't cry now." In fact his manner, even at tin's stage of the proceedings, was precisely that of a person under the influence of spirituous liquor, his gestures aud the inflexions of his voice being perfectly idiotic at times. ♦ Burgess here begged to be allowed to state that "Wilson (or Murray, the man charged with Mr. Dobson's murder), was entirely innocent, and that he had yesterday made a statement to the Government on oath, proving that Wilson was with . him at the time the murder was committed, and, indeed, from the Sunday to the Friday night following. He added that it had gone forth that Mr. Dobson had been murdered on the 29th May, whereas it took place on the 28th May, on aMonday afternoon, between four and five o'clock, and stated that the two men (Levy and Kelly) were morally guilty of this murder, as having been afterwards i informed of the deed, but that they took no part in it. He then said, with much apparent satisfaction, " Now, Mr. Sheriff, I am ready, you can carry out the law." Levy then requested permission to« speak, and said : — " I have been most unmercifully dealt with by the Government, in not supplying me with the twenty-five pounds which I asked for out of the money stopped in order to procure a witness or two which would have been greatly in my favour. They have spent thousands to secure my conviction." [The Sheriff here requested that lie would confine his remarks to matters affecting himself at that moment.] " I was never there, and my tongue was shut when sentence of death was passed upon me. It is but fair to hear me, for you are demanding the body of an innocent man. The Govern ment have been at a great expense to convict me by the assistance ot' the approver Sullivan, and it is very hard that I am not allowed to speak." [The Sheriff interrupted him, and told him he would not allow him to say anything which did not refer to himself.] "All through the approver Sullivan, the Government had been at enormous expense, but I applied to Mr. Sharp to see if the Government would grant me assistance, after my money was stopped, and received for answer, from Mr. Shallcrass, that subpoenas might he served, that the witnesses might come or not, as they liked, but that I should receive no aid. The approver Sullivan has sworn everything in existence to put my neck where his own ought to be, on account of ray having been seen with him. I solemnly declare before Almighty God, at this moment, that I never saw him for twenty-six hours previous to the time when the awful occurrence took place. I have to comment on the conduct of Mr. Shallcrass, because the Almighty tells m.c I must, and it is better to do so now than hereafter. He has sworn falsely in some things in my case. I told the Superintendent yesterday, that I wished him to be present at my execution, when he would hear what I had to say. He said he would take down anything I had to say, and I told him that wh-it I had to say I would say in public, as I had been tried in public. If he were here, he would bear witness to the words which lam about to say. He has given too much sway to the approver Sullivan. When I was in No. 2 cell, I was an eye-witness to the Superintendent going to Sullivan's cell. Sullivan began weeping and wailing about his poor wife, and the Superintendent told him not to fear, that he would get a free pardon and go to another part of the world, where no one would know him. He then patted him on the cheek and told him to cheer up. I hope, Mr. Editor, you will publish these remarks, spoken in my last dying moments. If Sullivan had not been prompted so much as he has been, he would never have gone to the length he has." Kelitb : Poor Levy ! Levy •} Never mind, the Lord is waiting for us. ;I must also state that the press has given me a very indifferent character. I left Melbourne last month, twelvemonths ago, with some £500 or £600 worth of property. I never was at Wood's Point in my life. The press has been against me greatly, from my first apprehension whilst being conveyed from the lock-up to the gaol. I do not mean that parties should be punished of whom I am about to speak, but to show the feeling of the inhabitants of Nelson. The Sheriff : I can only allow you a few minutes more. Levy : I beg to be allowed to speak for a few moments longer. Had I been tried anywhere else I don't think I should have been found guilty by any jury. [The prisoner's voice was here drowned in his sobs.] The Sheriff : Pray be quick. Levy: I wish that the very few here would pay particular attention to this : lam innocent of the murder of Felix Matthieu and James Dudley (tfro men I knew well), as well as that of De Pontius, Kempthorne, and James Battle. [This was said very firmly and with marked emphasis]. I was neither there, nor did I know they were murdered until the bodies weie found some ten days after my apprehension. I neither received any moneys in the same awful tragedy, knowingly, so help me God, the God Jehovah whom I worship ; and Kelly, my fellow-sufferer, was with me. I declare to the Almighty in Heaven, and to this assembly that I am innocent of this murder. Amen !" Levy made this statement without notes, and very deliberately, though he evidently at times experienced great difficulty in controlling his feelings. Kelly then said that he would have made a longer defence at his trial, but that he was so fatigued by the length of the proceedings that he could not conduct his case properly. He again vehemently protested his innocence, and entreated the Sheriff not to be in a hurry. The procession then moved towards the scaffold, the Gaoler leading the way, accompanied by the ministers of religion and the officials of the gaol, the prisoners follow-

ing them. Burgess and Levy ascended the rather lofty flight of steps with considerable composure of manner, whilst Kelly required assistance to enable him to mount the scaffold, evidently lingering in the rear of his companions in crime as long as it was possible to do so. And here ensued a scene of the most painful nature, one which almost baffles description, but which, nevertheless, it is hardly possible to regard otherwise than as a consistent and appropriate finale to this most extraordinary tragedy. Immediately on reaching the flooring of the scaffold, Burgess placed himself under the centre rope, which he kissed, saying that he greeted it as a prelude to Heaven, then knelt, and, as far as we could hear, or were able to learn, these were" the last words which he uttered audibly upon earth. Levy knelt at the side of Burgess with much composure, saying to him, " I will hang on the right side of you." Kelly, however, who was evidently in a state of the highest nervous excitement, for some time resolutely refused to otey the directions of the officials, literally screaming and ejaculating in the most piteous tones, "Don't do it yet, let me speak. I am forced, lam not hanged, but murdered." And then, with an almost idiotic expression on his features, " Grod bless me, where am If I ought to be allowed to speak." At length he was forced to kneel in order to enable the officials to fasten his feet, and also those of his fellow prisoners, and their arms were also at the same time more closely pinioned. During this time the various ministers were engaged in whispering consolation to their respective charges, and the scene of confusion which Kelly's violent conduct produced may be more easily imagined than described. The ropes were then placed round their necks and the white caps drawn over their faces, but during the whole time Kelly never ceased talking, or rather whining out, in a half broken voice, saying, " I did not write that name on the gun, Burgess did it. I hope I may go to God, and every one here." He insisted upon shaking hands with the executioner, and when that functionary was adjusting the rope said, "Don't choke me that way. God bless me and all of you. I should not be expected to understand points of law ; you might as well expect me to understand problems in Euclid. I forgive all." Levy then turned round and called out in a loud voice, "I am innocent." These were his last words. Our readers may picture to themselves the distressing nature of this scene, which visibly affected every spectator present, and which seemed to increase in intensity every moment it was prolonged. Kelly's shrill and discordant voice was still heard continually shrieking forth, in the most heartrending accents, "I. pray you to give me liberty to speak for a moment. I am in a Christian country. Will you allow me or not ? lam innocent, so help me God ! God bless all who are looking at me. I liked Nelson, indeed I did, and would have been glad to live in such a Christian community. I would have lived there and married, had I been allowed, and conducted myself respectably." Once Kelly attempted to move himself aside from the drop, but was immediately replaced by the officials in attendance. During all this time Burgess and Levy were still kneeling, the former resting his head upon the shoulder of the Eev. Mr. Davis, and the latter listening to the exhortations of the Eabbi. All the requisite arrangements having been made for the last fatal scene, the wretched men were placed upon their feet, and the ministers of religion in attendance took leave of their respective charges and quitted the scaffold. The Eev. Mr. Johnston then began reading the sentences which commence the Anglican Burial Service, "I am the Eesurrection and the Life " — Kelly still entreating to be allowed to speak — and he had scarcely reached the last step of the stairs, uttering the words, " in the midst of life we are in death," when the bolt was drawn, and the sudden twang of the ropes announced that Justice had been done, that all was over, and that "the wicked had ceased from troubling." Both Burgess and Levy seemed to die at once, they never showed the slightest motion even of the muscles ; but Kelly seemed to die hard, as the saying is, and it was thought necessary that the executioner should complete his odious duty by hanging on to his legs, and this was repeated more than once. The feelings of all present had been so excited by the previous scene that the dead silence which followed on the consummation of the tragedy seemed almost a welcome relief. The execution took place exactly at half-past eight o'clock. It had been arranged that a signal should be given by the hoisting of a black flag outside the Gaol, at the moment when the drop would fall, and that this signal should be notified to the public by the firing of the gun on th,e Port-hills. This, however, was not carried into effect, through some accident to the flag-staff. The bodies were cut down at five minutes to nine, and immediately conveyed to the common-room of the Gaol. In the meantime the usual official document testifying to the proper fulfilment of the last sentence of the law, which was signed by the Sheriff, Captain Wright, Messrs. Blackett, Daniell, Pollock, H. Eedwood, junior, S. Eobinson, J.Ps ; D. M. Luckie ; J. F. Merewether, 8.A. ; Hamilton, Tatton, and La Griff. An inquest was then held upon the bodies, before the Coroner, Dr. Squires, and the following jury : — Messrs. W. H. Barlow, foreman, I. F. Leech, B. Smallbone, E. B. Walcot, W. Lightfoot, E. Martin, J. Pratt, John Barton, S. Fittall, John Wigzell, James M'Conkey, Alexander Fletcher, Thomas Harley. The Coroner having produced the warrant for the execution, Dr. Vickerman testified that the deceased died from strangulation, caused by hanging, and the jury immediately brought in a verdict, in accordance with the medical evidence, to the effect that the deceased " Died from strangulation, being hung in pursuance of the sentence of the law." The faces of Burgess and Levy wore a very calm expression, whilst that of Kelly was slightly distorted, a circumstance probably arising I from the fact that he was speaking at the

moment when the drop fell. There were no visible marks of strangulation on the neck of Levy, such as were exhibited in the case of the other two malefactors. We may also mention that Kelly's body exhibited a large number of marks, including a cross upon the breast; an eagle, with the English and American ensigns, and the word " Peace " on the right arm, and two men boxing, under a mermaid, on the left arm. None were discovered on the other two bodies. Mr. Hamilton has informed us that moulds for the casts of the three heads have been successfully taken by Messrs. Tatton and Knight. It has been a matter of dispute amongst medical authorities whether death in such coses is caused by strangulation or by dislocation of the spinal column. The necks of the three malefactors were therefore dissected by Drs. Williams and Cusack, and it was satisfactorily proved that death has resulted in each case irom strangulation, the spinal column being found to be perfect in each instance ; thus setting this much vexed question at rest. The bodies, having been inclosed in Bhells, were interred at a late hour last night, within the precincts of the Gaol, as the law directs. Thus ended the last scene of one of the most appalling tragedies which it has fallen to the lot of the journalist to chronicle, and which, in many of its distinctive features, is without parallel. The following is the letter to which we have referred as having been written by Levy the night before his execution, and which has been handed to us for publication by the Eabbi :— Nelson Gaol, Ootober 4, 1866, i past ten o'olook at night. My diab Mother, Bbothebs, and Sistebs— With pain I write these few lines to you, to let you know of my painful situation previous to my departure from this earth, as I havo been sentenced to death for what I never done ; and I hereby swear by the great and merciful Jehovah as I am innocent of the murders of Mathieu, Dudley, De Pontius, Kempthorne, and James Battle, or any other murder or murders during the whole course of my life, thank God. My dear mother, I have taken the most solemn oaths to the Rev. D. M. Isaacs, our late Minister, of my innocence, and as I hope for forgiveness of the Almighty for my past sins, that my time is now drawing to a close, having but a few hours left me for life in this world, so you may .believe mo when I swear by the Eternal God, or Jehovah, that not only am I innocent of any murders, but I am also innocent of ever receiving any money, knowing such money to have belonged to any murdered man, woman, or child. All these solemn oaths have been taken by me without any reservation of any kind whatever. I hope to the Almighty that the monster of a villain, for I cannot call him a man, who has doomed me to this awful death, will at some future time, on his death bed, will only confess to my innocenoe. I would freely forgivo him all he has done to me as I do not ask now to live, but all I ask of him to take away that stain that he has cursed on my co-religionists. I feel I shall meet my awful death with resignation, as I shall die innocent of the charges brought against me; my only last hope is that the villain won't dio without making a true confession to clear me in the eyes of the public. My dear mother, my heart is too full to write more, especially as my life is so short, having to leave this world to-morrow morning at eight o'clock, that I feel I shall dio happy as I am prepared to meet my Maker, as I am suro I shall rcceivo more merer and Justice in heaven than I have received on this [earth]. My dear mother, brothers, and sisters, I oannotinolose this without mentioning thekindness of Mr. D. M. Isaacs, who has visited mo every day continually since my trial, he having come many miles for the purpose of administering religious consolation which we all stand so much in need of, and I am sure he will inform you that I have prayed devoutly and havo been truly penitent for my past sins and also for being in such bad company, and I hope tho Almighty will reward him for his tenderness to a dying man. My dear mother, Mr. Isaacs has promised me ho will write to you, and he will explain it to you more fully as my mind is too much upset, so I must now conclude by wishing all of you bcatUb and b»ppiness in this world, and bolieve me, your affectionate but unfortunate son, Phillip I/BTr. To Mrs. Levy, London.