EXECUTION OF DUNN.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2615, 28 March 1866, Page 3

EXECUTION OF DUNN.

A sadder scene was never enacted in that arena of sorrow, suffering, and sin, comprised within the walls of D odinghnrst Gaol, than when John Dunn—the last of the notorious trio who, setting religion and law at defiance, excited feelings of indignation, insecurity, and terror throughout the colony—died an ignominious death upon the scaffold. Sad was it, indeed, to see a young man cut off in the very flower of his youth, before twenty summers had passed over his head, and steeped to the eyes in crimes at which humanity may well shudder; and yet It was evident from the calm fortitude displayed by the young outlaw when the awful hour of execution came, that with proper training he would have proved himself worthy of a better fate. More fortunate than his two quondam friends, Hull ami Gilbert, who fell by the avenging bullet, Dunn had the advantage of a trial, with all the solemn forms of law; and with a lenity which he accorded not to his victims, he was allowed time to prepare for his appearance before the Great Judge: ho was permitted, moreover, to avail himself of the services of a clergyman of the faith which he pr Jessed, to instruct and direct him in his appeals for mercy to an ever merciful God. He was much more robust than when he first arrived in Sydney. He gained in weight upwards of a stone during Ids incarceration in the gaol. We are informed that tbs' Roman Catholic chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. J. Dwyer, and the Rev. T. McCarthy, of St. Benedict’s (to whom the bushranger Vane surrendered), were with the condemned culprit until half-past 11 o’clock on Sunday night, and that soon after they left he fell into a sound slumber and remained asleep until half-past -ix o’clock yesterday morning, when he awoke and performed his ablutions, lie ate a hearty breakfast, and having smoked a pipe of tobacco, and to all appearance enjoyed it, he was prepared to receive two of the Sisters of Charity, who now paid him a visit. Between 7 and 8 o’clock the two clergymen who were with him over-night again presented themselves, and the two sisters bade him a final adieu. The clergymen now endeavoured by the usual religious exercises to prepare the mind of the wretched man for his approaching end, and at a few minutes to 9 o’clock the Sheriff proceeded to the cell, and with the customary formality demanded Dunn’s body. The two executioners then pinioned the culprit, and the mournful cortege moved slowly from the wing of the gaol toward* the gallows, erected at the eastern side of the yard. Dunn, who limped slightly from the effect, of the wound in his leg, walked : between the two clergymen, and repeated after them the solemn words of prayer which they uttered. Arrived at the foot of the grim instrument of death, the condemned man proceeded without assistance to mount the steps, followed by the Rev. Mr. Dwyer, in his clerical robes, and the executioners. Upon the platform the reverend gentleman read a short prayer, shook hands with the misguided youth who was about to pay the penalty of Ids crimes with his life, and DR the scaffold. The fatal rope was speedily adjusted, the white cap was drawn over the condemned man’s face, the bolt was withdrawn, and. with the heavy thud which immediately followed, the young outlaw cease I to live. The neck was evidently broken by the fall, for there was not the slightest movement of the muscles to indicate that any life remained. After hanging about twenty minutes the body was cut down, and subsequently delivered to a Mrs. Pickard (who, when the dead man was an innocent infant, stood as his godmother), for private interment. Thus perished on the scaffold, by the hands of the common hangman, the last at large, and the most bloodthirsty of Gardiner’s gang. Of this formidable band of highwaymen, which for so many years kept the colony In awe, it may not he out of place to mention, that four still survive, viz., Gardiner, the chief, who is undergoing a sentence of thirty-two years’ penal servitude ; Vane, who surrendered through the instrumentality of Father M‘Carthy, and was sentenced to fifteen years on the roads; Bow and Fordyce, sentenced to death, which was afterwards commuted (0 fifteen years’ penal servitude. Peisley and and Manns were hung ; the other five, namely, Bov rie, Burke, O’Meally, Ben Hall, and Gilbert, were shot dead—Burke and O’Meuliy by private hands, and the remainder by the police. The last who joined the gang was the “ Old Man,” who gave himself up to the police, and is now in penal servitude. AVe understand that a short time before bis execution, Dann wrote a letter to the governor of the gaol, thanking him, and the warders also, for his and their kindness. There were between sixty and seventy persons present to witness the execution. —Sydney Morninpr I'ost.