EXECUTION OF STACK

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2618, 7 April 1866, Page 3

EXECUTION OF STACK

By the mail from Wellington on Wednesday, Mr. Tuckwell, tbe gaolor, received instructions to the eflect that the sentence of death, passed upon James .Stack for wilful murder, would take effect. Tbe sentence is to be carried into execution this day. This is the result we anticipated. It would simply be a premium to crime, were such men as Stack respited by the clemency of the Crown. The announcement that Ins time was appointed was made to Stack by Mr. Tuckwell on Wednesday night. On going to the cell, Mr. Tuckwell found the prisoner sound asleep. He awoke him, and read the death warrant, and, then waited for a few minutes in silence, but Stack said nothing. Mr. Tuckwell then said, "Stack, you see now the matter is about, closed." Stack said, " [ suppose so." Mr. Tuckwell then urged him to make the best use he could of the few remaining hours of life, to which Stack answered, " By God's blessing 1 will." In a few minutes afterwards Slack went on his knees and engaged in prayer. Yesterday morning, Stack asked Mr. Tuckwell to send for the Rev. Father Macdonald, the priest who has been attending him, and who has been most sedulous ever since the conviction. The rev. gentleman remained with Stack nearly the whole day. At nine o'clock last night Stack ?aid to the warder at the door of the cell that he wished to speak to Mr. Tuckwell, who immediately went to him. After thanking Mr. Tuckwell for lii 3 kindness to him, Stack said be was quite prepared for the change that was approaching. Several of the witnesses, he said, had told lies about him, especially Mrs. Weaver ; but he forgave them all. lie said, "I am quite prepared to meet my doom ; after all, perhaps it is better I should die here than in the bush, where 1 might die without seeing a priest." He said that his father, mother, and six brothers were living at his birthplace, in Listowel, county Kerry. Mr. Tuckwell told him he ought to write to them, so that they might learn of his fate from himself rather than any other way. Stack answered that he thought he would do so, tmt lie would first ask the priest about it. lie then said, " I have to-day confessed to the priest all my sins—the sins of my whole life." He did not say that he had confessed the crime for which he is about to suffer, and the question was not put. On Mr. Tuckwell asking him if he had been a great sinner, he said that he had not been a very bid man, but that the army and the bad wife he had married had