ANGUS MURRAY HANGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 9

ANGUS MURRAY HANGED.

PROTESTS HIS OTOCMCIiI DECLARATION ON SCAFFOLD. NUMEROUS SYMPATHISERS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright* • • (Boccived 10.35 p.m.) [■■■'■■""' A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE, April 14. Angus Murray was executed in the Melbourne gaol to-day for the murder of Mr. Berrimau, the Glenferrie bank manager. Murray declared hi 3 innocence from the scaffold, and concluded by asking the , hangman to pull the rope tight. A crowd, of several thousands gathered ; outside the gaol and sang hymns, and in I other ways demonstrated against the execution. ... ■

An hour before the hauging a large number of excited women attempted to mob the prison gates. The police dispersed them. - *

A procession through the city followed a meeting on Yarra bank yesterday, at which 10,000 people were present. ; The meeting adopted a resolution protesting against the hanging of Murray. After the meeting a petition bearing 65,000 signatures asking for a reprieve was presented to a special meeting of the Executive Council, which decided that the sentence must stand.

A statement by Murray was published in the Sydney Sun last week, in which he said:—"l want to let people know, especially my relatives in South Australia, and those who knew me as a boy, that I am not guilty of the crime for which I have been sentenced. Tell them that although I have been a pretty bad lot goodness only knows—l nave never committed murder, nor sanctioned murder. I did hot shoot Mr. Berriman, nor was I near the place when he was shot. I was wrongfully convicted. :< "Some of the witnesses at the trial convinced themselves that they had seen me at a house in St. Hilda, and afterwards at Glenferrie, but they ; just ! .convinced; themselves, and we know ; that people can . do that. From the 'i time I escaped from \ Geelong Gaol I never left St. Kilda, except- for ■•-» fortnight I put in at Port Melbourne. I used to go down oil the beach pretty well »<very day, arid would read a book or play with children there. - ■■;;,-,•:;■;,■•!; . S-r?M : . "Some of the newspapers have really convicted me by the way in which they created a feeling against me. T tell you I was astounded when the jury brought in a verdict of guilty. Not even a recommendation- to mercy. How 'different it was with the Pearce Bros., and i'those connected with the ; Trades Hall shooting! Mr. Gorman, my solicitor, pointed out in Court that in no " case that he could find had a man in company with another—as I was said to be—received the full penalty of the law when that man did not commit murder. ■ Mr. Gorman did all he ; could for me, but it made no difference. 1 Here I am. ; ' : ; ,;^ : t; \;* "My life'is' fast drawing to an end. 1 I have but 13 .. days to live. Sometimes I hear the clanging of clocks, and it sounds to 1 "meHike hammers of death. But- I intend to face my fate bravely. I just keep smiling. What else can »man do ? Why should I expect mercy now! : I Ttava exposed the penal system .on -two occasions, and they nave remembered ; me for that. { ' 'T have only, a'. few days v more left ! to ; ■' me of air and light arid food and sensation —all; that goes to make up life.. Then I will be no more. On the shadow of the scaffold I want, to ,s£vy 'Good-bye' to all my friends,; These are my parting words i - — am not guilty.' " ' ■'■■ >''•-• ■ The - crisie" for ""■ which Murray has paid , the,penalty^ occurred on October 9. Mr. Berriman, who ; was -manager of the Com- ', mercial Bank at Hawthorn, was shot by 'two''; men, who' attacked and: robbed him : near the Glenferrie station. ' He subsequently, died:., Murray .'appealed against the death sentence to the Federal Appeal Court • and„ to' the, Executive, %ut without avail. :. % • ,r . i>