LAST PENALTY PAID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 9

LAST PENALTY PAID.

EXECUTION AT HULL. ALL APPEALS IN VAIN. POIGNANT SCENES AT GAepAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.65 p.m.) ~ LONDON. Dec. 3. The execution of William Smith was carried out at Hull this morning -without incident. Contrary to expectations the crowd of 4000 people outside the gaol was most orderly. The hangman had slept hit the prison oo the previous night as a precaution. When the bell tolled the hour of execution the crowd sang " Nearer My God To Thee." There were poignant' scenes -when Smith's mother collapsed. She recovered, however, and remained for an hour amid the crowd.

William Smith was a bo'ilermaker, aged 26. He was found guilty-'of murdering "■". a woman with whom he had been living, because he believed that she had been unfaithful to him. After committing the crime Smith gave himself up to the police. He stated that when he a.ttaclced the woman he " saw red." Owing td his previous exemplary conduct and his fine war record, Smith found numberless sympathisers in Hull, and desperate efforts . were made to obtain a reprieve for him, the King being asked to exercise the Royal prerogative of mercy. The Homo Secretary, however, could see uo grounds for interfering with the course of justice, and, therefore, despite the pleas of his sympathisers and .the frantic efforts of his mother, he has now paid the last penalty for his crime. /