EXECUTION OF COLOR-SERJEANT COLLINS, OF H.M. 65th REGIMENT.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1724, 8 February 1862, Page 4

EXECUTION OF COLOR-SERJEANT COLLINS, OF H.M. 65th REGIMENT.

(From the "New Zealand Spectator," Feb. 1,1862.) Color-Sergeant Collins, of the 65th Regiment, suffered the extreme penalty of the law on Thursday last, the 30th January, for the murder of Ensign Alexander, of the same corps, at Wanganui, on the Ist November, 1861. This execution, which is the first that has occurred in New Zealand under the new system, took place inside of the Wellington Gaol at a little after eight o’clock on the morning of the 30th of January. During his confinement the prisoner conducted himself in the most becoming manner, and won the affections of all who visited him, the Warden and other officials of the Gaol, and the prisoners; and two of the latter volun teered to dig his grave. Sergeant Collins was not chained dining his imprisonment, a period of nearly three months ; and after his sentence he was offered to be taken out for a walk in the Jail yard once a day ; but this he declined, alleging that it would he giving too much trouble to others. In answer to questions put to him at different times concerning the crime for which he was condemned, he invariably and unreservedly replied that he was quite wrong in having shot Ensign Alexander From all that man can judge he met his end in the hope of being accepted through Him who died lor even the chief of sinners. His deportment on the scaffold was the same that he invariably manifested, firm and soldierly like, yet calm and resigned on the verge of eternity, so much so that all present were affected but himself. The Bishop of Wellington and the Rev. A. Stock attended him to tlie last, and that morning the Sacrament of the Holy Communion was administered to him, which was a most affecting scene. Besides the ministers of religion there were present at the execution H. St. Hill, Esq., sheriff; A. Johnston, medical officer to the Gaol; Micaiah Read, warden of the Gaol; J. Donaldson, turnkey; Inspector Atchison, Seijeant Mill ward, and a few of the Armed Police. Collins joined in prater with the Rev. A. Stock on the scaffold, and on the signal being given the bolt was withdrawn by the executioner, and he who stood a strong man in the prime of life became a lifeless corse. An inquest was held on view of the body at two o’clock. Anv person, on getting an order from a Justice of the Peace, could go and see the body. The features were scarcely at all altered; and from the statement of the medical gentleman in attendance Sergeant Collins must have died instantly, the neck being completely broken by the fall. One request he made, and that was complied with, that he might be buried in his military uniform as he was. He was buiied in an allotment in the Jail yard that evening at eight o’clock, the Rev. A. Stock officiating.

The following certificate and declaration were, drawn up and signed in conformity with the Executions Act:— I, Alexander Johnston, the medical officer in aliendance al the execution of James Collins al the Gaol at Wellington. do hereby certify and declare Hint I have this day witnessed the execution of lite said James Collins nt the said Gaol; and I do further declare that the said James Collins was, in pursuance of ibe sentence of the Supreme Court, hanged by the neck until his body was dead. Given under my hand ibis thirtieth day of January in the year 1862, at the Gaol nt Wellington. Alex.isdhk loitssTox, M.It.C.S., Provincial Surgeon, Wellington? Wn do hereby testify mid declare that we have litis dnv been present when the extreme penalty of tile law was carried into execution on the body of James Collins’ convicted nt the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme’ Court, held at Wellington, on the 3rd dav of December last, and sentenced to death ; and that the said Janies Collins was in pursuance of the said sentence hanged by the neck until his body was dead. Dated this thirtieth day of January, in the year 1862 in the Gaol at Wellington. ' ’ llEsar St. IIiLL. Sheriff. Alicaiah Head, Warden of the Gaol. James Doxai-lisox, Turnkey. FitKUEnicKATCinsox,lnspector of Police. Charles Millward, Serjeant of Police'.' THE INQUEST. An inquest was held on Thursday last, the 30lh ult. in the Wellington Gaol, before Mark Kcbbell, Esq., the Coroner, and. a respectable jury, on view of the body of James Collins, color-sergeant of the 65th Regiment, who was convicted at the Wellington assizes for the wilful murder of Ensign Win. Alexander, in

the orderly room of the Rutland Stockade, Wanganui. The inquest was held in accoldance with the Act to regulate the execution of criminals, passed 3rd Jane, iBsb; patagraph 6, “ that whenever any execution shall have taken place, it shall be the duty of the Sheriff to give notice thereof forthwith to the Coroner of the district, who shall as soon as conveniently may be, hoi I an inquest upon the body of the person upon whom the sentence of death has been executed ; and the Jury, which shall not include any of those who witnessed the execution, on such inquest shall enquire anil find whether such sentence was duly carried into effect on the body of the person condemned to execution.” Alter the Jury had been sworn in, they proceeded to view the body, which was laying, dressed in military uniform, in a coffin. Mr. Read, the Warden of the Gaol, was the only witness examined. He produced his warrant for the Execution, and read, nt the request of the Coroner, the following extracts from the Minutes of the Executive Council:- — Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of an Executive Council held on Friday, the 3rd January, 1862.

“ His Excellency the Governor laid before the Council the following documents having reference to the trial and conviction of James Collins, now tying under sentence of death in the Gaol at Wellington, for the murder at Wanganui on the Ist November, 1861, of Ensign Alexander, of H.M. Guth Regt., that is to say: Two letters from the presiding Judge, Mr. Justice Johnston, dated 6th December, 1861, with report of Trial and Evidence in re the Queen versus James Gallins.

Leiter from Robert Hart, Esq., Counsel for the Prisoner, dated sth December, 1861, forwarding copy of Prisoner’s instruction to Council.

Letter from prisoner Collins to His Excellency the Governor, dated December, 1861. Certificates of character and letterfrom Rev. A. Stock, dated Wellington, December, 1861, —enclosing letter from the prisoner Collins, and one from the Rev. D. Hogg.

Letter from certain gentlemen of the City of Wellington, praying for a commutation of the sentence of death passed on the prisoner Collins. Memorial with 332 signatures from inhabitants of the (ity of Wellington, praying for commutation of sentence.

Memorial, with 186 signatures, from the inhabitants of the Hutt, praying for the commutation of sentence, and letter from the Bishop of Wellington to His Excellency the Governor, dated 20tb December, 1661. Council, after a full consideration of all the circum stances of the case, see no reason for recommending his Excellency to interfere with the due execution of the sentence of the law.” True extract. J. Holt, Clerk of Executive Council. Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of an Executive Council, held on Wednesday, the 3th day of January, 1862. “ His Excellency the Governor informed the Executive Council that, after carefully considering the case of the prisoner Collins, he deeply regretted to say that he did not feel justified in interfering with the due execution of the law in this case. True extract." J. Holt, Clerk of the Executive Council. The Jury then brought in a unanimous verdict that the sentence of death had been duly executed. Collins’ remains were buried in the Gael yard, at eight o’clock in the evening, the Rev. A. Stock officiating. Through this lamentable affair, her Majesty has been deprived of two as good soldiers us ever entered the Service. It is fervently to be hoped, that the advice given by the prisoner will have the desired effect, coming as it does from a thoroughly penitent and dying man. The following pathetic letter, written to an old school-fellow in the 65th regt, a few days before the prisoner's end, shows the great change that had come over his mind while under sentence of death 21th January, 18G2. Dear B—, —lt is with sorrow that I write these few lines, hoping they will be a caution to you. Oh! think of my unhappy fate, as yon must consider it. Oh 1 B—, beware of my unfortunate career in tins world. Do, do refrain from liquor and bad company, as they will bring you to ruin in the end. Take warning by me ; do, before it’s too late. Don t let the evil one get such a hold of you. Oh 1 B—, do refrain ;do for God's sake, and for the sake of your unhappy old school-fellow. Little did I think those happy‘davs were to end in this way. Dear B—, I could not expect anything else; I took delight in offending that great and good God, who I have to appear before now, to ask for pardon. The Lord have mercy i n my poor soul, and prepare me for that great day. While we have health and .strength we are too apt to forget God ; but recollect what God says —that the wicked slull be cast, into hell and all the nations that forget him ; so dear B—, cio seek the Lord while he is near, and you will find rest for your soul.

Oh ! for God's shke, do take warning by the unhappy life I led. Little do we know the moment that the Lord will call us to give an account for out past life. What an awful thing it would be then to say that we are too late I How many have we read of crying for one day more to live, and that would not be granted them ; but thanks be to God, I have got a long day to seek for pardon from my Heavenly Father. Ah! ray dear friend, it is much more than I deserve for allowing the evil one to tempt me to do what I did? What con Id I expect but God’s anger to be kindled against me ? What can 1 say for myself ? Only that I trusted in the devil, and despised God’s holy power. J have got no excuse at all But I hope the Lord will be merciful to me and forgive me. Oh ! if I had to commence my life again, 1 would lead u different one; but it's too late to think of that now. Oh 13—, if you are leading such a life as I have done, change from it; do change from it: pray to God to give you health and strength to guard you against it; for any nmn that leads such a life cannot expect the love of God to be with him. Drunkenness—drunkenness and women will bring a man to the gallows, as it has the unfortunate writer of this note. Do—do, dear B—, for God’s sake, do lead a different life—do. Bear in mind that God is looking down on our conduct here on earth. Although we can’t see Him, He sees us. I know it is a hard task to lead a religious life in the Service, but there are a gieat many bad habits that you can guard against. You should be very thankful to Almighty God for being so kind to you as to spare you when your comrades were falling around yon at Taranaki. I hope that has taken some effect upon you. But I know a soldier’s life too well. The more danger, the less God is thought of. Oh B—, I ask you one request. When you are writing to j our loving sister —, don’t mention anything about me, as she is sure to know some of my relations in —. Most like y, when they see it in the papers, they won’t think that 1 am the unfortunate man, (I hope such will be the case), fori: would be a grievous blow to my dear brothers and sisters if they knew that their brother died such a death- As for my dear father and mother, I expect they are dead, and I hope in Heaven’ Oh God! Oh God I what have I brought myseif to at last. Little did 1 think that this was the way that 1 would have to leave this world ; but there is nothing left now for me to wish to remain in it any longer'; I nm quite reconciled to my unfortunate death. Dear B—, I would have written wore, only I could not; I feel wretched ! God only'knows the thoughts that flash through my unhappy mind, expecting every day to be the last. But God help nlo, that day will soon arrive. Dear B—.this is a very short note to you that Moved as a brother. I did not intend writing at all; for I feel wretched when 1 think of you. I hope these few lines will be valuable to you when I am cold in n.y grave, and that will be before yon receive this. I hope you will excuse me, for I can’t write any more. May the great God be with you. From your dear old schoolfellow.

Farewell B—, Farewell I May the Lord be with yon. May He give yen health and strength to seek Him. Do, do B—, seek the Lord while he is near. Farewell ! farewell ! dear B—. May God bless you, my dear old friend.

From the unfortunate JAMES COLLINS.