EXECUTION OF A MURDERER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5643, 18 July 1905, Page 5

EXECUTION OF A MURDERER

CABLE NEWS.

NITED PIIUiS ASSOCIATION.- —BY ELECTRIC

TLLECRAI'U.—COPYRIGHT

TERRIBLE SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.

LET! Ell WRITTEN BY THE CON-

DEMNED MAN. (Received July 17, 9.32 p.m.) BRISBANE. July li

James ‘Wharton (or Warton) was handed this morning for the murder of William Munday. The condemned man had slept well, and ho ate a hearty breakfast. When placed on the scaffold Wharton was asked whether ho wished to say anything. , , . , . . After a painful silence he raised Ins eyes upwards and endeavoured to speak, but only a gurgling sound could be heal’d. Clearing his throat he- again attempted to speak, and in an almost inaudible voice said:—l am sorry for anything I have done and commend myself to those who may receive me. If there bo Heaven I hope that mercy will be shown mo, and that is all I have to say. The scone that followed was ghastly. When the rope became taut under the weight 1 of the fallen body, a gash appeared in the neck of the suspended man, and great streams of blood pouring down In's clothes formed a largo ■pool on the floor of the hanging chamber at his feet. When the rope was ! removed it was seen that the head had been almost severed from the body. I A letter written in a clear commcr--1 cial hand by the condemned man a few days ago to a prominent freethought advocate, who visited him several times in the condemned cell, states: —1 shall have to find my way across the harbour bar without the aid of any pilot. In these matters I have for many years carried an exemption flag, and as it has not been canned through caprice -or in ignorance I am compelled to carry it to the last. There is an impassable bar of what I honestly believe to be the inexorable logic of philosophy and the facts of history and the experience of nature, bf the world, the human race, and of myself, between me and the views of any religious organisation: so. instead of the departing as the Christian I soul of a priest. I only hope for the comfort and satisfaction of a last friendly good-bye of any one who cares to give it.—Yours gratefully. James I Warton.

Tbo frocthonght advocate mentioned interviewed Wharton yesterday. He states that Wharton discussed the political history of New Zealand fertile past twenty yeai-s, displaying a keen knowledge of that colony, and mentioning the names of New Zealand Promioi-s from Sir Julius Vogel down to Mr Seddon. He did not admit, however, that he was Butler (as has been stated), nor did he make any reference to the Dunedin murder for which Butler was tried.