After Being Hanged.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 53

After Being Hanged.

In the "good old daya 1 ' people sentenced to death occasionally, either by accident or by collusion on the part of the authorities, succeeded in cheating the gallows even after having been actually " swung off " Sir Walter Scott employs a dcv.'cc of this nature iv " The Fair Maid of Perth," but it is doubtful whether he would have done so had the scenes of the story been laid in more modern times, when such unwonted resurrections are so well gu»rded nijainst. On that account, therefore, the following strange narrative, which comes from Tunia, is all the more remarkable :—: — A certain gentleman named Mohammed Ben Ahmed el Habibi had a slight difference with a neighbour, which he proceeded to settle by " removing " not only his antagonist, bub two of the latter's children as well. Furthermore, when it was sought to arrest him he opened fire on the authorities with such effect that ha had

to be soverely wounded before he cou'd be oap« tured. For these reasons it was thought necessary not to give Mr Mohammed a chance of repeating his performances, to which end the services of a hangman were called into requisition. In due course the execution took place and everyone was congratulating himself that all was over, and well over, with Mohammed Ban Ahmed. He was left suspended for about a quarter of an hour, after which he was cub down, placed on a litter, and c*rried to tho criminals' cemetery. Attor the gravedigger had finished his labours the body was placed in a trench, and a f?jv» shovels of dirb were thrown upon it. Suddenly the still form showed signs of lifa and at; last sat up and coolly remarked : ' ' You might let a man have a drink befota burying him." But iostead of complying with this wi B h the aftnifhted gravedig 4 er dropped his shovel and fled to the prison at Bardo. where he informed tho diredor ot his weird digcovery. From 9 'o'clock until 12 Mohammed Ben Ahmed remained in the shallow gcave exposed to tbe burning rayj of the suu. Thau he was removed to the hospitil for conviots at Satiiki. He was soon oxxl of danger and was transferred to the galleys of L\ Ghuulette, where he is doomed to hard labour for life, which is looked upon as a commutation of sen* teiice. The uufair part of the affair seems to be thai while Mohammed has been restored to a s<n-. rowing world, the unfortunate gravedigger v*v» so affected by the shock as to place bus hf>. Ju danger.