THE CONDEMNED CRIMINALS IN SYDNEY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 821, 28 June 1879, Page 2

THE CONDEMNED CRIMINALS IN SYDNEY.

Two young men lie under sentence of death in Sydney gaol, having been found guilty of rape upon a young women. The most strenuous endeavors were made, which have since proved successful f ul, for remission of death penalty. This is a speech which' the Chief Justice, Sir Alfred Stephen, made to a deputation whioh waited upon him for the purpose of obtaining a remission of sentence : — " These young criminals had; been described in one or two instances as children ; the youngest, who instigated' the other, fourteen and ten months old. This was one of the abominable misrepresentations that had been made 5 he was a strong, able-bodied labourer, stronger than he (Sir Alfred Stephen) was . compactly built, and a stalwart lad — nojj.very tall, but a stout, able-bodied labourer. Careful inquiries that had been instituted showed that the girl had never romped with these boys, nor given, them any encouragement, and that slie : was as virtuous as any of their own daughters, or wives, or sisters could be. He did not say what would be the result of the consideration given to this case ; but he did say this — a solemn responsibility devolved upon the Executive Council, and upon him, t > see that these diabolical crimes were put down. If all the world Baid the criminals ought not to be executed, and he thought they should be, they might rely upon it he would do it. He had heard one gentleman who had waited upon him so express himself that he was shocked and horrified at the sentiment that seemed to pervade the British community, this Christian nation. He had in his possession no less than nine newspapers published in this colony, and well written, all in favour of this execution being carried out. There was every desire on the part of each member of the Executive to save the lives of criminals, if it could be done with safety to the public. The crime in this case was not of an ordinary kind.- He had had more experience in criminal cases than most men, and he had never known a single case of rape committed but there was instantly the effort made to try and have it appear that the unhappy"' creature consented. He thought those persons who held that opinion were themselves ruffians, for it was a libel on all womankind. He assured the deputation that if he thought, or should eventually think, that the lives of those men could be spared with safety to the community, there Was so man on this earth who would more readily do it than himself ; but he, told them, if the same thing were done to a daughter of his, he thought he should be strongly tempted to take the law into his own hands', and shoot the ruffian. He did not say he would do it ; he hoped he should not ; but he said he would be strongly tempted to do it. He did not think he was a hardhearted man ; but notwithstanding, if one of his sons had done this thing, he would be the last man on earth to ask that the law should not take its course. That he could say in the sight of his Maker ; he had such a strong feeling about it. If one of his sons had . done it, he never would ask mercy for him. In the case of the . condemned aboriginal, it had been stated that he was a mere animal, and could not know anything about the law he wad breaking. The aboriginal was a civilised black, he had been in the habit of working about the place, and spoke English as well as themselves. And the crime was committed with the greatest atrocity."