EXECUTION OF WELSH.

Southland Times, Issue 3329, 20 February 1879, Page 2

EXECUTION OF WELSH.

James Welsh, convicted ■; of murder at the last Invercargill circuit sittings of the Supreme Court, was executed yesterday. This case was one of no ordinary character, as will be generally admitted, owing to the large amount of public interest it. excited, and by reason of its singularly isolated or exceptional character ,. in the annals of crime within the colony. No parallel to the crime could be found for its, supreme brutality and deliberate intent, and this was made very much more apparent by the absence, so far as could be' discovered, of any provocation on the part of the unfortunate victim. All accounts of the young woman who called Welsh husband, agreed in pronouncing her •'well behaved, dutiful as a wife, and the possessor of a most amiable disposition. These circumstances no doubt combined to create in the minds of a few the suspicion that a man could not, without some tangible reason, commit a deed so tragic and so cruel, in cold blood. Therefore, they pronounced him insane, and a sympathetic cry of that nature was raised in order to bring about a commutation of the sentenc. It is not with the intention of re-introducing the arguments elicited during the interval of suspense that followed on a petition to the Governor in Welsh's behalf, that we now revert to these circumstances, particularly as the sentence of the law has been carried out, and the ends of justice have been met. _ Nevertheless, the occasion is one that naturally suggests some reflections on the extraordinary nature of the case, as well as the danger that at one time threatened of justice being met half way. A singular, circumstance in connection with the aifair was that the only ground upon which a commutation of the sentence could have been claimed, with any show of reason, was alleged to have been discovered subsequent to the trial. Considering this fact in connection with the time that elapsed between Welsh's committal and the trial before Judge Williams, those who watched the case were almost forced to accept either one . of two considerations that suggested .themselves. Either the trial itself was incomplete ;^b'r the theory of madness "set .up on behalf of the criminal was groundless. In support of what the sentimental students of this and similar cases would call the humane; aspect,' tliere was produced the certificate:, of a medical- man to the effect 'thatWelsh "was insane. ; But inasmuch a? this ■ opinion was the result of an examination mads since the trial, it-did nofc go to prove ' that he was 'of unsound mind when he committed the murder. Hence it might ha concluded that the medical authority produced by Welsh's syn)patluserS; did not go to prove li^uch, This the Government tacitly admitted, by directing that thereshould be; a conference" of several medical uien to finally/: -deeidei the and certain professional gentlemen were appointed with tlia't ;objecfc The result/ of tli<?ir examination, of Welsh and; consideration of his : case!' is known, It was' to. the effect that the man was i. in full •possession: of his, senseSj and this was communicated: to the Government, who advised his; Excellency aceprd^hg^^ :,- And finally^ the telegraphwires? carried ■:- to , /iisj -tlie intelhV gerice that the sentence pf the Court would hot- be ; 4hterf§red "yvithj^anid that ;^elsh could no, longer ; hOpe ; fpr 7 /•; :

The intelligence' tl'iat lie must prepare for death was epinmunicated to Welsh by the SheriiE so soon as he 7-eceivcd the official intimation of Ibu fact himself. The-: unfovlunaio uiatij who had all along seemed to be conscious oi: the fact that his doom was sealed^ did nqt manifest any emotion at the linp, "but in 'a very ]o\v' voice thanked Mr Stuart for his consideration. . Always a • reserved man, a<? we understand Welsh to have been ? the effects of his own rash act, and the trial subsequently, seemed to have increased that reticence, which almost .took the shape of a dogged gulkinees. Indeed, tliis was somewhat more likely -to. have been the case with, Mm, aa what little he $4 say to

those in daily communication with him, ssemecl to convey the idea that he. considered himsell^n injured individual, and he never once was heard to openly express contrition for, or repentance of, his terrible crime. At the same time it should not bs thought he was stupid, or that, he did not fully realise his position. On the contrary, when he did converse, thsjittle he said betrayed more intelligence than one in his position might be expected to possess. As the time approached for his execution lie gave no sign .of the inward struggle likely to be , experienced by a man-standing, as, it were, under such distressing circumstarices, on the brink of eternity. He bore up -well, ■ eat, drank, and slept Avith apparent, enjoyment, till the last day. Then he displayed evidences' of a teiTible anxiety,, oombined ■ with desperate resignation. He .did not: sleep,: till . far into: the: omornmg of yesterday. At two o'clock he got up, and had a smoke. At jßve he. slept, and was sound •■asleep when one of the v/tmlers^yent into his cell to call him up. The Itev; Father Higgins was' frequently with Welsh, who seemed gi-atef ulf or the consolation offered him. : ;'.-.- ;' ■-. f ::;■ ■■.. --'.V .. ; :. '■'" :' :: '■ "■"'

The execution was appointed to take place within the walls of the Gaol, at 7 o'clock: yesterday morning. Shortly before that hour ; a representative of this paper was in attendance for the purpose of importing the proceedings. Father Higgins had then bssn some time closeted with Welsh > who was T a, member, of the Romain Catholic faith. The cell of Welsh's prisqni was on 'tha'. right of \the Gaol ; office, and the necessary preparations for the performance of the, execution were -carried out at^the extreme rear of the Gaol, yard, so' that Welsh could ■ n.0.% from -his position, be harraSsed py a knowledge of what was going forward. At the appointed hour ther.e, . \yere in attendance— Mr Stuart (the Sherifc), Mr Fraser ;;(Goveraor of the Gaol), Dr Button, Superintendent Fox, Detective Spames, Sergeant Tuohy, and other 'members of the force ; also, .seyeral citizens and representatives of the press. Some little delay occurred, owing- to the apparatus connected with the scaffold not being : properly "adjusted, ■"■.a defect .Avhich Avas happily discovered before the prisoner appeared on the scene. The person-em-ployed.to fill the office of hangman was a young nian below ; the middle height, whose general appearance at the execution was that of a person V;\vho by no means disliked the work lie Had undertaken, and did not -betray the sightest nervousness.

At half -past 7 the hangman, with black cap ;. on, accompanied by Mr Fraser and the warders, ■■: entered the condemned cell, where ..Welsh was. attended by Father Higgins. Then, having, been bound with straps about the upper portion of- his body, he was marched to the place of execution, Father Higgins walking- beside -'Him, and repeating portions of prayer, as the procession moved forward. .Having- arrived at the scaffold, whose gaunt form reared above - the Avails of the gaol, the procession halted for. a moment. Then Welsh ascended the scaffold with a firm step, followed by the priest, /who continued praying earnestly. Arrived on the platform, they were followed by the Governor of the Gaol, and Warder McKellop. The hangman, had been waiting there for the' appearance of the condemned man. Whilst the noose was. being adjusted, and the feet being, pinioned, the priest continued to pray fervently, Welsh following him at intervals in a suppressed but coherent tone of voice, and standing on the trap door with a firmness which, if not the result of stolid indifference, ' betrayed considerable nerve, and even courage. Such, at least, was the impression made upon many of the spectators. At a given signal from the Sheriff, the hangman, who had stationed himself in position at the rear" of -the gallows, drew out the bolt while yet the , words of the priest sounded 'clearly in the solemn .' stillness of the scene. The next moment all was over. Welsh had paid the earthly penalty of his crime. Death must have been ■instantaneous, and unconsciousness quite so, as there was a drop of some ■ seven feet, and the hangman took care that his work should be completed effectually by immediately adding his own weight to that of the suspended body. The latter was cut down after the usual time had expired, and taken- to a room in the back part of the. buildings. ; In the afternoon the usual formal inquest was held before the Coroner, Mr H. McCulloch, and a jury. The following gentlemen were sworn-iu a' jury for the occasion : — Nicholas Johnson j Pierce: McNamara, William Organ, James S. Goltjie, Robert Burncll, Joseph Phillips, Gustavo Daley, James Humphries, Ebenezer Steel, 11. Biackham, Samuel Juleff, John Kirwan, Patrick O'Connor, Andrew Danlop. The evidence of the Sheriff-, as to his authority for ordering the execution, and that of Dr Button, M.R.C.S., as to the order having been carried out according to law, being taken, a verdict in accordance with the usual form under such circumstances, was returned. It may be stated, on behalf of the Governor of the Gaol and his officers, that Welsh, prior to leaving, his cell, expressed himself grateful to them for their considerate treatment of him while a prisoner in the gaol. ' -■'.."'