PONSONBY MURDERER

Southland Times, Issue 18856, 23 June 1920, Page 5

PONSONBY MURDERER

EXECUTION OF DENNIS GUNN. THE FINAL SCENE. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June"22. Dennis Gunn, who was convicted on a charge of murdering Mr A. Braithwaite, late postmaster at Ponsonby, was executed this morning at 8 o’clock within Mount Eden Gaol. The hanging was witnessed by about a dozen persons, all 'officials except the representatives of the newspapers. Precisely at the hour Gunn was led out of his cell and took his place in the little procession which had to traverse a dozen paces to a yard on the eastern end of the main gaol building, where the scaffold had been erected. In from of the condemned man walking Father Herring, reading the burial service. Gunn wore his prison clothes without a coat, ivss bareheaded, and had his arms pinioned at his side with leather straps. The scaffold, the same that is used at the various gaols of the dominion, was creeled alongside the prison wall, and was covered over with a temporary canvas roof. While the hangman, the same man who acted at the execution of Eggcrs and Rothman, was making the final arrangements, the burial service was continued, and at the end Gunn made the responses, several in number, calmly, with his eyes closed. He was pale and never opened his eyes, but showd no fecLrsg whatever. Just before (he end his body swayed slightly, as though he were faint. After the last of the responses in the burial service. Gunn held out a crucifix which he hail been carrying, and handing it to the priest, said in a low voice, ‘‘Give this to my mother and say good-bye, please.” ( Then the Sheriff stepped forward and asked the prisoner if ho had anything to say. Gunn replied clearly and evenly. “I am prepared to meet my God an;l my Creator.” The hangman then quickly drew- a while cap over tHe man’s head, iixed the rope and drew the holt. Death was instantaneous. Among those who witnessed (he execution this morning wins Dclective-Sergean; Cummings, the police officer who was engaged | on the trial, and a few minutes before ! Gunn was led from his cell a message was brought to the Detective by Father Herring to the effect that Gunn wished to say that he bore no ill will against Those who had been engaged in the prosecution. Gu.i.i asked specialty that the message be eon vcyed personally to Detective Cummings, i In former executions it was customary to toll the gaol btil as the man left his cell until he was hanged.. It was also usual to fly a black hag from some part of the gaol. A number of people in the | vicinity of the gaol waited a long time for ■ a flag to go up, hut both this custom and ! that of toiling (ha boll have been discon- , tinued. ! The inquest required by the Crimes Act was held at (he gaol litis afternoon before Mr J. E. 'Wilson, S.M., and a jury' of ’ of four. Evidence wa- given by Mr Yin- i cent (the Gaoler,', the Sheriff, and the j Gaol Surgeon (Dr Murray). The jury found that death was due to hanging and that the sentence of the Supreme Court had | been carried out. | GUNN’S STATEMENT. ' ADMISSION OF BURGLARY. I ALLEGED ACCOMPLICES EXCULPATED. ■ W’ELLINOTON, June 22. i The Minifler of Justice (the Hon E. P. Lee) informed the press: that in the slate- I ment made by Dennis Gunn and signed by i him in (he presence of the Magistrate, Gunn | admitted that he committed the burglary at the Ponsonby Post Office. "His story.” : said (he Mini-ter, "is that he and two other men look different parts in the crime; that one of them followed the po. tmaster and ! subsequently returned to the other two will; ; the keys of the Post Oifice: tha! these two ’• (Dennis Gunn being one of the;;.; robbe ! the Post Office; that after leaving the Po-i Office Dermis (tune, told the man who had been at the postmaster's bouse that it was deeided to hide the revolvers. This man showed three revolvers and Gunn hid them in the blackberries.” The police made full invest iga! ion- before the trial as to the movement- o; the (v. i men referred to by Ouun and .-atisfie 1 themselves by (he statement- of a number I of credible people that neither of ilv.se mem was in the 1, cal'.ly whme ihe erini- was committed on the e.roing of .M U>. Further, (in ir movements on that evening are fully accounted for.