EXECUTION OF WALSH.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3123, 20 February 1879, Page 2

EXECUTION OF WALSH.

[By Telegeath.]

Invehcahoill, Wednesday. The execution of Walsh for the murder of his wife at Waikawa, particulars of which are fresh in the memory of readers, , took place at 8.30 this morning within the precincts of the luvercargill gaol. As it '■•> was the first event of the kind, a good deal of morbid curiosity was manifested by the public. About three hundred gathered outside the walls of the gaol, ' from whence, however, nothing more than the upper part of the scaffolding was visible. Within the gaol premises there were present the Sheriff, A. Stuart, Esq.; the Governor of the Gaol, Mr Fraser; Father Higgins, E. C. priest, to whose denomination the culprit' belonged, and who has been constant in his ministration ■• up to and since Walsh's doom was sealed: the Visiting Justice, Mr Macarthur; Inspector Fox, and several Mpttberi r of the local police force/ stOgJtherV with eight or ten spectators. The proceedings commenced shortly after seven o'clock, when the executioner, a German Jew, the type frequently to be met with, in low parts of largo cities, with one or two assistants, made final preparations at ■ the scaffold. This was a temporary structure about sixteen feet high' and eight feet square, and closed in on three exposed sides, with coarse canvas, the rear being closed up to the gaol walk. About 10 feet from the ground was a platform, in the centre^af. which was a trap door operated upo* by a ■ bblt, constituted the drop.. On two sides of the platform the canvas was rolled back, thus enabling spectators within the gaolyard to observe the hangman. After scrutinising* the rope, he evidently con- . sidered it too long and proceeded to experiment with a bag and to determined the proper depth of the fall. \ This done he went through the process of Jubricating the rope with grease, and having done so he retired to the gaol re; ception room. Thither, meantime, the condemned man had been brought and the process of pinioning was effected by : the executioner, who put on a thick black crape veil. Walsh made no statement, and immediately after proceeded to the place of execution. He walked along with steady step, and n somewhat slouching gait natural to him, but throughout displayed no emotion whatever. His countenance exhibits by no means that repulsive east which has been by some ascribed to it. Its aspect was that of a man who neither fears nor hopes, but had resigned himself to the inevitable. He ascended the steps leading up to the plat* form unaided, and took his stand at the drop. The.Governor of the Gaol and* warder stood by, Father Higgins oontinuing the service of prayer which he had commenced, when the procession moved from the room where the pinioning took pUoo,

Walsh recited some prayers after the Priest, and responded to others in a firm, audible voice, though in a suppressed tone of voice. Presently the white cap was put on and the noose adjusted. The executioner then descending the steps and taking hia station at the bolt; the priest continued to pray with fervor. The executioner, at the signal from the Sheriff, drew the bolt-^-a sharp jerk, the disappearance of the condemned from the ipeotators in front of the scaffold, and all was orer. Those who went to the rear, and saw the closing scene, stated that the executioner completed his task by hanging on to the legs of the suspended criminal for half a minute or so, but there was very little convulsive movement! Death was probably caused by tho dislocation of the neck, consequent on the fall, and on the Surgeon of the gaol' having waited until pulsation ceased, lie reported accordingly to the Sheriff,, who thereupon proceeded to the reception-Toorti of the gaol, and signed tho usual certificate to the effect that the ■entence of the law had been duly carried out. The visiting justice and two or three spectators also attached their signatures. The .proceedings then terminated. The prisoner made no statement, and his .demeanour: subsequent to the trial was of a uniformly stolid impassable character. This !continued .until last night, when the intimation was conveyed to -him by the Sheriff. ; Even then ie^displayed no emotion, and in reply to% question, he said, ho had no message to send to any relations. At the last,.he expressed himself as grateful for the considerate treatment he had received at the hands of the governor of the gaol and officials; During the night he displayed unusual restlessness, and was once or twice 'allowed the' indulgence of smoking. Towards 3 a.m. lie fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened 1 at half- past five.-—Auckland 5tar...,..:,,,.v:. -, r,; . . .