THE RINGWOOD MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6695, 7 November 1889, Page 2

THE RINGWOOD MURDER.

« Execution of tlie Murderer, Horrible Details! It will bo rc-meinbered that Peter Joseph Sherlock, a civil engineer, was found, in July last, shot dead in the neighbourhood of the famous Fern Tree Gully, Dandenong, some mileß from Melbourne. Circumstantial evidence proved conclusively that he had been murdered by Robert Landells, with whom ho had lodged and been on terms of friendship. Landellß was condemned to death, and ou Oct. 16 was hanged at the Melbourne Gaol, The following account of hie execu Ition appeared in a Melbourne paper :— The stillness of the dead reigned upon the scene, while the group were in waiting below the scaffold. Two warders stood there at the door of the condemned cell. One could heur the heavy breathing of those attending tho ceremony, except for the low tones of the clergyman's voice, which were heard through the half open i door. The hands of the clock pointed to the hour of four minutes to tea. The Bounds of footsteps below in the corridor caused all to turn their heads in that direction to the outer door. Presently the governor ascended the Bteps, crossed the bridge, and walked on to the drop. He cast a glanco at the beam and the rope above, then he walked into the executioner's cell, and on emerging waited for the arrival of tho sheriff, Colonel Eeid. Tho sheriff arrived in company with Dr Shields, the gaol surgeon, and then the officers went into tho condemned cell, and the sheriff, producing the death-warrant, demanded the body of the prisoner. The sheriff then glanced acros3 to where the hangman stood, and he, with a huge white beard covering his face, almost beyond recognition, strode in eat-like silence (he was" in his stockinged feet) across the drop into tho cendemned cell, where the wretched man Btood listening to the voice of the clergyman, all earthly visions fading from his sight. There was a brief interval of silence. A clock, fixed to the wall at the right-hand side of the gallows, chimed in very quick and almost noiselets tones tho strokes of the hour of ten. The next moment tbe miserable mau appeared pinioned (his arms being secured by a strong and bread strap), and his head being half covered with a white cap. The flap of the cap was turned upwards, exposing to view his face. It wa« livid with agitation. Being a heavily-built and fullblooded man, his veins stood out in heavy knots upon the forehead, giving it a moat ghaetly appearance. His cheeks were blanched, Bnd his lips twitched convulsively. He took two apparently firm steps towards the drop, but when he saw the gallows tree and the noose dangling before him, he fell back and shivered. His courage seemed to forsake him then, and he called out swiftly a gasping :sound like "Ah!"He was apparently in the greatest agony of mind. His nerve was gone, and he trembled like a leaf. The hangman conducted him on to the drop. The clergyman and the sheriff accompanied him. The clergyman stood in front of him, his form partly hiding that of the man from view. The hangman placed tho nooae around his neck and drew it tight. He had almost to support the wretched man as he stood there, and the clergyman began to read tho aervice of the dead. The sheriff checked him for a moment with a gesture, and said, "Eoberfc LandeUs, do you wish to say anything ? " The doomed man attempted to speak, tried to draw himself up straight, and, in a quivering voice, said faintly, •• No, sir." His form seemed to shrink smaller as he stood there. His limbs quivered, one convulsive shudder passed through his frame, there waa a quick, searching glance around— below him— above him, to where the sunlight Bhone in through the window overhead, and then the executioner drew the flap of white linen over his face. The clergyman continued in a voice broken by emotion— "Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live. He cometh up, as it were, and is cut down like a flower. * •!:* * In the midst of life we are in death"— _At this moment the sheriff raised hia right hand. The hangman stepped quickly back and drew the lever of the bolt: The drop fell* The rope was thin, and, being well greased, cut like a knife. The weight of the body was'such that the full length of the drop gave great play to the rope, which nearly tore the head from the trunk The blood had rushed into the head with apoplectio exoitement previous to the last act being performed, and the heavily charged veins and arteries discharged their contentß in large spurting streams of blood over the roof of the platform overhead, tho sides of the niche and almost into the faces of those assembled there. There was a shudder in the crowd, and they instinctively drew back in horror. As the body twisted around by the force of its fall, it could be Been that the rope had buried itself completely into the muscles of the neck, severing the veins and arteries, and breaking the neck. Dr Shields walked to the body and raised the legfl alternately. There -were no BignS of life. Death was instantaneous. A few moments more and the gaol officials had raised a blanket screen before the corpse and the witnesses signed their names on the authoritative sheet. Then the prisoners were released from their cells, and all went on as before. Dr Shields held a post-mortem examination of the body. This examination pointed to the conclusion that with so heavy a man aa Landella, different means from the ordinary Bhould have been used to carry out the law. He was a man of some 14st weight, and had not lost any flesh since his incarceration in the cell. It waa evident, therefore, that had the rope been increased in thiokness, and a larger knot been made in it, the spectators would have been spared the sickening Bight which was presented to them. The usual inquest was held, and the body, confiscated to the Crown, was removed and buried. Ontside the gaol there was a srowd of 300 or 400 people. This ended the last act of the Eingwood tragedy, which for some time puzzled the police and mystified the public, but was at last cleared up. So far as bringing Landells to the gallows is concerned, it would have been muoh more satisfactory if the wretohed man had confessed his crime or deolared his innocence.