Munn Goes To Gallows Calmly Smoking Cigarette.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19134, 29 July 1930, Page 9

Munn Goes To Gallows Calmly Smoking Cigarette.

MAKES STATEMENT PRIOR TO DEATH, AND RETAINS STOIC MANNER TO THE END

(Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, July 29.

ARTHUR THOMAS MUNN, convicted of murdering Ii is wife at Northcote on February 11, was hanged in the Mt Eden prison at eight o’clock this morning. In his last utterance, Munn requested that a statement made by him in writing (and now in the hands of the prison authorities) should he published.

The stoic calm that Munn observed throughout the long trial remained with him to the end. Pinioned, he left his final cell at three minutes to eight, smoking a cigarette, and at one minute past the hour he was dead. The condemned, man ate a hearty breakfast, consisting of porridge and poached eggs on toast. In addition he drank a whisky and soda. At twenty minutes to eight he was taken to a cell close to the jilace of execution. For three-quarters of an hour before his removal there he talked to StaffCaptain Holmes, of the Salvation Army, who has been his spiritual adviser from the time of committal. The reason for his removal to another cell was to obviate a long procession. When he arrived at the last cell the executioner pinioned his arms, and Captain Holmes was aliowed to remain for several minutes. The sheriff demanded the body of the condemned man a few minutes before, eight o'clock, and then the final procession commenced. This was led by Captain Ilolmes, who recited on the route to the scaffold the last rites for the dead. Was Calm And Deliberate. Munn walked with calm and deliberate tread. He mounted the seventeen steps to the scaffold unassisted and smoking a cigarette. Seven persons were on the platform, including the executioner and Captain Holmes, who touched the hand of the condemned inan as a final farewell. In the punishment yard below there were thirteen persons, who stood in silence for ten minutes after the lever v-as pulled which released the trapdoor. So, Munn paid the extreme penalty'. It was a matter of comment amongst those who witnessed the execution that Munn should have braved it out to the last. It was a unique study in psychology-. lie walked calmly to the scaffold, he stood unaided on the trap door, and when the sheriff, visibly affected, said. “Munn, have you anything to say?* the prisoner, calmly r and deliberately-, spoke the following words: “I have made my last request to the gaoler at one o’clock this morning. I have asked that a small statement that I have made be handed to the Press.” The executioner, who was standing on the platform behind the pinioned man, then said (addressing the sheriff): “Mr Hewlett.” At the same time he proceeded to place the noose around the neck of the prisoner. Before Mr Hewlett could reply, Munn said, “I ask that my ey r es be not covered.” The

I executioner, carrying out the prison l regulations, placed a white cap over . the head of the prisoner, and adjusted the noose through an aperture in the 1 left side. Mr Hewlett nodded, the : bolt was drawn, and Munn dropped six ■ feet eight inches. ■ For ten minutes twenty' witnesses of the execution stood in silence. Then t the gaol surgeon, Dr 11. C. Tewsley, opened the awning behind which Munn had dropped, and signified that life . was extinct. Cameras Barred. Prior to the execution every person ’ who witnessed the final penalty had to make a declaration that he had no camera with him. Amongst those present were Major J. Hope Johnstone, J.P.. and Mr E. Norman Terry, an English novelist. He had witnessed an execution by garrotting in Portugal and a death by guilliotine in France. He had not previously seen a hanging. The prisoner was clother in ordinary prison garb. lie wore moleskin trousers and a cotton shirt open at the • throat. Carpet slippers were on his feet. It was obvious that at the final moment Munn was feeling the strain, but he was doing his best to bear up. His face was ghastly-, his ey-es were sunken and glassy and his general appearance haggard. When he reached the scaffold his legs were strapped closely together. ITis courage was remarkable. The few words he uttered were spoken clearly and without a tremor. Munn ate a good suppeh last night, and slept well. He took a stimulant at breakfast and another before joining the procession to the scaffold. On his admission to the gaol after the death sentence had been declared he weighed 1591b5. This morning his weight was 1661b5, an increase of 71bs. The cell that had been occupied by Munn from the time the sentence was passed was large and airy', and there was an adjoining room for hte warders who have been with him day and night, playing draughts and ludo. A third room had a bath. What he Read. Munn was allowed to read anything he desirde. including all the weekly papers, but not the dailies. The literature on his shelf were mostly mystery or crime stories. Munn’s body, according to regulations, could not be removed from the prison until eight hours after the execution. The relatives had the option of claiming the body. The customary inquest w-as .held an hour after the execution. The Coroner (Mr Hunt) retume dav rfrdict that death resulted from a fracture of the neck as the result of a legal execution.

WROTE STATEMENT IN EARLY MORNING

REQUEST WAS MADE WHILE ON SCAFFOLD (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 29. The statement penned by- Munn at 1 o'clock this morning which he requested from the scaffold that the papers should be permitted to pub-

lisli is .not to be released in the meantime.

When advised of Munn’s- request, the Hon J. G. Cobbe (Minister of Justice) instructed the Justice Department to communicate with the superintendent of Mount Eden prison, and advice was

received from that official that the statement referred to by Munn was not a confession but merely a continuation of a previous statement made by him regarding the circumstances of the case which had been forwarded to and received by headquarters a few days ago. The superintendent added that the second document was being posted to Wellington to-night.

The Minister made it clear that until he had received the supplementary' statement he could not consider the question of publication.