Execution of Twelve Natives.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXX, Issue 8450, 15 May 1906, Page 5

Execution of Twelve Natives.

The Scene

Richmond made history to-day (says a correspondent of the Cape Argus under date April 2nd), when the murderers of Sub-In-spector Hunt and Trooper Armstrong were executed.

The morning train from Maritzburg to Richmond carried its full complement of passengers. These included all the available men of the field force of the Natal police, to the number of IGO.

Shortly after ten o'clock the twelve condemned men, handcuffed in threes, were marched up from the gaol to the Magistrate's Court by a detachment of police. There was nothing in their appearance to indicate that they were shortly to pay the penalty as murderers. Apparently their ages ranged from something like fifty to youthfulness.

The scene at the little Richmond Court house at half-past ten was not calculated to convince one that the eye of the Empire was on it. The twelve manacled murderers occupied the long desk-liko prisoners' box, and behind was the detachment of police responsible for them.

The Court consisted of the militia officers who originally pronounced sentence of death, Colonel Weighton, Colonel Hair, Major Knott, Captain Capstick and Lieutenant Pybus, with Lieutenant. Raymond as reserve. When the Court made its appearance the murderers who were to die gave voice to " Bayetc."

There is, by the way, something to be recorded concerning the last hours of the prisoners. They had been allowed to see their women folk during the past few days, and spent last night in praying and singing the old Kolwaj. Nkanda has visibly altered during the time of his incarceration. Originally, he was a fine, big native. To day he was thin and haggard.

.The demeanour of the prisoners after their "Bayete" to the Court was apparently one of complete resignation. That of the two youngest almost amounted to unconcern, during the interpreting of Colonel Weighton's address. The Rev. A. J. Fryer, in his robes, also occupied a position on the magisterial dais.

The little room was crowded to the doors when Colonel Weigh ton stood up to address the prisoners. Colonel Weighton read the charge, pointed out that every facility had been given them to prove their guiltlessness, and then read the verdict of the Courtmartial, which had been confirmed by the Governor. He dwelt on the heinousness of the crime. The prisoners stood it stolidly, and were again removed to the gaol, from which they were to be conveyed to the place of execution, half-a-mile' out of the village, by oxwaggon. Down in the valley just outside the village two trenches had been dug for the disposal of the bodies. In front of these six of the condemned men stood. Before them, at about twenty paces, was the firingline of thirty Natal police. Two chiefs and perhaps one hundred natives, who had been brought in to see the execution, formed another side of the square, and in front of all was the field force of police, armed, with bayonets fixed. At twenty minutes to twelve, half the murderers prepared for their death. The local vicar spoke to them for the last time, they were blindfolded and stood with their backs to tho rifles. The order was given and the shots of thirty rifles rang out, and simultaneously the six men sank slowly and were buried immediately.

Colonel Royston delivered an address to the assembled natives, including the chief, Mskofeli.

After a delay of twenty minutes, owing to the panic of tho driver of the tumbril, who ran away, the second batch took their places at the trench, and were likewise disposed of.