THE MAAMTRASMA MURDERS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 678, 12 January 1883, Page 2

THE MAAMTRASMA MURDERS.

Patrick Joyce, Miles Joyce and Patrick Casey, the three men convicted of participation in the murder of the Joyce family, were hanged in the gaolr at Galway on December 15th. The prison, inside and out, was guarded. The three prisoners heard mass shortly before the time set for the execution, and they refused to eat breakfast. They ascended to tbe scaSold with firm steps. Casey, who uttered a moan at the first sight of the gallows, mounted the steps two at a time. Before the drop fell Miles Joyce spoke in Irish as follows :—" lam going before God. I was not there at all, and had not a hand nor part in it. The Lord forgive them that swore against me." He continued to reiterate his innocence to the end. The drop fell at twenty-five minutes past eight o'clock simultaneously for all three of the men. Miles Joyce alone struggled slightly, there being some hitch with the rope. His dying speech was delivered with extraordinary vehemence. He was still speaking when the drop fell. At tbe inquest following the execution it was proved that the necks of Casey and Pat Joyce were fractured, and that Miles Joyce died of strangulation. Miles Joyce must have struggled two or three minutes. After the rope had been adjusted around his nock he turned and addressed the reporters, thus disaranging the rope. The jury severely censured Marcroft, the hangman, for his carelessness.