EXECUTION OF ALL LEE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 969, 12 November 1880, Page 3

EXECUTION OF ALL LEE.

The prisoner Ah Leo, who wag convicted at tne last sittings of the Supremo Court of the murder nf'Mrs Young, of Kyehnrn, was executed in the Dunedin Gaol on Fri day monihig last at 8 o’clock. Since his sentence, he had been moat calm and mild in his demeanour, and had paid great attention to the spiritual ra lustrations of Mr Torrance, the Chaplain of the Gaol. He professed himself to he a Confuciari, and while under sentence said that “ Confucius was good, and Jesus Cnrist j both the same.” That be was guilty of the crime for which he suffered he has persist ently denied since the time of his making the confession, in which he imp’ica'od himself and Lee Guy. Recently he was interrogated on the subject of his guilt by the Gaol Chaplain, wlio pointed out to him that if ho was not guilty of murdering Mrs Young, he was himself to blame for his position, inasmuch as he had made the statement referred to. fie again reiterated his innocence, and in respect to the imp’! cation of Lee Guv, said, “ Me very Sorry.” In the cell yesterday morning he was visited by Bjsbop Nevill, the Rev Mrßyng. Mr Torrance, and also by Lo Kcong, of Dunedin, and Loo Chon, of Queenstown. The last two attended at' the request of the authorities, all other leading Chinamen in Dunedin, having refused to see the prisoner, and all to witness his execution. The Kev Mr Byng, we may add, attended in the coll and on the platform at the request of Mr Torrance. The. Bishop was not .present at the execution. A few minutes before 8 o’clock the culprit was handed over to the hangman, and punctually at that Imftr. his hands being pinioned, -ho was accompanied to the scaffold by the Sheriff, gaol .authorities, and the Rev Mr Byne and Mr Torrance H i ascended the platform, and walked on to the drop with a firm step, and did not betray the least, fear or emotion. Mr Torrence.then, leaning his hand on the culprit’s shoulder, off red up an earnest prayer tm his behalf, and immediately before the eap.was drawn over the prisoner’s face, he leaned toward him and said, "Did yon kill Mrs Young?” Ah Lee replied, “ifoj mo no killee Missee Young..’ A few seconds afterwards the prisoner shook’Sands with Mr, Torrance and the gaol officials, and was left alon6 on the drop, and ..then for the first time his limbs trembled slightly; but soon all was over, for the bplt was drawn, and Jie died instantsnennsly. Subsequently a formal inquest was held, and the body was' buried within the precincts.of the Gaol. Herald. : ..’Da , 6