MURDERER ELLIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1386, 22 February 1905, Page 2

MURDERER ELLIS.

'(Per Press Association-.) Wellington, yesterday.

Mr Wilford, oounsel for Ellis, sentenced to doath for the murder of Colliqson at Te Awaite, this morning forwarded to the Executive an affidavit by McDonough,one of the Crown witnesses in the oase. MoDonongh, in this affidavit; challenges the evidence of Grant, another Crown witness, who swore that he saw McDonough on the morning of the murder at the spot from which McDonough said he saw Ellis. This evidence was called by the Crown to corroborate McDonough’s own statement that he was in the vicinity and saw Ellis there. Grant was severely cross-examined at the trial as to the range of the telesoope which enabled him to see McDonough. The affidavit of McDonough states that he met Grant that morning between 7.80 and 8, and Grant told him be had just come from Waipawa, seven or eight miles away, and in a different direction to which Grant swore he had been. McDonough also says that Grant's statement as to only being out pig-shoot-ing once with witness was proved to be untrue. Mr Wilford; in a letter to the Executive, claims that this affidavit further raises the doubt : “ Have we had the truth, the whole truth, aud nothing but the truth?”

DEATH PENALTY TO BE CARAIED OUT.

THE MURDERER TO BE HANGED NEXT WEEK.

(Per Press (Association.) Wellington, last night. Ministers were present at a meeting of the Executiye to-day called for the purpose of considering the sentence of death passed upon Jas, William Ellis, alias John McKenzie, for the murder of Leonard Collirison, at Te Awaite on February 26th, 1904. It was announced this evening that the Exeoutive had decided that the law should take its course. The position now is that the condemned man must be hanged within seven days of the notice being given to the sheriff of the Cabinet’s decision.

The individual named Long, who has aoted as hangman on previous occasions, is now in Wellington, 1