THE DEATH PENALTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1509, 18 July 1905, Page 2

THE DEATH PENALTY.

EXECUTION OF WHARTON. By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright Brisbane, July 17. Jamos Wharton, the murderer of William Munday, was hanged at Brisbane this morning. Ho slept well and partook of a hearty breakfast. On the scaffold he expressed sorrow, and hoped if thoro was a heaven he would receive morcy.

He was greatly agitated. The lover was drawn, and blood spurted from the neck and ran in a stream on the floor. Tho head was almost torn from tho body. Ho made no reference to his New Zealand identity.

Wharton is said to have admitted his identity with Butler.

A GHASTLY SPECTACLE. A MURDERER AND FREE THOUGHT. A PITIFUL TALE. Sy "telegraph. Press A*s’a, Copyright Received 9 82 p.m., July 17.

Brisbane, July 17. In answer to a question as to whether he wished to say anything Warton, after a painful silence, raised his eyes upwards, and endeavored to speak. Only a gurgling sound could be heard. Clearing his throat again ho attempted to speak, and in an almost inaudible, voice said, “ I am sorry for anything I have done. I commend myself to those who may receive me. If there be a heaven I hope that mercy will be shown me and that is all I have to say.” The scene that followed was a ghastly one. When the rope became taut, a gash appeared in the neck of the suspended man. Great streams of blood poured down his clothes and formed a large pool at his feet. When the rope was removed it was seen that the head was almost severed fcom the body. A letter in a clear commercial hand, written by the condemned man Warton a few days ago to a prominent Freethought advocate who visited him several times in tho condemned coll, states : “I shall have to find my way across ths harbor bar without the aid of any pilot. In these matters, I have for many years carried an exempt flag, and as it has not been carried through caprice or in ignorance I am compelled to carry it to tho last. There is an impassable bar of what I honestly believe to be inexorable logic of philosophy and facts, history and exporience, of nature, of the world, tho human race, and of myself, between me and the views of communion in any religious organisations, so instead of departing a Christian soul of the priest, I only hope for the comfort and satisfaction of a laßt friendly goodbye of any one who cares to give it. Yours gratefully,—James Warton.”

The Feeetbought advocate mentioned, who interviewed Warton yesterday, stated that Warton discussed the political history of New Zealand for the past twenty years, displaying a keen knowledge appertaining to that colony, and mentioning the name's of New Zealand premiers from Sir Julian Vogel down to Mr Seddon. Ho did not admit, however, that he was Butler. He made no referenee to tho Dunedin murder.