THE MOUNT GAMBIER MURDER.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 445, 17 November 1875, Page 3

THE MOUNT GAMBIER MURDER.

The A rgns of the 28th ultimo gives the following account of the execution of Page, the Mount Gambier murderer : The execution of William Page alias William Walker, for the murder of Mary Julia Buchan, took place at the Mount Gambier Gaol this morning. The gallows was erected in the north-west wing of the gaol. Shortly after eight o’clock the condemned man, who had been previously pinioned, was brought out of the cell and marched to the gallows, preceded by four police officials, and accompanied by the Rev R. A. Caldwell, Presbyterian minister, who had attended the condemned man since his conviction. The culprit marched firmly up the steps of the gallows, when a solemn and earnest appeal was made to Almighty God on behalf of the prisoner by the Rev Mr Caldwell. The minister then bade the convict “ Good-bye,” and he then shook hands with the minister and said, without apparent emotion, “ Goodbye, Mr Caldwell.” The rev gentleman then withdrew, when the hangman, who had previously taken his position on the gallows, placed a white cap over the felon’s eyes, and secured his legs with a handkerchief. A few seconds subsequently the signal was given, the bolt withdrawn, and the prisoner died apparently instantaneously. The body swung round for a few seconds, and twitched convulsively. In addition to the members of the press and officials, there was only a very small number of spectators present. The drop was about three feet, and the hangman, a man named Benjamin Ellis, who also acted in the same capacity for Carl Jung some years ago. The prisoner maintained the apparent indifference for which he had been remarkable ever since his arrest, and, although rather pale, appeared to be as strong and healthy as he had ever been since his residence here. Since his incarceration he has eaten heartily and slept well, and last night he passed quietly, and slept. Early this morning he had a cup of coffee and a roll (a small piece of bread), but had nothing more. . The following is Page s written confession of his crime: “H.M. Gaol, Mount Gambier, October 19th, 1875. “ The following is a true and correct statement of the circumstances connected with the murder of Mary Julia Buchan, of which

I have acknowledged myself to be guilty. I most distinctly and positively declare that I had no intention of committing that crime up to the moment when it was done, nor ever thought of offering any violence to her whatever. The fact that I had a stockwhip handle with me that evening might convey the impression that the deed was premeditated, but no, it was purely by accident that I happened to have it with me. Some time previous to the murder it was taken out of the harness room through the open window where it stood, by some person unknown to me, and I saw nothing more of it till the evening of July 11th, when, going out at the upper gate, leading to the road, I found it standing against the gate-post, and to secmc its safety (for no other reason) I put it into the inside pocket of my coat. I then met Mary J. Buchan on the road, and we walked together to the open ground opposite the haystacks, where we sat down for about an hour. Afterwards we passed into the paddock with the intention of crossing to the M‘Donnell Bay-road. As we stood for a short time, I said something about her being too fond of another young man. I cannot remember the exact words. Mary took offence at this, and said she would have nothing more to do with me, as she knew I was a married man, and that I was only making a fool of her. She then took off her finger the ring I gave her, and offered it to me, which I refused. She let her hand fall, and in doing so she must have dropped the ring into the outside pocket of my coat, where I found it when I got home. On this she turned to go from me, and my anger being greatly excited, on the impulse of the moment I took the whip handle from my pocket, and struck her on the side of the head with it. She staggered and screamed. I then struck her a second time, when the whip handle broke. These were all the blows I struck. She fell with a moan. When I saw, as I believed, that she was beyond recovery, then I strangled her. Wrapping her head in her shawl to keep the blood off my clothes, and tying her hands together, I carried the body to the place where it was found. Leaving it there, I went to the Globe Hotel, and had one glass of brandy, from which place I went direct home. About ten o’clock I went to my room, and when all had gone to bed I got out through the window, took a spade, and buried the body.— William Page. Witnesses—R. A. Caldwell, G. Tims. There are four things I wish distinctly to mention. 1. To repeat that nothing could be further from my thoughts than to commit such a deed till the moment it was done. It was done only in a fit of passion. With reference to the lollies mentioned at the inquest, I utterly deny having given Mary any such thing as drugged lollies or anything with the intention of doing her harm. 2. That I neither on the evening nor any previous time made the least indecent proposal to Mary Buchan. 3, That I most sincerely and deeply regret for my own sake and for the sake of my family and friends, and all who are affected by it, that I have been guilty of such a fearful crime. But above all, I am sorry that I have sinned so grievously against God, and now my one hope is in that mercy of God through Jesus Christ which I know is able to reach, and has reached and saved, the very chief of sinners, 4. These statements I freely make with the full knowledge that I will soon have to answer at the bar of God for this and every other action of my life. . “ William Page. “ Witnesses —R. A. Caldwell, “ G. Tims.”