EXECUTION OF CURTIN.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 824, 12 February 1877, Page 3

EXECUTION OF CURTIN.

The Auckland correspondent of a Wellington contemporary gives the following account of the execution of Curtin. The telegram is dated February 6th Curtin was kept in ignorance of McFarlane and Swanson’s futile attempts to secure a respite of his sentence. Yesterday morning he told the Warder that he had a singular dream that some further efforts were being made to secure his pardon. The Warder refused to give him any information, but it is believed some visitor had given him'a hint on the previous night. The Warder states that he gave less trouble during his confinement than any prisoner under sentence of death. He took no stimulants, and slept soundly. In conversation with the warder he adhered to his former statement as to a fight with sticks. He took leave of his sister last evening. He slept from 12,30 to 4. Having instructed the Warder to awake him, he was called shortly after four He declined breakfast, and took a cup of tea only. He was attended by Father Walter M‘Donald shortly after six. About thirty persons attended the execution, including officials. Precisely at seven the Governor of the gaol warned the prisoner to prepare. During the pinioning the executioner was nervous, and Curtin turned his head and said, “Keep cool man, take it coolly.” Curtin walked calmly to the scaffold, and ascended without signs of fear. He addressed the spectators—“ May God bless us all, 1 am very thankful to Mr O’Brien for his kindness—(here Curtin’s utterance became tremulous, and he paused for an instant)— for his kindness and his noble spirit towards me. I am very thankful to all his officers, who treated me very nice, and to all the prisoners in the place; they acted very quiet and very decent towards me also. I would like to mention that this was not wilful murder on my part, I did nothing to the man but with the sticks we had in our hands, and it was his own fault to come into my place and commit great destruction, and it was his fifth time of coming and committing the same acts. I could not help the man at all. I had no malice towards him or towards any living person. I thought to live honest as well as I could. I was living in my own place. There was no instrument, no axe, or anything of the kind in our hands. We never used them at all. The fight was a fair upstanding fight, face to face. I could not help it. The man would not knock off injuring me. 1 told him to knock off, but he would not. I had nothing to do but to walk out and leave my place and take my blanket. I did not think of anything of the kind. I never thought he would die, but I could not help what was done. The Lord have mercy on his soul, poor man ; I had no malice whatever. I had none to any man living. I am very sorry I did what I did. I could not help him at all. lam quite innocent of his death in any other way than the fighting; but it was his own fault for coming into my place, and he would not knock off. He left his scythe above on the road, and would not go to work like an honest man ought to do. Of course I must commit myself to my Heavenly Father. The Lord have mercy on me. And also I am very thankful to the honest men of Auckland who signed the petition; and I am very thankful to Father M'Donald and Father Fynes, Yicar General.” Curtin spoke in quite subdued tones with deep humility. At times his voice faltered slightly, but otherwise he was calm and collected. For a few minutes Curtin appeared engaged in prayer. Then the bolt was drawn, and ho died without a struggle. The drop was seven feet. The body hung for one hour. There were the usual inquest and verdict. Curtin made over all his property to his sister.