EXECUTION OF GRIFFIN FOR THE CLERMONT ESCORT MURDER.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 78, 29 June 1868, Page 158

EXECUTION OF GRIFFIN FOR THE CLERMONT ESCORT MURDER.

Brisbane, June 1. The Clermont escort murder which has been so long before the public has culminated in the execution of Griffin, .whose position in society as a police magistrate, independent of the atrocity of the deed, has given the tragedy a notoriety almost unparalleled.' in the history of the colonies. Griffin was hung at 8 o’clock this morning. T.he;Rev. Mr Smith,.Presbyterian minister, spent the night with him and attended him to the scaffbld. The unfortunate man maintained coolness and perfect self-possession to the last. After a good ! breakfast, he ar T ranged bis toilet, observing with a smile that it was for the last, time! He rapidly ascended the steps to the scaffold, and expressed a desire to make some present to the hangman. On being asked if he wanted to make any confession he replied with emphasis, “ No.” After a while the cap was drawn over his face, and he said, “ The. Lord have mercy . on me.” When the rope was passed over his head he assisted in. adjusting it and passed it under, his flowing beard. On the fall of the drop there was a momentary struggle a!nd then all was over. The body was in terred ; in the cemetery at 9: a.m! ! Mr Smith conducted the funeral service, Aboiit 60 persons were admitted to witness the execution, liut several . hundreds collected outside walls/ During Jaist. night the clergyman twice put a direct question to Griffin whether was guilty, and lie replied No," protesting his innocence, -but his-.' manner during the time! he was iu gaol .conviuc^d: all i Vomiiaumcaiei with

him that he committed the . murders. On the scaffold he repeated the Lord’s prayer after^ in; a! cleair firm voice. .. ~!.!". .:...! :

Rockampton, June 2. Griffin confessed to!Grant, awarder of ! the gaol, that he committed the murder. : . , v ; j •

The missing valise with the; banknotes were found near Mrs Ottley’s on information given by Griffin to the turnkey. / Griffin, said - 3,730 notes were in the valise, which leaves only -sixteen utiaccouuted for : the notes arc not yet counted., GiiffiU. made ati oral statement to the turnkey; the supposed object was to ! inducie' the turnkey to aid his escape a!nd. share his plunder. He said Power awoke while he was rifting the notes, and fired. a revolver, the shot. passing through Griffin’s beard ; Griffin'"then shot Power through the head. Cahill, who had been ill, and sleeping agaiust a tree, woke with the report, aud aimed a revolver at Griffin who immediately shot him in the stomach. Cahill,.falling forward, shot himself "with his own revolver through the head. He said the doctor ought to have found the ball in Cahill’s stomach.