BENNETT HANGED

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1932, Page 5

BENNETT HANGED

FOR SEX OFFENCE

SPEECH FROM THE GALLOWS

(Australian Press Association.)

MELBOURNE, September 26.

David Bennett, aged sa, was hanged to-day, in accordance with tli Victorian State Cabinet’s decision on September l4 lf that he should, be executed fdr an joffence against a four-year-o.d girl at Carlton. -MixM spoke on the gallows for n!iie minutes. This was the longest speech on the gallows of any condemned man in the annals of the Victorian g.ol~; He traversed his criminal record. He declared that false evidence has been given against him in sex cases. He complained of unfair trials, and of tlhe withholding of important evidence. 'He made allegations of brutality against the. police. Death was instantaneous.

The last execution for a similar crime took place forty-one years ago. Bennett had previously., ■ been convicted ih WeStertl Australia of a sex Offence. He then received a whipping and a •!if B sentence, but he obtained Ids release after a portion of his .sentence was served. He was Iftter convicted of robbery under arms in company with Angus Murray, 'and he (received a sentence, of ..fifteen years’ imprisonment Murray was executed/ It is a coincidence that the last execution-in Melbourne was that of Angus Murray, in the year 1924. Bennett lias now shared th e same fate. Murray was executed for shooting and killing a bank manager.