THE FATE OF DONOHUE.
Donohue, convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of James Gifford, is to bo hung at Hokitika Gaol on Wednesday morniDg next. The Argus remarks:—"We were informed by telegram that the gallows was sent from Wellington by the Charles Edward, but no mention was made of the fact that a hangman accompanied it; but such was the case. Nor is the gentleman who is to ' turn off' (gaol slang for hanging) Donohue unknown at Hokitika. He is a prisoner named Levy, who was sentenced to some three years' imprisonment for forgery, and was an inmate of Hokitika Gaol for some time. Latterly he has been at Mount Cook, helping to build the colonial prison in course of erection there; and the remainder of his sentence will be cancelled for acting as Jack Ketch on this occasion." The West Cotsst Times reports:—"On Saturday morning the Charles Edward brought Mr Read, gaoler at Wellington, who had with him a prisoner, upon whom has fallen the duty of executing the convict Donohue. In addition, eleven cases in all, four tons and a half measurement, were required to bring the gallows from Wellington. It is a commentary upon official blundering, to state that all preparation had been made here for the execution even to the erection of the fatal tree."
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Kumara Times, Issue 2487, 9 June 1884, Page 2
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221THE FATE OF DONOHUE. Kumara Times, Issue 2487, 9 June 1884, Page 2
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