Fate of Ellis.

Manawatu Herald, 23 February 1905, Page 3

Fate of Ellis.

DECISION OF THE EXECUTIVE,

DEATH SENTENCE TO BE

CARRIED OUT:

(N.Z. Times.)

t All the Ministers were present at j a meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday I for the purpose of considering the itencc of death, passed upon James I William Ellis, alia! John McKenMe, for j the murder of Leonard ColHnson at Tc Awaiti on February 26th, 1904. Cabinet had before it an affidavit, sworn by one ef the witnesses for the prosecution, in which he traversed the evidence given by another of the witnesses, and openly accused the latter of committing perjury. The affidavit was forwarded by Mr T. M. Wilford, who defended the condemned man.

Cabinet and the Governor gave the matter serious and prolonged consideration, and it was not until evening. that a decision was arrived at, Then it was announced that the Executive had decided that the law should take its course.

The position now is that the condemned man must be hanged_ within seven davs of notice being given to the Sheriff of the Cabinet’s decision. It is stated that Tom Long, who has acted as hangman on several previous occasions, in now in Wellington.