BENNIER’S EXECUTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1779, 22 January 1918, Page 3

BENNIER’S EXECUTION.

Frederick Bennier, a man of French extraction, in middle life, on Saturday morning, at the Terrace Gaol, paid the extreme penalty demanded by the law for the murder of his wife at Kauangaroa, in the Wanganui district, in September last.

The ease is one that has lingered on since the convict ion owing to a plea being offered that Bennier was an epileptic subject, and that his crime was committed during a temporary lit of madness. The whole of the circumstances of the affair had to he thoroughly investigated by the Department of Justice, with the result that the tragic events of the early morning of September 9th could not he ascribed to epilepsy. Bennier was adjudged by (be Executive Council to be a sane man when be inflicted wounds on his wife, which proved fatal the following day. The mian suggestion that he was an epileptic subject was that at some neurotic period he had indulged in some foolish freak —the Character of which can hardly he published —but it turned out on investigation that he carried out the act to win a wager. The cause of the crime was infallibly traced to jealousy. Bennier suspected his wife of illicit relations with a young man who was one of his guests on the eventful night. In fact, he (‘burned to have a confession from bis wife against herself, and some time previously he had declared to two members of (he police force that he was going to do away with her. There was (Ims premeditation far away from epilepsy. On I lie night preceding the early morning when Bennier went round with an axe to kill his wife and her suspected paramour there was a card parly, and the house was full of vistors. Only a little intoxicating liquor was drunk on the occasion. Bennier, who was in a bedroom with his children, rose early in the morning, and with an axe proceeded to assault one of three young men in another room.' The two others interposed, and were rather badly cut about, but they all recovered from their wounds. Then he went to the bedroom of his wife and fiercely attacked her. Mrs Beckham, who was sleeping in the same bed with Mrs Bennier, and her husband — both relatives by marriage—tried to protect the woman, and iti turn they were struck with an axe. They recovered, but Mrs Bennier died next day. Having, as he thought, accomplished his work, Bennier then went to a shed and cut his throat with a razor. Under surgical treatment he recovered, and, in relation to the justice of his sentence, it had been noted that he inquired in hospital how his victims had fared, and said he hoped his wife “would not live to fool another man.” These are the plain facts of (lie ease as they ultimately came before the Executive Council, and on which the decision was made that the law must take its course for an act of murder for which the law could find no extenuating circumstances, JITS FATE CALMLY MET.

Bennier on Saturday morning faced the hangman stolidly and calmly, just in the same manner as he received the news in the gaol yard two days before that (here was no hope for him. He passed a restful night after 11 o'clock, had a good breakfast, and when asked a, few minutes before 8 u.m. whether he would like to have some stimulant, declined any artificial aid to' sustain him in meeting his doom. He had responded willingly during his incarceration to the spiritual counsels offered to him by the Key. W. Rallachey (the regular gaol chaplain) and the Rev. 11. Watson, of 81, Peter’s. The latter was with him (ill the end. Bennier was thoroughly reconciled to his fate, and his execution was an effective momentary affair. When asked hy the sheriff (Mr W. A. Hawkins) whether he had anything to say, he merely remarked, “I wish to thank the ministers tor their kindness; and mav God protect my children.”

There were hut !V few present at the execution —Messrs W. Hawkins, deputy inspector of prisons; G. Crook, governor of the gaol; H. Foreman, chief warder; H. Hume and E. Arnold, visiting justices; Dr. Gilmer, the gaol surgeon; the clergyman, the sheriff and officials; and three press representatives. The forfeiture of life demanded by the law occupied hut a brief period, and the details need not he dwelt upon. The body, bereft of life, was allowed to hang for an hour, during which time no one was allowed to Wve the gaol, and then a formal inquest was held by Mr S. E, McCarthy, S.M.