The Joyce Tragedy.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 64, 8 February 1883, Page 2

The Joyce Tragedy.

THE GALLOWS SCENE. EXECUTION OF THE GUILTY. (Per Mail Steamer.) The convicts rose at six o'clock, none ot them having slept continuously during the ni^ht. At seven they were visited by father Guevan, who remained with them till the end. None of the men would eat breakfast. About 8 o'clock Marwood entered the cells for the purpose of pinioning the arms of the convicts. To this operation Patrick Joyce and Patrick Casey submitted quietly, but Myles J oyce protested with great vehemence his innocenc9 of the crime for which he was to suffer, and resisted Marwood slightly. At 8 o'clock Myles Joyce emerged from the prison, supported by warders, and uttering exclamations m protest of his innocence ; he was followed by Patrick Casey, and he again by Patrick, both of whom were also supported. As each of the convicts emerged from prison, he seemed, from a hurried glance around, to expect to reCv/gnise someone amoncrst those present. As the procession moved along, the service of tbe Roman Catholic Church for the dying was repeated by father Guevan. but only one of the prisoners — Patrick Joyce — made a response. With the exception of Casey, the condemned men ascended the steps of the scaffold without assistance, and wnen they had been placed under the ropes which were dangling from the cross beam, Myles J oyce, turning to the spectators, made a number ot exclamations m Irish, to the effect that he was innocent exclaiming "I am uoing before my God, and I am as innocent as a child unborn. I neither raised hand nor foot against the people. I had neither hand, act, nor part m the murder." The prison was guarded by sentries ail night, and a body of police were on duty outside to quell any d ; 8i turbance which might arise ; but scarcely a dozen persons assembled at at the gate, even after tha black flag had been run up to show that the sentence of the law bad been carried out.