A SWELL HANGMAN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 13, 6 May 1876, Page 2

A SWELL HANGMAN.

An execution took place in Davlingliurst Gaol on the IStli ult... the Chinaman Ah Cliong being hanged for the murder of another Chinaman, when both were prisoners in Parramatta Gaol, in January last. lleferriug to the executioner, the ".Sydney Echo" remarks:—'''The Chinaman was attended by wiiat appeared to he a well-dressed gentleman. The executioner was habited in a ti-'ditly-buttoned and well-fitting doublebreasted black frock - coat, black cloth trousers, kid boot;, well-brushed black silk hat, and white necktie. He had also elegant sliirfcstnds and elaborate wristbands. A cambric pocket-handkerchief peepo.l out of one of the coat pocket i. He was supposed by several spectators t.> be the chaplain, for lie bowed his hep.d reverently 0:1 the shoulder of the Chinaman during the time that the llev. Mr. Milne was praying ; but lie dispelled the idea immediately afterwards by ad.justing the rope round the man's i:e .-!•:, a;ul patting him gently 011 the back of the head to raise his spi its. "He will nob associate with the other hangman, it is said, and refuse-; to slejp in the same room with him when ijoth are lodged within the gaol a day or two before an execution takes place, as is the practice. Xo dandy ever bared his wristbands and displayed greater care in saving his clothes from dust than the hangman did this morning when he uncoiled the rope from the beam above the scaffold and lowered the body into its sbell."