THE RUAHINE MURDERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 58, 11 March 1915, Page 8

THE RUAHINE MURDERS.

ROTTMANN'S LAST MOMENTS. Regarding Monday's scene in the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, the New Zealand Times reports:— Rottmann met his fate with calm courage. During the period he had spent at the Wellington gaol he had the ministrations of the Rev. J. G. Chapman (the gaol chaplain), and he received them in a penitent spirit. On Sunday night he slept well, and when roused at 6 a.m. on Monday ate a hearty, breakfast, and afterwards had a long interview with the chaplain. Al bis request there was no religious ceremonial on the scaffold, and a communion service was conducted in his cell. Ten minutes before his execution lie said to Mr Chapman:—"This is how I feel," and repeated the lines of a hymn. Then ~at the suggestion of the chaplain he wrote them down in a bold hand as follow :

There is a stream of precious blood Whicli flowed from Jesus' veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains. —Arthur llottmann, 8-3-1915.

Rottmann was a Lutheran and was well educated, having an acquaintance with live languages. Those who had come in contact with him since his conviction speak well of his conduct and the pluck which he displayed at die end was readily conceded by those who witnessed the execution. .These were the Sheriff (Mr W. A. Hawkins), the gaoler (Mr M. Hawkins), the medical officer (Dr. H. A. Gilmer), the visiting Justice (Mr Edward Arnold), the chaplain, gaol warders, and three press representatives. The execution took place in a cover-ed-in area separating two sections of tlie gaol, where a temporary scaffold had been erected, llottmann having been pinioned in his cell walked boldly through the corridors to the scaffold, ascending the stairs with a firm step.. Standing sft lliih. in height with considerable muscular development, and weighing fourteen stone, lie looked the picture of ruddy health and faced the end with serenity and composure.

The Sheriff, following the usual formula, asked him whether he had anything to say, and Rottmami replied in terms of the message previously published.

The execution was completely effecfcive. Death, according to the doctor's statement, was instantaneous. The body was allowed to hang lor an hour, during which no one was allowed to leave the gaol. .Then an inquest was held hy Mr D. G. A. Cooper, K.M., a verdict being found in the usual terms. By special dispensation Rottmanji was buried on Tuesday at Karori Cemetery.