BENEATH GALLOWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 312, 24 March 1928, Page 1

BENEATH GALLOWS

MASS FOR A MURDERER i MESSAGE FROM WIFE i “MAY BLESSED LADY RECEIVE •YOU” ’ By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. s Reed. 9.5 a.m. MONTREAL, Friday. 1 A message from Valleyfield says that, ’ George McDonald was hanged at 5.37 , this morning for the murder of a taxidriver, who was shot and robbed on i the United States border. ' No newspaper men were admitted to the hanging. The murderer mounted \ the gallows steps firmly. A telegram received at the gaol during the night from his reprieved wife, Doris, read: “To-morrow, Mass communion will he offered. I will never cease to pray for you. May the Blessed Lady receive you at the gate of Heaven.” On reading the message McDonald murmured: “God bless her soul.” Before the hanging Mass was celebrated. McDonald received the Holy Communion. Seventy-live prisoners, officials and detectives attended the service. There was a delay of half an hour, the hangman, Ellis, insisting on daylight.—A. and N.Z. A Montreal message of Wednesday last i j read as follows: j Doris McDonald, who is known as “the j flapper slayer,” has been reprieved. Her ; husband, George McDonald, is to be j hanged on Friday at Valleyfield. The couple were condemned for the murder of Adelaide Bouchard, a taxidriver, who was shot and robbed -while taking the couple over the United States border last July. The death sentence on a 20-year-old girl created intense excitement in the United States and Kastern Canada. Great pressure was brought to bear for clemency under the common law for the wife, ! who was formerly a New York cabaret I dancer. An alleged confession made public at j Denver, Colorado, by a detective, that j the girl did the actual shooting, caused a ! sensation. McDonald repudiated this a few days j ago from his death cell. Another man i.-; still wanted for the murder.