Four Brave Bandits Die on the Gallows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 594, 21 February 1929, Page 9

Four Brave Bandits Die on the Gallows

GRUESOME SPECTACLE ZAGREB CROWD WATCHES (United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright % (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 11.55 a.m. BELGRADE, Wed Four Jugoslav bandits, who had been sentenced for murder and robbery, were executed at Zagreb with a gruesomeness now rarely witnessed this side of the Orient. Separate gallows, 6ft high, were erected for each in the courtyard overnight. and they were executed one by one in the presence of one another. Each execution occupied 12 minutes. The indictment was read out by the President of the Zagreb Senate, who was in a frock-coat and high silk hat. Three of the condemned men acted stoically. One smoking a cigarette turned to journalists and said: "Send a good report of the execution.” The second looked at the sky and said, “Farewell, beautiful day.” The fourth, while watching his companions, simulated insanity. He prayed and shouted to the assembled crowd. The executioner, unnerved by the ordeal of the other three, failed thrice to adjust the rope, whereupon the bandit brushed him aside, shouting: “Get out. Your hands and brains are frozen. Let me complete the job.” He calmly placed the rope round his neck as though tying a tie, and himself kicked the trap." An earlier message said that two brothers. who were suspected of being concerned in the robbery of letters from the registered mail on the. Wahine, which arrived at Wellington from Lyttelton on January 11. were followed to AVoodville from Wellington by detecf ves, who arrested them on the Woodville racecourse to-day. They were taken back to Wellington bv motor-car. It is understood that a .£5 note was found in the totalisator at Woodville whic hbore the number of one that was in the stolen mail matter.