THE NEW ZEALAND HANGMAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume 64, Issue II, 23 August 1884, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND HANGMAN.

The hangman Lew i^, who was sent to gaol for a month last week, for planting tobacco at the Mount Cook Gaol works, appears to boas great a " boomer " and objectionable character generally as is Bartholomew Binns, the English executioner. It will bo remembered that Lewis was liberated from piison, whore he was serving a sentence, on condition that ho should act as public oxecutionev, and for the last few years ho has acted in the unpopular capacity of hangman for New Zealand. When he was on the West Coast, after drawing the fatal bolt, ho appeared in the streets dressed as a great " swell," and put up at a hotel kept by a well - known Jewish Boniface. He vas asked if he wonld take coffee, but replied that he could only drink a particular mixture, and asked lor cocoa. While this was being made, a journalist well-known in Wellington entered the room. The hangman at once ranged up alongside Mr McCarthy, p,r "Mac," as he is generally callpd, and asked hfm tp winp. Map scowlpd at hiw> and the hangman said, ' f You don't appear to remember me." "Oh," said Mac, " don't I j who hung the man V" By this time a crowd gathered round, and in "the meantime the hangman boat a retreat. Soveral publicans hunted for him, and at last found him sitting on an empty dray smoking a havannah. One publican, more enterprising than the rest, offered him £1 if he would stand bohind his bar for an hour to draw custom, but the offer was declined with thanks. Tho next th^g ho did was to wait on \hp sheriff, a.n# hhited tp M«at 'genfcfoßift'n that H was his custom to receive £5 as a professional foe. Tho sheriff being new to the job, handed out live £1 notes, and has since applied to the Government for a refund of the sum, but has been told that tho £5 has already been paid. The hangman then struck out across country, and at last landed in Nelson. The first person he met there was Mr Inspector Atcheson. "How do?" said the disciplo of Calcraf t. " Halloa, " said Atchpson, " what brings you here?" " pfi, " cried Lewis, "I've just ntn off. O'Donoghue on the Obasti't *} How did he take 1 it*" said thp |ns'pector. a Well, "''rejoined" Lewies,' M while standing on 'the scaffold hp qaid •God blags' Ireianji,' qpd I' said 'God d p 1 ' and pulled the drop,"