EXECUTION OF JOHNS, IN SYDNEY. Scene on the Scaffold. (From the Sydney "Telegraph.")

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 112, 25 July 1885, Page 5

EXECUTION OF JOHNS, IN SYDNEY. Scene on the Scaffold. (From the Sydney "Telegraph.")

The execution of Frank Johns for the attempted murder of a fellow prisoner named Robertß took place at Darlinghurst Gaol on Tuesday morning, As early as half- past seven o'clock a crowd of men had assembled in close proximity to the entrance to the gaol, where Mr Thomas Walker, who has latterly displayed so much activity in endeavouring to obtain a reprieve for Johns, animadverted severely on the action of the Executive in relation to the case. His expressions anent the Government were anything but complimentary to that body. " This is a Government," he cried, •'that protect respectability and insult poverty. We have had more than one instance of how they neglect the interests of the general community, and now they are going to sacrifice this youth." The observation elicited from one in the crowd the response, " Let us sacrifice them." Mr Walker characterised the execution as " a State murder,' and opined with confidence that such an execution would never again be permitted in the colony. This kind of speechifying, interlarded at intervals with cheers, groans, and hisses, was kept up for a couple of hours. A few minutes before 9 o'clock, those who were permitted to witness the execution, and who had assembled in the Darlinghurst Court, proceeded to the court-yard of the gaol where the scaffold was erocted. Be sides Sir John Eead (Governor of the gaol) and Mr Charles Cowper (the sheriff), there were present Dr. Maurice O'Connor (the gaol doctor), Mr Melville, M.L.A., MiAbbott, S.M., MrC. E. B. Maybury (under sheriff), Messrs J. B\ Allprosp, J Sims, and D Cambridge (of the Sheriff'e Department), the last named performing tho somewhat difficult task of receiving visitor?, Mr Lewis Scott, Mr Stapleton, Mr Levett (sonior warder), and members of the Metropolitan and Victorian Press. A largo posse of the A division of police, under Inspector Hyam, was also presont. As the clock struck 9, the under-Sheriff examined the noose which was concealed beneath a soldier's cloak, and almost immodiately after, the condemned man, who had spent a restless night and partakon of no breakfast, appearod on the scaffold, being attended by the Revs. George and J. W. Brown, who, with tho llev. A. A Maclaren, had been ministering to his spiritual wants for somo hours previously. Pale, dazod, and pinioned, the unfortunate youth looked miserable indeed as tho service for tho dead was read. At its conclusion, he inado a speech, addressed to tho press. That his voice was heard outside of the gaol was proved by the fact that ever and anon ringing cheers were given by the crowd before alluded to, and hi 3 face was frequently turned in the direction whence the sounds proceeded. Possessed of a voice 'hat would make the fortune of a professional politician, he spoke in loud, clear tones, the pith of his words being that his execution amounted to murder, that when ho "committed the deed" he was not himself, but an entirely different person, and that his allegations in respect to " that woman " were true. He was affected to tears when ho spoke of his mother, and asked his heaters to toll her that he died with her namo on his lips. He sobbed loudly at this point, but recovering himself, stamped violently on the drop, proclaiming, in passionate terms, his lack of fear. When the white cap was placed over his face he asked leave to say a few more words. This was granted. Then ho vehemently asserted the accuracy of his statement, and bade adieu to those around him. Then the cap was again drawn down, and the bolt was drawn Death was not instantaneous. The neck was not broken, and life was not extinct for eight minutes after the drop had descended. The body was cut down in duo courso, and an inquest subsequently held in the usual way. It is understood that Mrs Johns, who with Miss Johns visited Johns on Monday night, desires to possess the body of her son, and that if the request be made, the gaol officials will grant it, and allow the remains lo be buried outside of the gaol, but in ground allotted for tho reception of the bodies of criminals. The following is a report of Johns's speech : Gentlemen of the Press, — Perhaps I am incapable of speaking, but I aek you, as men, to represent truly what I will have to say. I look upon you and see that you bear the impress of humanity (a pause) and (another pause). I feel that you have human feeling within your bosoms, so I a?k you to represent what I shall say. No doubfc, you have come here with the preconceived notion that as 1 am going to be hanged I must, of necessity, be a villain and a scoundrel. Though 1 may be corrupt, it is not corruption that prompts my speech at present, and now I, in the face of immediate death, gay that what I have said in connection with that woman (mentioning tho name) is true. I say nothing, absolutely nothing, and I ask you to believe nothing but what my mother has already said, and what, this woman herself told to my mother. In conneefcion with the decision of the Executive, conscientiously I feel as a man that thoy have not acted justly. No ! They have not acted justly ; and I say now in the face of death that I am about to bo murdered. Yot, from the core of my heart I forgive ever) one that has done any harm to me. I forgive them willingly, hoping that in this life and the next they will be happy ; that in this life they will repent and acknowledge their crime; and that Frank Johns will be tho last man— yes, the last man — that will be legally murdered in New South Wales. Yes, I will repeat that again. I earnestly trust that Frank Johns will be the last man that is legally murdered in New South Wale?. And I feel, gentlemon, that I am bein^ murdered, for when I committed that deed I was not myself. I was not Frank Juhns, I was a different being entirely. There is ono request— oh, how can I say it ? but nevertheless, I will cay ib. Gen- j tlemeo, you have hearts ; I appeal to you, though, perhaps, imperfectly ; but still 1 1 appeal to human hearts. Iso matter how degraded human hearts may be, they are still suscoptible to noble emotions; and, I appeal to you -and to the officials and civilians - and ask you to write to my poor mother, and if any ©f you can ccc her, do so ; do so, and speak to her. {Hero the unfortunate man sobbed loudly.] Speak to her and tell her that FrankFrank died loving her to the last—loving her to the last. [Here the prisoner again sobbed], and that her name was the last upon his lips. Oh, my mother ! my mother ! Do I fear ? No. I have not finished. Let mo finish. I want to say a few words more ; only a few words more. I have spoken nothing but the truth in connection with this woman, and I ask you to believe nothing but what my poor mother has said ; but still 1 freely forgive her, and hope that she will be happy in this world and the next. Ap for my oelief, I must say that 1 die not what the world perhaps would call a religious man, but nevertheless a man. Oh» the rope is too tight j see, my hWKta axe blue owing to

the weakened circulation of the blood. I ask you again as men to try and comfort my poor mother, Good-bye, Mr Brown ; you have acted as a man and a Christian. Good-bye. I forgive everyone. Represent truly what I have said. Oh, my poor mother !"