THE EXECUTION OF THE MOUNT RENNIE PRISONERS.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 188, 22 January 1887, Page 1

THE EXECUTION OF THE MOUNT RENNIE PRISONERS.

Shortly after 8 o'clock, the warrant to the governor for the bodies of the condemned was handed that gentleman, and the executioner entered the cells to pinion the men. At 9 o'clock they appeared upon the scaffold in the following order : —Boyce, Martin, Duffy, Read. As the condemned men passed through the corridor, the bright sunlight streamed in through the eastern window, and mutely Read turned as if to bid farewell to earth. On taking their positions on the drop, it was evident they were fully prepared to meet their fate. Boyce, Martin, and Duffy were engaged in prayer, Boyce beine particularly attentive to the ministrations lof his spiritual counsellor. There was no evidence of fear in the expression of any of the men, and Read, upon whoee behalf the Rev. T. J. Courtis made a statement, was more than calm. His innocence was pro tested by the rev. gentleman, and he maintained a firm composure, looking with .almost an interested exprepsion upon the operations of the haDgtnan, as he placed the white caps and adjusted the rope on the necks of hia companions. On behalf of the other prisoners, no statement was made, and all being in readiness, the Sheriff gave the signal, and the executioner proceeded with his duty.

The Last Scene. Boyce, from whose neck depended a cross, was the first to be attended, Hi 3 face was very pale, his head thrown back, and his eyes upturned, His gaze was fixed apparently on a distance where the casual eye could not penetrate, and his lips moved in fervent prayer. The assistant having placed the cap the executioner followed and adjusted it. Martin and Duffy, who were, like their co-religion-ist, fervently engaged in prayer, were next blind folded in turn, after which the executioner approached Read. He turned and nodded in token of farewell to Mr Curtis ; and as the white cap was beina; drawn over his face the reverend gentleman stooped and kissed him. The rope was then placed on the neck of each, and Howard, stepping quickly behind each of the condemnod, drew the noose tightly up, and his assistant rushing to the lever, drew it back, and the trap falling, the four men shot into the space below. The scene was horrifying in the extreme; for a few seconds the bodies dangled in the air, and then muscular contraction induced a series of frantic struggles.

It was Terrible to Witness the evident efforts of the men to save themselves. A reporter faintod and fell in the corridor; tneu who. to their discredit, be it; said, were present only to gratify a morbid curiosity, grew pale and trembled, while others more callous or lees nervous ejaculated murmurs of horror. Martin in falling was caught by the arm in the bight of the rope, and hung ior thirty seconds with his pinioned elbow bent up to his ear. After this lapse of time his arm was jerked loose by an agonised spasm, and he dropped at least a foot.. Read died first. In a minute or less all signs of animation were suspended. Two minutes later Boyce kicked out with such violence as to throw his slipper some distance, and in a couple of seconds Duffy and Martin had suspended their vigorous struggling. It is asserted that Martin breathed for ten minutes after the drop had fallen. Duffy, in falling, bit through his tongue, and the cap which covered his face was stained with the blood which poured from his mouth.