THE ELMORE MURDER. EXECUTION OF WILLIAM HARRISON AT SANDHURST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 355, 30 March 1889, Page 5

THE ELMORE MURDER. EXECUTION OF WILLIAM HARRISON AT SANDHURST.

Thk closing scene in the now celebrated Elmore murder case was enacted afc Sandhurst last week, the majesty of blie law being vindicated by the execution of William Harrison, who was found guilty by a jury of his countrymen. Harrisons crime was premeditated, of a cowardly, cruel and coldblooded character, and the only motive was to gain possession of his victim's money. The circumstances may be briefly summarised. In May of last year, an old man named John Duggan, better known as "Corky Jack," went from Axodale to Elmore. Duggan was a faun labourer, and was of penurious habits, and though on rare occasions he had a day's spree, he hoarded most of bis saving*; and had some £700 or £800 saved. When he went to Elmore he put up at an old hut near the Campaspe, to spend a few weeks in fishing before going buck to an engagement at Axedale. On the 29th May he met Harrison and a number of others in an Elmore hotel, and during the day they drank very heavily. Next day Duggan refused to drink with Harrison, as he had too much the day before. On the 29th Duggan when drinking boasted of the money he had, and offered to lend the landlady £800. Duggan was last seen on the 30th, and Harrison was then in his company. A few weeks afterwards some swagmen occupied the hub, and one of them tound a pile of blood-stained clothes in a brushwood fence 33 feet from the hut, and information being given to the police search revealed the body deftly concealed in the same fence. Tho police were beset by great difficulties, as at first there was hard work to find out who the murdered man was even. However, they overcame this difficulty, and an inquest, lasting ten days, was held. Up to this time there was no suspicion against Harrison, but from little things much arose ; while he was giving evidence suspicion was ai-oused and he was arrested. The working up of the case was placed in the hands of Detectives Mahoney and Sainsbury, of Sandhurst, Inspector Walsh, of Echuca, and Senior-Constable Salts, of Elmore. The case seemed one absolutely impossible of proof at the time, bub the officers named worked up details with such ability that they soon wove together a chain of circumstantial evidence which left no doubt of Harrisons guilt, and several one-armed men who had been arrested on suspicion, because a one-armed man was seen near the hut, were discharged. It is unnecessary to go into close details ; but the great points against Harrison were that on the 29th he was so hard up that he could not pay nine shillings for rent, while on the 31st he was very flush of money and " shouting " freely ; and, stranger still, the tracing to his possession of a quantity of Duggans clothing. There was a number of minor points which fitted into the chain and rendered it quite conclusive. The murder was shown by theevidence to have been most cruel and coldblooded. Duggan was evidently asleep on tho bunk, when two tremendous blows wich an axe were dealt, completely smashing the skull, and a third blow almost severing the head from the body. Duggan had at the time a deposit receipt for £670, which was afterwards found in a Sandhurst street, and a considerable quantity of cash. At the first trial the jury disagreed, bub on the second trial a verdict of guilty was at once returned. I

NOT HARRISONS FIRST MURDER. There is a strong suspicion now that this was by no means Harrisons first muider. The police have made close inquiries, and they are of opinion that a murder at Grassy Flat aomo years ago was committed by Harrison. It is also asserted that the celebrated Deniliquin case, in which a man, named Cordini, was hanged for murdering a hawker, was really the work of Harrison. There is also reason for giving him credit for the Pretty Pines and Waltner murders. Inquiries made by the police are said to show that Harrison was in all these districts at the time of the murders, that in some of the cases at least he came back in much improved circumstances, and that the method of the crime was identical in each case.

HARRISON PROTESTS INNOCENCE. Harrison has throughout protested his innocence, and has deported himself generally fas if quite unconcerned at his fate, and despite the attentive ministrations of Rev. J. Garlick, of All Saints' Church of England, he did not make any attempt at either confession or at explanation ot the circumstances which tended to incriminate him so strongly. Indeed, Harrisons manner was rather inclined to levity, and he joked with the prisoners who were told off as his companions. On Saturday he saxd farewell to his family. Last night he slept well. On the morning of the execution he was attended by the Rev. J. Gavlick trom an early hour, and listened carefully to his exhortations. At 10 o'clock there were about 20 persons present, including representatives of the press. Tho Sheriff having formally demanded the body, the hangman, Jones, who, as usual, was disguised by false whiskers, pinioned Harrison, and adjusted the white cap. Prior to leaving the cell, Harrison said he had nothing to say beyond that he was innocent. He gave the Rev. J. Garlick a message for his wife and children, which will be duly delivered. Harrison was then brought on the drop, and while the Rev. J. Garlick was concluding the prayer he said,

"I AM INNOCENT." Jones then pulled the lever, and the condemned man fell. Beyond a slight convulsive movement of the limbs, he showed no signs of life, and death was instantaneous. The usual formal inquest will be hold at 12 o'clock.

THE EXECUTED MAN'S ANTECEDENTS. Harrison was 43 years of age, and was a Victorian native of Cornish descent. His exact birthplace is not known, but it is believed to have been the Seymour district. He leaves a widow and six children. There was a large crowd of people outside the gaol. |