A Murderer Hanged.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7875, 18 July 1905, Page 2

A Murderer Hanged.

A GHASTLY SCENE. i AS HE LIVED, SO HE MED. j BRISBANE, July 17. James Wharton, the murderer of William Muuday, was hanged at Hristane this morning'. he slept well and had a hearty breakfast. On the scafiold he expressed sorrow, | and hopt'J if he went u> Heaven he would receive, mercy. He was greatly agitated. The lever was then drawn. Blood spurted from the neck and ran in a stream to the floor. His head was almost torn from tho body. Jlc made no reference to his New Zealand identity.

(liucuivi'tl Jul.v J7, 9.:!2 p.m.) ' imiSBAN'E, July 17. l In answer to a (juration whether he * wished to sn,v anything, Wharton, lifter a painful silence, raised his eyes ' upwards and endeavoured -to speak, !mt only u gurgling sound could bo ' neard; \ Clearing his throat, he .again at- ' i iinpted to speak, and in an almost oice sw'd, '1 am sorry for anything 1 have done. 1 coinin(i.<d myself to hose who may receive inc. If there Je a heaven I hope that mercy will he shown me, and that is all I have to say." r The scene that followed was a 'ghastly one. When the rope became taut a gash appeared in the neck oi the suspended man. Great streams of blowd pjoured down Wb clothos> and formed a large pool on the floor at his feet. When the rope was removed it was seen that his head was almost severed from his body. A letter, in a clear commercial hand, written Jiy Wharton a tow days ago to a prominent frecthought advisited him several times in the condemned cell, states : " I shall have to find my way harbour bar without the aid ot any pilot. In these matters I have for many .years caroled an exempt flag, ind as it has not been carried through caprice or in ignoranip I am compelled to , carry it to the last. There is an (impassable bar of what ( honestly believe to be tlie inexorable logic' ibj'i philosophy, and the facts of hlstpry, and the expericnofa of nature, of the world, of tho human raw, and of myself between mo and the views and communion of any religious organisation 4 Bo instead of departing with the Christian soul of a priest I only hope for the comfort ind satisfactiion of a friendly goodbye of anyone who cares to g<ve it. —Yours gratefully,. James Wharton." The frecthought advocate mention■d, who interviewed Whartlcm yesterday, stated that Wharton djscusscc, Ihe political history of Now Zealand for the past twenty years, displaying keen knowledge appertaining to that colony, and mentioning tho names of the New Zealand Premiers fiom Sir Julius Voflelidown to Ml Seddon. He did not admit, however, that he was Butler, and made no ftiI'eronco to. the Uunedin murder.