MODE OF EXECUTING CRIMINALS IN FORMER DAYS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 116, 28 April 1870, Page 6

MODE OF EXECUTING CRIMINALS IN FORMER DAYS.

A very old colonist writes as follows '• to the " Hobart Town Mercury " :—: — In 1820, Judge Wylde came down "from Sydney to try criminals, and three were sentenced to be hanged accordingly. The place of execution, the golgotha of that time, was near where the Trinity-hill Church now stands. I was present on one occasion, and saw the whole process of hanging three men. My wife remembers seeing the poor wretches swinging from the gibbet, from the front windows of our cottage, between which and Trinity-hill there was then not a house. The poor wretches were brought in a cart which was drawn by a horse, right under a cross-beam of two upright posts, a ladder was placed against it like that of a lamplighter, the heads of the condemned about a foot from the crossbeam ; the executioner came when all was ready for him, bringing his ' swag ' with him, for fear it would be stolen in his absence, or even from the foot of the ladder ; for he was carrying it under one arm while ascending the ladder, and had got half way up it when he found he could not manipulate both the bundle and the rope. He descended, and placing his swag where he could see it, and reascencung the ladder, adjusted the ropes by first placing the nooses round the necks of the victims for sheepstealing, and then fastening them round the beam. He then descended the ladder, took care of his swag, the word was given, the tailboard of the cart had been removed, a smart cut was given to the horse, off he started, and the three mortals swung in what was deemed a very regular and even picturesque manner. So well had the old hangman regulated the lengths of the ropes, that they hung , even, straight, and level."