EXECUTION OF BURGESS, KELLY AND LEVY."

West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 3

EXECUTION OF BURGESS, KELLY AND LEVY."

(By Electric Telegraph.)

(FROM THE JA'TTtfLTON TIMjJS.)

Nelson, OcL- 5, 3.30 p.m. Burgess, Kelly, and Levy were executed in thd gaol yard this morning.

They died protesting that the statemerits made by them on tlie trial were true and accurate.

Kelly and Levy repeatedly declared their innocence. , Burgess spoke first. He declared by God above, whom he adored, that Sullivan was guilty' of the murder of Battle and Mathieu, and also of the murder of Dobson. The p,por Jew and Kelly .^ he said, were innocent of, all the murders. Sullivan was concerned in all six, and was the actual murderer of Dobson. He was himself morally guilty of Dobson' s murder, as he knew of it before and after it took place.

Kelly read a long statement, in which he called down the most fearful imprecations on his head for punishment hereafter, if his last declaration* and dying- words were not the * truth. Hesaid. " May the Devil fly away with my soul if such 'is not the case !" He declared that he had no part in the murders, and that "lie knew nothing of them till Sullivan confessed.

Burgess again spoke, saying that he felt happy this glovious and bright' morning: He expressed great sympathy for Kelly and Levy, and declared that Sullivan was his only confederate.

" Were it not for Kelly and Levy," said Burgess, " I could die happy, — almost joyous." Levy, who was the most staid, and gave evidence of least emotion, corapla;ned that when he applied to the authorities for borne money" wnich they owed him, they refused to give it up. He wanted the money to defray the expenses of his" defence. He also sakl that when he applied -to the authorities to know whether they would assist him in subpoenaing witnesses, they refused assistance, and merely said the witnesses would be subpoenaed, lie complained of the treatment he had received from the press, and said that if be had been tried elsewhere, he would have been acquitted. He appealed to the editor of the " Colonist," to give h,is statement full publicity, and declared by Jeh ivah (putting on his hat) that when the* murder of the four men took .place, both he and Kelly hud been twenty-six hours away from the society of Burgess and Sullivan." * When he came to New Zealand from Melbourne, in September last year, he brought with him LSOO or L6OO, and was never at Wood's Point in his life, although the newspaper's had said so. He complained of his treatment in prison, 'and of favor shown to- Sullivan, and con-

.eluded by protesting his innocence. Burgess spoke a third time, professing penitence, and hope in God.' 'He'

thanked all the officials for their kindness, and said, " I am quite ready to obey the sentence of-the law.-" »

Kelly, at this moment,- ' ejaculated " Oh, God! I am not ready; give me a few minutes to speak. " All this took place in the gaol yard.

The men then ascended the scaffold, accompanied by their religious advisers.

All three knelt down in prayer. The ropes were then adjusted, and the caps drawn over their eyes. Levy, while still kneeling on the drop, cried in a loud, distinct voice, " I am innocent."

Kelly, while kneeling on the drop, attempted to rise and address those assembled. He called out, "I am not being hangted, I am being murdered." The voice of the' minister was then heard reading the . solemn words, " In the midst of life we are in death." The drop fell, and in a short time the men were dead. 'Burgess seemed to die instantly, without struggling.

Levy gave two or three slight convulsive movements. Kelly showed signs of life the longest.