The EFFECTS OF A REPRIEVE.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 185, 17 July 1873, Page 2

The EFFECTS OF A REPRIEVE.

Mr Caleraft has just returned from Scotland after a fruit- j| less exposition. The " veteran hangman," as he is called,, waa sent to Dundee to hang n man named Scobbie, who a short time ago murdered a gamekeeper. Every preparation was made for the execution, and Seobbie's fate seemed' sealed, but the reprieve followed Caleraft so closely that they arrived within a few hours of each other, and indeed itA might have saved the cost of postage if Caleraft had been^^ allowed to bring the document in his pocket. As it was, however, the only luggage brought by that functionary was a largo carpet bag, containing, as- the Dundee Advertiser informs its readers, a new rope, a white cap, and some pinioning straps. This flying visit of Caleraft to their town seems to havo created quite a pleasing excitement among the good people of Dundee, and if their visitor were a royal personage or an eminent statesman he could hardly have been treated with greater consideration. The most minute details of his proceedings and appearance are given by the local papers. Hn arrived, as before stated, early on Saturday morning, and took up his quarters in the prison, which, I it seems, ho never loft until his departure for London in the evening. During the day he might be seen taking an airing in the groun Is. He appeared to bo " rather epicurean in 111-* tnstei." All his food was taken from the Rnys.l Hotel to- tho prison* Age is telling upon him, and his step is now more measured and' his form less erect than it was a few years since. Ho had several pleasing conversations with gentlemen who happened to visit the gaol, to whom he was \ery communicative, filtering minutely into his experiences, and stating that ho i felt exceedingly pained when, called upon to perform the duties of his office. It had, ho said, alforded him much I gratification to learn- that Scobbie, whom he- had 1 tome to hang, had been respited. Some hopes had been entertained that Mr Caleraft would, before leaving the town, condescends to inspect tho scaffold which had been prepared for the%_ cxrcaMoii of Scobl>ie, and " tay whether in his opinion ho considered a satisfactory job had been made." He did not do so, however, and this slight disappointment appears to> havo been the only drawback to the pleasure of his tisit. A Inrge number of persons assembled in the evening to uitncA the departure of the veteran by the 630 pm. train for London. About six o'clock tho prison gates opened, and Caleraft and tho governor emerged, and at ones took thenscats in a cab which was waiting. Calcraft's large carpetbag oycited the deepest possible interest among the vast A crowd that bosiegcrt the entrance to the railway station. W Caleraft, himself, who seemed unmoved by this display of nlfcctionntc cariosity, kindly leaned out of the wimiou of a second-class carriage in order that all present might have nn opportunity of inspecting him : and thus waving adieu ti> Dundee, the hangman passed out of sight.