THE EXECUTION OF KELLY.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1314, 30 November 1880, Page 3

THE EXECUTION OF KELLY.

Immediately after sentence of death was passed on Kelly additional precautions •were taken to ensure his safe custody in the Melbourne Gaol. He was placed in one of the cells in the old wing", and irons were riveted upon his legs, leather pads being placed round his ankles to prevent chafing. The cell had two doors— an outer one of solid iron and an inner one of iron bars. The outer door was always kept open, a lamp was kept burning overhead, and a warder was continually sitting outside watching the prisoner. During the day he was allowed to walk in the adjoining yard for exercise, and on these occasions two warders had him under surveillance; He continued to maintain his indifferent demeanour for a day or two, professing to look for ward to his execution without fear, but he was then evidently cherishing a hope of reprieve. When he could get anyone to speak to, he indulged in brag, recounting his exploits and boasting on what he could have done when at liberty had he pleased. Latterly, however, his talkativeness ceased, and he be fame morose and sileut. He never, however, expressed any sorrow for his crimes ; on the contrary, he always attempted to justify them. A short time before his execution he passed in a jaunty manner from the brilliant sunshine into the sombre walls of the prLson. In the condemned cell the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church were administered to him by Father Donairhy, and Dean O'Hea. The gallaws is situated in the centre of the new winsr, and consists simply of a beam of timber running across the transept over the first gallery, with rope attached and a trap-door in the gallery floor. Warders were arranged on the side galleries, and the onlookers stood on the basement floor in front of the drop. The convict had yet two minutes to liv**, but they soon flew away. The sheriff, preceded by the governor of the goal, then asceuded to the cell on the left hand side of the gallows, in which the condemned man had been placed, and de- " manded the body of Edward Kelly. The governor asked for his warrant, and having received it in due form, bowed in acquiescence. The new hangman, an elderly, grey-headed, well-conditioned looking man, named Upjohn, who is at present incarcerated for larceny, made his appearance at this juncture from the cell on the opposite side of the gallows, entered the doomed man's cell with the governor, and proceeded to pinion Kelly. At first Kelly objected to this operation, saying, "There is no need for tying me ;" but he had to submit, and his arms were pinioned behind by a strap above the elbows. He was then led out with a white cap on his head. He walk steadily on to the drop ; but his face was livid, his jaunty air gone, and there was a frightened look in his *yes as he glanced down on the spectators. It was his intention to make a speech, but his courage evidently failed him, and he merely said, "Ah, well ! I suppose it has come to this," as the rope was being placed round his neck. He appeared as in Court, with beard and whiskers, never having been shaved. The priests, in their robes, followed him out of the cell, repeating prayers, and another official of the Church stood in front of him with a crucifix. The noose having been adjusted, the white cap was pulled over his face, and the hangman stepping to the side quickly drew the bolt, and the wretched man had ceased to live. He had a drop of 8 fe^t, and hunsr suspended about 4 fecc from the bsii-emeni floor. His neck was dislocated, and de.ith was instantaneous ; for although muscular twitching 1 continued for a few minutes, he never made a struggle. It was all over by five minutes past 10 o'clock, and was one of the most expeditious executions ever performed m the Melbourne gaol. Half an hour afterwards the body was lowered into the hospital cart, and taken to the dead-house. On removing the cap the face wus found to be placid, and without any discolouration, and only a slight mark was left by the ropp under the left ear. The eyes were wide open. The outside crowd had increased by 10 o'clock to about 4000 — men, women, and children ; but a large proportion of them were larrikin-looking youths, and nearly all were of the lower orders. Whip the clock struck 10, the connour.se raisf d thei r eyes simultaneously to the roof of the gaol, expecting to see a black fl.ig displayed ; but they looked in vain, for no intimation of the execution havinjr taken pl.ice was given. One •woman, as the hour struck, fell on her knees in front of the entrance, and prayed for the condemned man.

Five hundred and sixty-five millions of pa u -engers travelled on British, railways during the past year. The Inflexible, which is being builr. by the British Government, will be fin^hed this year. She will be the largest man of-war afloat, her displacement being 11,406 tons. Hec rivals in the Italian navy, the Daudolo and tho Duilo, are each .only 10,570 tons. The champion yacht of the year is the Vanduara. In the two months tince her appearance her success has been unprecedented. She has met the fleetest yachts in England in all sorts of weather, and has beat them easily. She is built of bteel, but the secret remains a mystery. A Grasshopper Plague.— The New Caledonia correspondent of the Sydney Daily TelegrapJt, writes :—": — " The Government are endeavouring to introduce the culture of the vine in New Caledonia. It is pretty well understood now, that the grasshoppers will not allow the sugar cane to grow ; so something must be planted which they will not touch. Coffee they never touch ; but they soon strip maize, and in consequence we have to import from Sydney what would grow luxuriantly on our own land were it free from these pests." A Nice Distinction. — Purchaser : ' ' You are a fraud, sir ! When I bought this horse from you, you assured me that he hadn't a fault; why, sir, he's stone blind!" Vendor : " I know he is, but I don't consider that a fault; I call that a misfortune ! ' The Artistic Tramp. — Ihere is a ti'J.tnp who haunts the east end of Gdl-ve-<ton wh£ has got it down fine. He has reduced it to a perfect system. He has his regular customers, so to speak. He knocks at the door of a house. The owner conies ont. As soon as he saw the tramp, he said : — " Now, look here, last week 1 gave you a nickel to stop away for ten clays, and here you are back again." The tramp put his hand to hi« forehead and was lost in thought for several minuteH. Then he said, "You are right, Colonel. Your regular assessment is not due yet for a week. "When I get back to my counting-room I'll pay off ray head bookkeeper and discharge him, He has neglected to give you the proper credit on the ledger," "Well, go on, now." "All ripht, Colonel; This is not a professional call ; it is only complimentary. No extra charge,? 1 / .