NED KELLYS FINAL HOURS
THE EXECUTION.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 around his ankles to prevent chafing. The cells 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 forward to his execution without fear, but he could get anyone to speak to, he indulged in brag, recounting his exploits and boasting of what he could have done when at liberty had he pleased latterly, however, his talkativeness ceased, and he become silent. Within the last few days of his life he dictated a number of letters for the chief Secretary, in most of which he simply repeated his now well-known garbled version of his career and the spurious reasons he assigned for his crimes. He never however, expressed any sorrow for his crimes; on the contrary, he always attempted to justify them. In his last communication he made request that his body might be handed over to his friends-an application that was necessarily in vain. On November 10 he was visited by his relatives, bade them farewell. At his own request his portrait was taken for circulation amongst his friends. He went to bed at half-past 1 o'clock on the morning before the execution, and was very restless up to half past 2, when he fell asleep. At 5 o'clock he awoke and arose, and falling on his knees prayed for 20 minutes, and then lay down again. He rose finally at 8 o'clock and at a quarter to 9 a blacksmith was called in to remove his irons.

 

The rivets having been knocked out, and his legs liberated, he was attended by Father Donaghy, the Roman Catholic clergyman of the gaol. Immediately afterwards, he was conducted from his cell in the old wing to the condemned cell alongside the gallows in the main building. In being thus removed, he had to walk through the garden which surrounds the hospital ward, and to pass the handcart in which his body was in another hour to be carried back to the dead-house. Making only a single remark about the pretty flowers in the garden, he passed in a jaunty manner from the brilliant sunshine into the sombre walls of the prison. In the condemned cell the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church were administered to him by Father Donaghy and Dean O'Hea. In the meantime a large crowd of persons had commenced to gather in front of the gaol, and the persons who received cards of admission assembled in the gaol yard.

 

A few minutes before 10 o'clock the hour fixed for the execution, Colonel Rede the sheriff, and Mr Castieau the governor of the gaol, proceeded to the condemned cell, followed by the persons who had been admitted. The latter numbered about 30, and included Superintendent Winch, Sub-inspector Larner, several constables and detectives, three or four medical men, a number of justices of the peace, and the representatives of the press. The gallows is situated in the centre of the new wing, 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 live, but they soon flew away. The sheriff, preceded by the governor of the gaol, then ascended to the cell on the left hand side of the gallows, in which the condemned man had been placed, and demanded 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 his elbows. He was then led out with a white cap on his head. He walked steadily onto the drop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Illustrated Australian News

 4/Dec/1880
The final act in the career of Edward Kelly, the murdered of the police in the Wombat Rangers, closed on November 11th, when he paid the last dread penalty of the law. At a time appointed for the execution an immense crowd assembled in the road in Victoria-Street, fronting the gaol. They stared vacantly at the walls of the building and engaged in conversation. There was no demonstration. The condemned man went to bed at half past one a.m. on November 11th. He was very restless up to half past two. When he fell into a sound sleep, in which he remained until 5 a.m. He then got up and went on his knees and prayed for twenty minutes, after which he again lay down. The prisoner did not partake of breakfast, that being contrary to the directions of his spiritual advisers, Deans Donnelly and O'Hea. During the morning these reverend gentlemen administered the last rites of the church to the condemned man. Promptly at ten o'clock Colonel Rede, the sheriff, came forward in his official dress and demanded the body of Edward Kelly. Mr. Castieau, the governor of the gaol, led the way to the condemned cell, where the prisoner was confined, which stands on the eastern side of the central tower from which the corridors radiate.

The drop fronts the main entrance. The spectators present, including officers and warders, did not exceed fifty in numbers Upjohn discharged the duties of hangman. Prior to his being brought out of the cell Kelly said, "You need not pinion me I will go forward quietly" but the usual course of fasting the prisoner's arms was observed. A few minutes after ten the prisoner was led out of the condemned cell, his spiritual advisers repeating the prayers for the dying. Kelly was visibly impressed with the awful nature of his position, but he stood firmly on the drop. The day being bright, the warm summer sun had penetrated through the gaol windows and made itself felt on the long, cold gloomy looking corridors. It was such a day as would make a young man in the prime of manhood and in the full bloom of health keenly realise the dearness of life. Kelly evidently felt it, but he displayed no levity or bravado. He had intended to make a speech, but he uttered no audible sound. While the prayers were yet being said, the condemned man glanced at the sky, the cap was drawn over his face, the signal given, and he went to his account. Prayers were continued after he was dead.