How Criminals were once Executed in Tasmania.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 24, 27 April 1870, Page 7

How Criminals were once Executed in Tasmania.

A very old colonist writes as follows to the Hobart Town Mercury: —“ln 1820 Judge Wylde came down from Sydney to try criminals, and three were sentenced to bo hanged, and they were hanged accordingly. The place of execution—the golgotlia 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 remembered 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 he ascended. He had got half way up die ladder, when he found he could not manipulate botii the bundle and the rope. He descended, placed his swag where he could see it, and reascending the ladder, adj listed the ropes by first placing the nooses round the victims of sheep-stealing propensities, and then fastening them 'round the beam. He then descended the ladder, took care of his swag, the word was given, the tail-board of the cart was removed, a smart cut was given to the horse, olf 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.”