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Wednesday 17 August 1932
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WILLIAM MOXLEY.
Reprieve Refused.
A deputation appealed to the Premier (Mr. Stevens) yesterday to grant a reprieve in the case of William Cyril Moxley. Last night, the Premier announced that the Cabinet had decided that its decision that Moxley should be executed this morning could not be disturbed.
The deputation, which was organised by the Howard Prison Reform League, also asked that legislation be introduced to abolish capital punishment.
Mr. N. A. Sachisthal, secretary of the league, who introduced the deputation, said they found no fault with the fairness of Mox- ley's trial. They did believe, however, that Moxley was suffering from a form of insanity which medical men had not yet discovered. They would ask that before the death penalty was carried out Moxley's family and medical history should be examined by an independent board of three medical experts, in the presence of legal representatives of the Crown and of Moxley.
Mr. P. J. Keller, president of the State A.L.P., said he believed Moxley had a diseased mind and was not responsible for what he had done. He knew of nothing more stupid or less scientific than hanging.
Other speakers included Mr. J. B. Steel, Mr. A. J. Abbott, Mrs. A. B. Piddington, and
Mrs. B. Sawtell.
Mr. Stevens said that everything the Crown could do in the case had been done. Expert opinion was that Moxley was in a normal state of mind, and that the crime was pre- meditated. When the matter came before the Cabinet, each Minister had before him the full text of the evidence, the Judge's remarks, and every other fact concerning the case. Ministers reviewed the case dispassionately and for some hours, and it was their unani- mous decision that this was a case in which the extreme penalty should be applied.
The Premier said he sympathised with the views of the deputation. There were many people holding such views, who believed that the extreme penalty should be carried out in this case. It was such a ghastly case.
CONDEMNED MAN COMPOSED.
Prison officials stated last night that Moxley appeared to be facing his end with composure. He spent a great part of yesterday in deep consultation with the Salvation Army chaplain.