Kerang Times and Swan Hill Gazette (Vic. : 1877 - 1889), Friday 23 January 1880, page 4


EXECUTION OF THE BUSHRANGERS. Sydney, Tuesday. Notwithstanding the many efforts made to obtain a reprieve, G. A. Scott (alias Captain Moonlite) and Rogan, the two Wantabadgery bushrangers, this morning bade farewell to earth for ever, they having paid the full and last penalty of the law, within the precincts of the Darlinghurst gaol, precisely at eight o'clock. The execution was strictly private, as by order of the Government the press were not admitted. No speech, however, was made by Captain Moonlite, Father Ryan having induced Rogan to dissuade Scott from addressing even those few who were witnesses of the dread scene. Scott on appearing on the gallows merely said that today was his father's birthday, and he felt his position more keenly on that ac-count. He totally denied having misled the youths Williams and Wernicke, and asserted that he endeavored to induce them to return to the path of honesty. The fatal lever was then drawn, and Scott and Hogan were ushered into eternity. Both the culprits died easily. Subsequently the bodies were cut down, and the formal in-quest held. Opinions are divided as to the propriety of the Government excluding the press. The Sydney Evening News of Saturday last says :–" The earth is slipping swiftly from beneath the feet of the two wretched men lying in the condemned cells in Dar-linghurst gaol. Yesterday's debate in the Assembly showed that, so far as the Execu-tive is concerned, their fate is sealed. When the information that there was no mercy in this world for him was conveyed to Scott, he smiled disdainfully, and proceeded with the writing with which he was engaged. Shortly afterwards, however, he seemed to realise his awful position. The pen dropped from his nerveless grasp, and for a long time he remained gazing fixedly straight before him. The man seemed to have lost all conscious-ness of his grim surroundings, and to be intently watching something far beyond the gloomy walls of the great penal establish-ment. Scott is much more attentive to the clergyman today. His bravado has en-tirely disappeared, and his desire for writ-ing has considerably modified. Rogan re-ceived the news of his doom with evident surprise. He shifted about uneasily, but subsequently subsided into the stolid indif-ference which charactericsed him since his arrival in Darlinghurst. He sits all day with his head resting on his breast, the picture of sullen hopelessness." On Friday a fatal accident happened in Hargreaves street, Sandhurst, to a resident of Epsom named Alexander Urquhart. The deceased was driving a waggon drawn by two horses, and loaded with hard wood. Urquhart had occasion to go to the head of the leading animal for the purpose of leading it into the middle of the street. Whilst so engaged some of the planks touched the horse in the shafts, which made a rush forward, and the leading horse knocked him down, and two of the wheels passed over his body. He was at once removed to the hospital, where he was found to he suffering from five of his ribs being fractured, an extensive rupture of the lung tissues, and fracture of part of the spine. The case was considered hopeless from the first, and he died shortly after he was admitted. Evidence. was taken at an inquiry by Mr Webster, P.M. next morn-ing to the above effect, and a verdict of aeidental death returned. Deceased was an old resident of Epsom. It is gratifying to learn by a Sydney telegram that the meat ventured by the Strathleven has so far proved a success; and since the passage of the Red Sea has been satisfactorily got over, there is very little doubt as to the entire success of the undertalking, and that in the course of a very short time fresh meat from Australia will be placed on the London market.Argus .