EXECUTED THIS DAY - May 23, 1854 WILLIAM THOROUGHGOOD An execution which took place at Melbourne on the 23rd is thus referred to in the Argus of the following day:—William Thoroughgood, convicted last criminal sessions of rape upon a child of tender years, was executed yesterday at the common gaol, at 8 oclock. The convicted man was a Wesleyan Methodist, and expressed himself very penitent for his offences. In accordance with our usual custom we do not pander to the taste of the lovers of the horrible, by minutely chronicling the details of the last deal struggles of the wretched criminal, whose offences, like fierce diseases, doubtless require strong remedies; but we have yet to learn that public strangulation is the most appropriate—in fact our own experience of the colonies, where life is held so cheap, loudly tells us it is not.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 00:15:00 +0000