ON THIS DAY - October 2, 1888 LILYDALE THE LILYDALE MURDER. APPEAL FOR A REPRIEVE. A deputation, consisting of Mr. J. Mirams, M. L. A., the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, and a number of clergymen resident at Lilydale, yesterday applied to His Excellency the Governor to extend the prerogative of mercy to George Syme, who has been sentenced to be hanged at the Melbourne gaol on the 8th inst., for the murder of his mother-in- law, Mrs. Clifford, at Lilydale, on October 2. The Rev. J. Green said that he had to present to His Excellency a petition signed by 150 of the residents of Lilydale and the district. It admitted the serious nature of the crime committed by Syme, but urged that, in view of the fact that the colony was this year celebrating the centenary of Australia, clemency could well be extended to him. The petition was signed by four resident clergymen at Lilydale, the president of the shire, several councillors, and many of the most influential people in the district. A fact which should not be overlooked was that the prisoner had for years laboured under the impression that his late mother-in-law was unduly interfering with the management of his home There was evidence that she showed to Syme her distaste for his marriage with her daughter. Syme also had lately indulged excessively in drink, and was in the habit of complaining to persons with whom he conversed of the unhappy state of his domestic affairs. HIS EXCELLENCY said that the subject matter of the petition had been already very fully considered by the Executive Council. The Rev. R. G. Burke appealed strongly for clemency on the ground that a hanging should not take place while the centenary of Australia was being celebrated. He said that just before the murder was committed Mrs. Clifford had interposed when Syme went to see his wife, and had him locked up. He subsequently went into the bush, where he intended to save money to enable him to leave for another colony. He, however, was summoned for the maintenance of his wife, although neither she nor her mother was in indigent circumstances. The Rev. Dr. Hamilton was certain that Syme had been subjected to much provocation. HIS EXCELLENCY, in reply, said that he understood that the substance of the representations made to him had already been submitted to the Chief Secretary. He would, however, lay the petition before the Executive Council at its meeting that afternoon. The deputation then withdrew. The petition was considered at the Executive Council and it was decided that the law should be permitted to take its course.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 00:15:00 +0000
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