Louisa Collins (1849 – 1889) was an Australian poisoner and convicted murderer. Collins, who was dubbed as the "Borgia of Botany" by the press of the day, endured four trials in front of 48 men, after the first three juries failed to convict. Collins was hanged at Darlinghurst Gaol on the morning of 8 January 1889.
Louisa was born at Belltrees near Scone, New South Wales. She married at a young age to Charles Andrews a butcher. She would have nine children in this marriage, seven of whom survived infancy.
Not much was known about the family until December 1886, Andrews had moved his family to the inner city suburb of Botany. Andrews had work as a wool washer that used chemicals to wash the wool before export. The chemicals used included Arsenic. In order to made ends meet the family would take in lodgers. One of Andrew's co-workers was Michael Peter Collins, and Andrews had offered lodging to him.
Rumours abounded that Louisa liked the male company of her boarders a little too much. Charles Andrews discovered the liaison between his wife and one particular boarder, Michael Collins. Mr Andrews confronted Mr Collins and threw him out of the boarding house in December 1886.
On 31 January 1887 Charles Andrews signed a will that was drawn up by a clerk at the insurance office. It was soon after this that Charles started to feel unwell. He was suddenly and violently ill with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. He died on 2 February 1887. The widowed Mrs Andrew quickly applied for the life insurance of her dead husband.
Locals were not surprised that the widowed Andrews took up with Michael Collins soon after the death of her first husband. Louisa Collins had stated they were married on 9 April 1887 that was with in two months of Charles Andrews' funeral, with the bride marching up the aisle four months pregnant. The resultant child (John Collins) died and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Unfortunately Collins' new husband fell ill after a year of marriage displaying the same symptoms as his predecessor. Michael Collins died on 8 July 1888. Collins life was not insured. He, too, was a wool washer, who worked with skins treated with arsenic.
Mrs Collins neighbours were now suspicious as both of her husbands had died with the same symptoms. Andrew's body was exhumed and a chemical analysis show it had the presence of arsenic poison. Michael Collins autopsy found the cause of death arsenical poisoning. Mrs Collins was arrested as she was the only person who nursed the men during their illnesses. The Coroner recommended that she stand trial for the wilful murder of both men.
Charles Andrew's son Arthur would give evidence that his father was a healthy man who could work a fifteen hour day if necessary. It was after Collins leaving the house that Charles first became ill.
Some of the most important testimony was given by Louisa's only daughter, May, just 10 years old at the time of the first trial who gave evidence that the family kept Rough On Rats – a deadly arsenic-based poison. Sydney was suffering a rat plague in the 1880s, which led to boom sales for a product called Rough On Rats. The product was basis of the case against Collins.
Louisa had to endure four trials, the first three failed to find a verdict. Collins did not call any witnesses for her defence.
The first full-length examination of the case, Last Woman Hanged: the Terrible True Story of Louisa Collins, by Australian author and journalist Caroline Overington, was published in 2014.
- Wiki
-----
THE EXECUTION OF LOUISA COLLINS.
Yesterday morning, a few minutes after 9 o'clock, Louisa Collins was executed within Darlinghurst gaol, in the strictest privacy compatible with the awful event The hour of execution was fixed for 9 o'clock, and about 20 minutes before that time the guarded gates to the Court-house entrance had been opened to five represen- tatives of the metropolitan daily press. Besides these the only witnesses of the execution were Mr. Cowper, the Sheriff, Mr. Maybury, the Deputy sheriff, Dr. Maurice O'Connor, visiting surgeon, Dr. Brown- less, nominated for the occasion by the Govern- ment medical officer; the gaol dispenser, and sub- Inspector Hyam. About an hour before the execution the condemned woman was removed from the female ward to the condemned cell, which is situated a few yards from the gallows. She was accompanied by the Rev. Canon Rich, chaplain of the gaol, and passed her last hour in prayer. A few minutes past 9 the voice of the chaplain could be heard uttering the first words of the burial service, and a moment later he emerged from the cell-door on to the gallery which led to the scaffold. Behind was Louisa Collins, clothed in the common brown winsey prison dress, with her arms pinioned above the elbows. On each side, with a hand on each arm, a female warder walked, but without the necessity to give support, as with bent head and nearly closed eyes the doomed woman walked slowly, but firmly, towards the door which led to the scaffold. In passing she gave a brief look on the representatives of the press still re- maining in the building. Her female attendants were, to all appearances, more affected than Mrs. Collins her- self, for one was weeping. Behind followed Howard, the executioner, and his newly-appointed assistant. Stepping on the scaffold, which faces a small exercise yard, Mrs. Collins again cast a glance at the small group of reporters beneath. Except this movement of the eyes there was no facial change, but a slight twitch of the hands was notice- able. On one side of the trapdoor on the platform stood a chair, over which was thrown a piece of carpet; on this rested the noose of the rope. The Rev. Mr. Rich stood on the other side, and immediately Mrs. Collins was beneath the beam, the chaplain pronounced the closing words of the burial service, to which the victim audibly responded " Amen," and after a few whispered words from the chaplain, to hear which Mrs. Collins slightly inclined her head, the white cap was handed from the assistant to the executioner, who placed it over the victim's head. She raised her right hand and assisted to adjust the cap, and then the rope was tightened round her neck. The executioner signalled to his assistant to pull the lever, but the handle refused to move. It could be seen that pressure was applied, and also that the pin which held the handle in its place was fast in its slot. The assistant endeavoured to remove the pin, but failed, and in a few seconds a mallet was used. Four or five blows were applied-Mrs. Collins meanwhile standing perfectly upright and motionless-before the pin gave way. The delay caused could not have been short of one minute, when the lever moved and the body fell through in a slightly curved position. After one swing to the side and in a moment it was suspended perpendicularly, with the face towards the yard. There was a slight spurt of blood, followed by a thin stream which ran down the dress and spotted the floor beneath. Nearer examination showed that the strain of the drop had so far opened the neck as to completely sever the windpipe, and that the body was hanging by the vertebra. Slowly the body turned round on the rope until the front part faced the doorway, and there it remained stationary until lowered by the executioner on to a wicker bier. Death was instantaneous. After hanging for 20 minutes the corpse was conveyed to the inquest room, and again given over to the female warders. Subsequently the formal inquest was held, and the usual verdict returned. During the afternoon the remains were buried at Rookwood, under the surveillance of the police authorities.
The Rev. Canon Rich, before leaving the gaol, in- formed the press that he attended the condemned woman daily, and sometimes twice a day, subsequent to her condemnation. She had all along been most earnest in her prayers, and had devoutly accepted his spiritual consolations. As the day of execution drew near she gradually altered, becoming more careworn as if from menial strain. She fully recognised her awful position and always expressed her preparedness for and resignation to her fate. Asked if she had made any confession the chaplain replied, "She has confessed her sins to Almighty God and has supplicated for forgive- ness." Throughout her last days she had, the chap- lin continued, shown great courage, which did not desert her in her last hour. The chaplain also stated that Mrs. Collins had told him that her external demeauour before her condemnation was "but a mere shell " and that she felt her position acutely.
Near the different entrances to the gaol groups of people assembled, but there was no demonstration of any kind beyond the indulgence in remarks which might be expected on such on occasion.
- The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 9 January 1889, page 7
Louisa was born at Belltrees near Scone, New South Wales. She married at a young age to Charles Andrews a butcher. She would have nine children in this marriage, seven of whom survived infancy.
Not much was known about the family until December 1886, Andrews had moved his family to the inner city suburb of Botany. Andrews had work as a wool washer that used chemicals to wash the wool before export. The chemicals used included Arsenic. In order to made ends meet the family would take in lodgers. One of Andrew's co-workers was Michael Peter Collins, and Andrews had offered lodging to him.
Rumours abounded that Louisa liked the male company of her boarders a little too much. Charles Andrews discovered the liaison between his wife and one particular boarder, Michael Collins. Mr Andrews confronted Mr Collins and threw him out of the boarding house in December 1886.
On 31 January 1887 Charles Andrews signed a will that was drawn up by a clerk at the insurance office. It was soon after this that Charles started to feel unwell. He was suddenly and violently ill with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. He died on 2 February 1887. The widowed Mrs Andrew quickly applied for the life insurance of her dead husband.
Locals were not surprised that the widowed Andrews took up with Michael Collins soon after the death of her first husband. Louisa Collins had stated they were married on 9 April 1887 that was with in two months of Charles Andrews' funeral, with the bride marching up the aisle four months pregnant. The resultant child (John Collins) died and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Unfortunately Collins' new husband fell ill after a year of marriage displaying the same symptoms as his predecessor. Michael Collins died on 8 July 1888. Collins life was not insured. He, too, was a wool washer, who worked with skins treated with arsenic.
Mrs Collins neighbours were now suspicious as both of her husbands had died with the same symptoms. Andrew's body was exhumed and a chemical analysis show it had the presence of arsenic poison. Michael Collins autopsy found the cause of death arsenical poisoning. Mrs Collins was arrested as she was the only person who nursed the men during their illnesses. The Coroner recommended that she stand trial for the wilful murder of both men.
Charles Andrew's son Arthur would give evidence that his father was a healthy man who could work a fifteen hour day if necessary. It was after Collins leaving the house that Charles first became ill.
Some of the most important testimony was given by Louisa's only daughter, May, just 10 years old at the time of the first trial who gave evidence that the family kept Rough On Rats – a deadly arsenic-based poison. Sydney was suffering a rat plague in the 1880s, which led to boom sales for a product called Rough On Rats. The product was basis of the case against Collins.
Louisa had to endure four trials, the first three failed to find a verdict. Collins did not call any witnesses for her defence.
The first full-length examination of the case, Last Woman Hanged: the Terrible True Story of Louisa Collins, by Australian author and journalist Caroline Overington, was published in 2014.
- Wiki
-----
THE EXECUTION OF LOUISA COLLINS.
Yesterday morning, a few minutes after 9 o'clock, Louisa Collins was executed within Darlinghurst gaol, in the strictest privacy compatible with the awful event The hour of execution was fixed for 9 o'clock, and about 20 minutes before that time the guarded gates to the Court-house entrance had been opened to five represen- tatives of the metropolitan daily press. Besides these the only witnesses of the execution were Mr. Cowper, the Sheriff, Mr. Maybury, the Deputy sheriff, Dr. Maurice O'Connor, visiting surgeon, Dr. Brown- less, nominated for the occasion by the Govern- ment medical officer; the gaol dispenser, and sub- Inspector Hyam. About an hour before the execution the condemned woman was removed from the female ward to the condemned cell, which is situated a few yards from the gallows. She was accompanied by the Rev. Canon Rich, chaplain of the gaol, and passed her last hour in prayer. A few minutes past 9 the voice of the chaplain could be heard uttering the first words of the burial service, and a moment later he emerged from the cell-door on to the gallery which led to the scaffold. Behind was Louisa Collins, clothed in the common brown winsey prison dress, with her arms pinioned above the elbows. On each side, with a hand on each arm, a female warder walked, but without the necessity to give support, as with bent head and nearly closed eyes the doomed woman walked slowly, but firmly, towards the door which led to the scaffold. In passing she gave a brief look on the representatives of the press still re- maining in the building. Her female attendants were, to all appearances, more affected than Mrs. Collins her- self, for one was weeping. Behind followed Howard, the executioner, and his newly-appointed assistant. Stepping on the scaffold, which faces a small exercise yard, Mrs. Collins again cast a glance at the small group of reporters beneath. Except this movement of the eyes there was no facial change, but a slight twitch of the hands was notice- able. On one side of the trapdoor on the platform stood a chair, over which was thrown a piece of carpet; on this rested the noose of the rope. The Rev. Mr. Rich stood on the other side, and immediately Mrs. Collins was beneath the beam, the chaplain pronounced the closing words of the burial service, to which the victim audibly responded " Amen," and after a few whispered words from the chaplain, to hear which Mrs. Collins slightly inclined her head, the white cap was handed from the assistant to the executioner, who placed it over the victim's head. She raised her right hand and assisted to adjust the cap, and then the rope was tightened round her neck. The executioner signalled to his assistant to pull the lever, but the handle refused to move. It could be seen that pressure was applied, and also that the pin which held the handle in its place was fast in its slot. The assistant endeavoured to remove the pin, but failed, and in a few seconds a mallet was used. Four or five blows were applied-Mrs. Collins meanwhile standing perfectly upright and motionless-before the pin gave way. The delay caused could not have been short of one minute, when the lever moved and the body fell through in a slightly curved position. After one swing to the side and in a moment it was suspended perpendicularly, with the face towards the yard. There was a slight spurt of blood, followed by a thin stream which ran down the dress and spotted the floor beneath. Nearer examination showed that the strain of the drop had so far opened the neck as to completely sever the windpipe, and that the body was hanging by the vertebra. Slowly the body turned round on the rope until the front part faced the doorway, and there it remained stationary until lowered by the executioner on to a wicker bier. Death was instantaneous. After hanging for 20 minutes the corpse was conveyed to the inquest room, and again given over to the female warders. Subsequently the formal inquest was held, and the usual verdict returned. During the afternoon the remains were buried at Rookwood, under the surveillance of the police authorities.
The Rev. Canon Rich, before leaving the gaol, in- formed the press that he attended the condemned woman daily, and sometimes twice a day, subsequent to her condemnation. She had all along been most earnest in her prayers, and had devoutly accepted his spiritual consolations. As the day of execution drew near she gradually altered, becoming more careworn as if from menial strain. She fully recognised her awful position and always expressed her preparedness for and resignation to her fate. Asked if she had made any confession the chaplain replied, "She has confessed her sins to Almighty God and has supplicated for forgive- ness." Throughout her last days she had, the chap- lin continued, shown great courage, which did not desert her in her last hour. The chaplain also stated that Mrs. Collins had told him that her external demeauour before her condemnation was "but a mere shell " and that she felt her position acutely.
Near the different entrances to the gaol groups of people assembled, but there was no demonstration of any kind beyond the indulgence in remarks which might be expected on such on occasion.
- The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 9 January 1889, page 7
Louisa Collins (1849 – 1889) was an Australian poisoner and convicted murderer. Collins, who was dubbed as the "Borgia of Botany" by the press of the day, endured four trials in front of 48 men, after the first three juries failed to convict. Collins was hanged at Darlinghurst Gaol on the morning of 8 January 1889.
Louisa was born at Belltrees near Scone, New South Wales. She married at a young age to Charles Andrews a butcher. She would have nine children in this marriage, seven of whom survived infancy.
Not much was known about the family until December 1886, Andrews had moved his family to the inner city suburb of Botany. Andrews had work as a wool washer that used chemicals to wash the wool before export. The chemicals used included Arsenic. In order to made ends meet the family would take in lodgers. One of Andrew's co-workers was Michael Peter Collins, and Andrews had offered lodging to him.
Rumours abounded that Louisa liked the male company of her boarders a little too much. Charles Andrews discovered the liaison between his wife and one particular boarder, Michael Collins. Mr Andrews confronted Mr Collins and threw him out of the boarding house in December 1886.
On 31 January 1887 Charles Andrews signed a will that was drawn up by a clerk at the insurance office. It was soon after this that Charles started to feel unwell. He was suddenly and violently ill with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. He died on 2 February 1887. The widowed Mrs Andrew quickly applied for the life insurance of her dead husband.
Locals were not surprised that the widowed Andrews took up with Michael Collins soon after the death of her first husband. Louisa Collins had stated they were married on 9 April 1887 that was with in two months of Charles Andrews' funeral, with the bride marching up the aisle four months pregnant. The resultant child (John Collins) died and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Unfortunately Collins' new husband fell ill after a year of marriage displaying the same symptoms as his predecessor. Michael Collins died on 8 July 1888. Collins life was not insured. He, too, was a wool washer, who worked with skins treated with arsenic.
Mrs Collins neighbours were now suspicious as both of her husbands had died with the same symptoms. Andrew's body was exhumed and a chemical analysis show it had the presence of arsenic poison. Michael Collins autopsy found the cause of death arsenical poisoning. Mrs Collins was arrested as she was the only person who nursed the men during their illnesses. The Coroner recommended that she stand trial for the wilful murder of both men.
Charles Andrew's son Arthur would give evidence that his father was a healthy man who could work a fifteen hour day if necessary. It was after Collins leaving the house that Charles first became ill.
Some of the most important testimony was given by Louisa's only daughter, May, just 10 years old at the time of the first trial who gave evidence that the family kept Rough On Rats – a deadly arsenic-based poison. Sydney was suffering a rat plague in the 1880s, which led to boom sales for a product called Rough On Rats. The product was basis of the case against Collins.
Louisa had to endure four trials, the first three failed to find a verdict. Collins did not call any witnesses for her defence.
The first full-length examination of the case, Last Woman Hanged: the Terrible True Story of Louisa Collins, by Australian author and journalist Caroline Overington, was published in 2014.
- Wiki
-----
THE EXECUTION OF LOUISA COLLINS.
Yesterday morning, a few minutes after 9 o'clock, Louisa Collins was executed within Darlinghurst gaol, in the strictest privacy compatible with the awful event The hour of execution was fixed for 9 o'clock, and about 20 minutes before that time the guarded gates to the Court-house entrance had been opened to five represen- tatives of the metropolitan daily press. Besides these the only witnesses of the execution were Mr. Cowper, the Sheriff, Mr. Maybury, the Deputy sheriff, Dr. Maurice O'Connor, visiting surgeon, Dr. Brown- less, nominated for the occasion by the Govern- ment medical officer; the gaol dispenser, and sub- Inspector Hyam. About an hour before the execution the condemned woman was removed from the female ward to the condemned cell, which is situated a few yards from the gallows. She was accompanied by the Rev. Canon Rich, chaplain of the gaol, and passed her last hour in prayer. A few minutes past 9 the voice of the chaplain could be heard uttering the first words of the burial service, and a moment later he emerged from the cell-door on to the gallery which led to the scaffold. Behind was Louisa Collins, clothed in the common brown winsey prison dress, with her arms pinioned above the elbows. On each side, with a hand on each arm, a female warder walked, but without the necessity to give support, as with bent head and nearly closed eyes the doomed woman walked slowly, but firmly, towards the door which led to the scaffold. In passing she gave a brief look on the representatives of the press still re- maining in the building. Her female attendants were, to all appearances, more affected than Mrs. Collins her- self, for one was weeping. Behind followed Howard, the executioner, and his newly-appointed assistant. Stepping on the scaffold, which faces a small exercise yard, Mrs. Collins again cast a glance at the small group of reporters beneath. Except this movement of the eyes there was no facial change, but a slight twitch of the hands was notice- able. On one side of the trapdoor on the platform stood a chair, over which was thrown a piece of carpet; on this rested the noose of the rope. The Rev. Mr. Rich stood on the other side, and immediately Mrs. Collins was beneath the beam, the chaplain pronounced the closing words of the burial service, to which the victim audibly responded " Amen," and after a few whispered words from the chaplain, to hear which Mrs. Collins slightly inclined her head, the white cap was handed from the assistant to the executioner, who placed it over the victim's head. She raised her right hand and assisted to adjust the cap, and then the rope was tightened round her neck. The executioner signalled to his assistant to pull the lever, but the handle refused to move. It could be seen that pressure was applied, and also that the pin which held the handle in its place was fast in its slot. The assistant endeavoured to remove the pin, but failed, and in a few seconds a mallet was used. Four or five blows were applied-Mrs. Collins meanwhile standing perfectly upright and motionless-before the pin gave way. The delay caused could not have been short of one minute, when the lever moved and the body fell through in a slightly curved position. After one swing to the side and in a moment it was suspended perpendicularly, with the face towards the yard. There was a slight spurt of blood, followed by a thin stream which ran down the dress and spotted the floor beneath. Nearer examination showed that the strain of the drop had so far opened the neck as to completely sever the windpipe, and that the body was hanging by the vertebra. Slowly the body turned round on the rope until the front part faced the doorway, and there it remained stationary until lowered by the executioner on to a wicker bier. Death was instantaneous. After hanging for 20 minutes the corpse was conveyed to the inquest room, and again given over to the female warders. Subsequently the formal inquest was held, and the usual verdict returned. During the afternoon the remains were buried at Rookwood, under the surveillance of the police authorities.
The Rev. Canon Rich, before leaving the gaol, in- formed the press that he attended the condemned woman daily, and sometimes twice a day, subsequent to her condemnation. She had all along been most earnest in her prayers, and had devoutly accepted his spiritual consolations. As the day of execution drew near she gradually altered, becoming more careworn as if from menial strain. She fully recognised her awful position and always expressed her preparedness for and resignation to her fate. Asked if she had made any confession the chaplain replied, "She has confessed her sins to Almighty God and has supplicated for forgive- ness." Throughout her last days she had, the chap- lin continued, shown great courage, which did not desert her in her last hour. The chaplain also stated that Mrs. Collins had told him that her external demeauour before her condemnation was "but a mere shell " and that she felt her position acutely.
Near the different entrances to the gaol groups of people assembled, but there was no demonstration of any kind beyond the indulgence in remarks which might be expected on such on occasion.
- The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 9 January 1889, page 7
Louisa was born at Belltrees near Scone, New South Wales. She married at a young age to Charles Andrews a butcher. She would have nine children in this marriage, seven of whom survived infancy.
Not much was known about the family until December 1886, Andrews had moved his family to the inner city suburb of Botany. Andrews had work as a wool washer that used chemicals to wash the wool before export. The chemicals used included Arsenic. In order to made ends meet the family would take in lodgers. One of Andrew's co-workers was Michael Peter Collins, and Andrews had offered lodging to him.
Rumours abounded that Louisa liked the male company of her boarders a little too much. Charles Andrews discovered the liaison between his wife and one particular boarder, Michael Collins. Mr Andrews confronted Mr Collins and threw him out of the boarding house in December 1886.
On 31 January 1887 Charles Andrews signed a will that was drawn up by a clerk at the insurance office. It was soon after this that Charles started to feel unwell. He was suddenly and violently ill with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. He died on 2 February 1887. The widowed Mrs Andrew quickly applied for the life insurance of her dead husband.
Locals were not surprised that the widowed Andrews took up with Michael Collins soon after the death of her first husband. Louisa Collins had stated they were married on 9 April 1887 that was with in two months of Charles Andrews' funeral, with the bride marching up the aisle four months pregnant. The resultant child (John Collins) died and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Unfortunately Collins' new husband fell ill after a year of marriage displaying the same symptoms as his predecessor. Michael Collins died on 8 July 1888. Collins life was not insured. He, too, was a wool washer, who worked with skins treated with arsenic.
Mrs Collins neighbours were now suspicious as both of her husbands had died with the same symptoms. Andrew's body was exhumed and a chemical analysis show it had the presence of arsenic poison. Michael Collins autopsy found the cause of death arsenical poisoning. Mrs Collins was arrested as she was the only person who nursed the men during their illnesses. The Coroner recommended that she stand trial for the wilful murder of both men.
Charles Andrew's son Arthur would give evidence that his father was a healthy man who could work a fifteen hour day if necessary. It was after Collins leaving the house that Charles first became ill.
Some of the most important testimony was given by Louisa's only daughter, May, just 10 years old at the time of the first trial who gave evidence that the family kept Rough On Rats – a deadly arsenic-based poison. Sydney was suffering a rat plague in the 1880s, which led to boom sales for a product called Rough On Rats. The product was basis of the case against Collins.
Louisa had to endure four trials, the first three failed to find a verdict. Collins did not call any witnesses for her defence.
The first full-length examination of the case, Last Woman Hanged: the Terrible True Story of Louisa Collins, by Australian author and journalist Caroline Overington, was published in 2014.
- Wiki
-----
THE EXECUTION OF LOUISA COLLINS.
Yesterday morning, a few minutes after 9 o'clock, Louisa Collins was executed within Darlinghurst gaol, in the strictest privacy compatible with the awful event The hour of execution was fixed for 9 o'clock, and about 20 minutes before that time the guarded gates to the Court-house entrance had been opened to five represen- tatives of the metropolitan daily press. Besides these the only witnesses of the execution were Mr. Cowper, the Sheriff, Mr. Maybury, the Deputy sheriff, Dr. Maurice O'Connor, visiting surgeon, Dr. Brown- less, nominated for the occasion by the Govern- ment medical officer; the gaol dispenser, and sub- Inspector Hyam. About an hour before the execution the condemned woman was removed from the female ward to the condemned cell, which is situated a few yards from the gallows. She was accompanied by the Rev. Canon Rich, chaplain of the gaol, and passed her last hour in prayer. A few minutes past 9 the voice of the chaplain could be heard uttering the first words of the burial service, and a moment later he emerged from the cell-door on to the gallery which led to the scaffold. Behind was Louisa Collins, clothed in the common brown winsey prison dress, with her arms pinioned above the elbows. On each side, with a hand on each arm, a female warder walked, but without the necessity to give support, as with bent head and nearly closed eyes the doomed woman walked slowly, but firmly, towards the door which led to the scaffold. In passing she gave a brief look on the representatives of the press still re- maining in the building. Her female attendants were, to all appearances, more affected than Mrs. Collins her- self, for one was weeping. Behind followed Howard, the executioner, and his newly-appointed assistant. Stepping on the scaffold, which faces a small exercise yard, Mrs. Collins again cast a glance at the small group of reporters beneath. Except this movement of the eyes there was no facial change, but a slight twitch of the hands was notice- able. On one side of the trapdoor on the platform stood a chair, over which was thrown a piece of carpet; on this rested the noose of the rope. The Rev. Mr. Rich stood on the other side, and immediately Mrs. Collins was beneath the beam, the chaplain pronounced the closing words of the burial service, to which the victim audibly responded " Amen," and after a few whispered words from the chaplain, to hear which Mrs. Collins slightly inclined her head, the white cap was handed from the assistant to the executioner, who placed it over the victim's head. She raised her right hand and assisted to adjust the cap, and then the rope was tightened round her neck. The executioner signalled to his assistant to pull the lever, but the handle refused to move. It could be seen that pressure was applied, and also that the pin which held the handle in its place was fast in its slot. The assistant endeavoured to remove the pin, but failed, and in a few seconds a mallet was used. Four or five blows were applied-Mrs. Collins meanwhile standing perfectly upright and motionless-before the pin gave way. The delay caused could not have been short of one minute, when the lever moved and the body fell through in a slightly curved position. After one swing to the side and in a moment it was suspended perpendicularly, with the face towards the yard. There was a slight spurt of blood, followed by a thin stream which ran down the dress and spotted the floor beneath. Nearer examination showed that the strain of the drop had so far opened the neck as to completely sever the windpipe, and that the body was hanging by the vertebra. Slowly the body turned round on the rope until the front part faced the doorway, and there it remained stationary until lowered by the executioner on to a wicker bier. Death was instantaneous. After hanging for 20 minutes the corpse was conveyed to the inquest room, and again given over to the female warders. Subsequently the formal inquest was held, and the usual verdict returned. During the afternoon the remains were buried at Rookwood, under the surveillance of the police authorities.
The Rev. Canon Rich, before leaving the gaol, in- formed the press that he attended the condemned woman daily, and sometimes twice a day, subsequent to her condemnation. She had all along been most earnest in her prayers, and had devoutly accepted his spiritual consolations. As the day of execution drew near she gradually altered, becoming more careworn as if from menial strain. She fully recognised her awful position and always expressed her preparedness for and resignation to her fate. Asked if she had made any confession the chaplain replied, "She has confessed her sins to Almighty God and has supplicated for forgive- ness." Throughout her last days she had, the chap- lin continued, shown great courage, which did not desert her in her last hour. The chaplain also stated that Mrs. Collins had told him that her external demeauour before her condemnation was "but a mere shell " and that she felt her position acutely.
Near the different entrances to the gaol groups of people assembled, but there was no demonstration of any kind beyond the indulgence in remarks which might be expected on such on occasion.
- The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 9 January 1889, page 7
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