Michael Magee

Michael Magee

EXECUTION OF MAGEE. (first person executed in South Australia)

The execution of Michael Magee, the man who was tried on 12th April, and found guilty of shooting at with intent to kill, Mr. Samuel Smart, the late Sheriff of the province, took place on Wednesday, May 2nd and from the fact of its being the first in this province, of course attracted a great number of the populace, there being upwards of 500 present.

The place of execution was about a hundred yards from the iron stores in North Adelaide. The unfortunate man was perfectly resigned to his fate, and had to all appearance made the best use of the short time allotted to him. During his removal to the place of execution, he was in fervent prayer, attended by Mr. Phillip, a gentleman of the Catholic persuasion, and the Rev. C. B. Howard, the Colonial Chaplain. Some time after having ascended the scaffold, he addressed the people and said he wished to impress upon the minds of those present that he was guilty, and acknowledged the justice of his sentence. He then said that he was not a runaway convict as had been stated; he was as free when he came into the colony as any man present. During the whole time, he evinced the greatest firmness. Soon after he had finished, the signal was given, and the cart drove off. He struggled a good deal, and the populace, in consequence, became tumultuous, and cried out "murder" several times, (the executioner having performed his part in rather a slovenly manner,) upon which Mr. Smart, the Sheriff, addressed them, and quelled the tumult. Some of the mounted police and marines were present.

We are sorry we are obliged, for want of space, to omit the evidence in this case and that of Morgan, whose sentence was commuted to transportation for life for the same offence, which was promised in our last number.

EXECUTION OF MAGEE. (1838, May 19). South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register (Adelaide, SA : 1836 - 1839), p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31749933

The first was Michael Magee who was condemned for an armed assault on the Sheriff. On 2 May 1838 he was led to a gum tree at the foot of North Adelaide hill where the hanging took place; the grisly affair was described as follows: While the hangman was busied in adjusting the rope and greasing it up with his filthy fist, Magee addressed the Sheriff and the assembled multitude in a firm audible voice, confessing the crime of which the jury had found him guilty. As soon as the cap had been drawn over his face and the prayers concluded, a motion was made that all was ready. With a whip or two of the leading horse the cart was drawn away, and many shut their eyes whilst the poor sufferer was launched into eternity. Here commenced one of the most frightful and appalling sights. The noose had been so badly placed that the knot came right under the dying man's chin, and as the cart was drawn very slowly from under him he did not fall, but merely slid off gradually. There he was hanging in the air, uttering the most excruciating cries - 'Oh God, Oh Christ, save me!' Some spectators cried out 'Cut him down!' whilst others, with a different kind of consideration, urged the marines to shoot him with their muskets. It was a horrible sight to witness. The twisting of the rope and the man turning around like a joint of meat before the fire, while women were fainting, and the Sheriff attempting to address the crowd amidst fierce cries of 'Shame! Shame!'. Finally, the hangman made a fiendish leap upon the body of the dying man and all was hushed; Magee's hands could cling no longer to the rope, and his agonised cries were heard no more.

http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/adelaide/gaols/gaols.htm