Capital punishment in Mount Gambier

I came across an extraordinary web page, which lists all the executions that occurred in Australia between 1900 and 1967, and many that occurred between 1880 and 1899.

Earlier, I had read an epic post by Dina about murderer and bigamist Frederick Deeming. I had a vague notion there was some connection between Deeming and Kalgoorlie, which prompted my macabre search and discovery.

I’m yet to establish Deeming’s link with Kalgoorlie, if any, but the list of condemned individuals threw up a surprise mention of Mount Gambier.

Robert Nugent (age unknown/white)
Murder victim: Harry Edmond Pearce – committed on 17 May 1881 – sentenced on 21 October 1881.

Police Trooper Harry Edmond Pearce was assaulted and stabbed during the arrest of Robert Nugent (alias Robert Johnston) on 17 May 1881, who had been charged with supplying liquor to Aborigines. Pearce died of his wounds, and Nugent was charged with murder. He stood trial at the Naracoorte Circuit Sessions, was found guilty and sentenced to death on 21 October 1881. Nugent was hanged at Mount Gambier gaol at 8am on 18 November 1881.

Just the one Mount Gambier hanging was recorded on that list. Another man sentenced in Mount Gambier was taken to Adelaide for execution.

The State Library of South Australia reveals that Carl Jung was executed at Mount Gambier in November 1871 for the murder of a sheriff’s officer at Mount Gambier.

The Old Mount Gambier Gaol is currently a backpackers’ accommodation facility. Its former website said three men were executed there in the late 1800s. I can’t identify the third from web sources.

The heritage-listed gaol was built in 1866 and housed prisoners until 1995. The accommodation lease is due to expire on September 30, 2010.

The council has flagged it will not renew the lease and is canvassing public opinion on how the historic precinct might be used in the future.

I’d like to see it become a museum.