, 1873-12-22
William lEnnaTorti, tao Austrn1nsiua
HEnl1ENJufts

william lBnnaIori, t1ao I1austrn1nsiun
HHnnEmnst.
Tho Australasfan Ne,cs publishes tho following
biographical record Of Damford, tho execiltionor
Victoria:
William Danford, who has died IN tho Mol
bourne Hospital, had boon the hanEnen OF
Victoria Birco 1867, ant llat also until lately
acted as tlngollator. According to namtord's
age, as he alleged that llo was born in England
in 1900. He was brought up as wool-Borter,
but steady industry did not suit him, and while
q very young man ho joined tho Thirty-thlrd
FuHiIors, In which regiment he served for twonty
years. Ho appears to have boen a troublesome
soldier, for on ono occasion wlo his regiment
was ut Gosport, he received 900 lashes, and
eventually, Tor some serious military offense,
was transported to Van Dlemen's Lnnd. 10
lit 1871, md served his sentence with tho ordi-
nary ups md downs OF convict life. Damfora
came to Victoria in tho early. days Of tho
dggngB, mud vas unuoticed until 1857. Soon
Price, old q Jack Iarris,' the hangnan Of tho
period, WINS lost aight Of, aud his assistant.
Walsh went up country. This was Uanl-
forl's opportunity, md on Nov. Q, being then IN
jail. he undertook to hang one Johsf,Alason, MI
Tho execution took place In Melbourne. From
that time, with ono exception at Becchwortl,
where a substitute was found in the local jnil,
Damford has executed tho Whole Of tho criminals
put to death in the colony, lIo used TO keep
her lio had put out Of tho world. Tho black
ruflan who was hanged ut Ballarat, on tho 11th
Of August, mndo II. Damford was noarly worn
ont at the time he performed this Inst duty, and
that ho had no casy, task to get
him safely back to Melbourne. Before
this tito of1lcc of f1ogger WAS taken from
him, as on the Inst OCCASION TINT he welded tho
cut ho WAS seized with ali astl.matic tit and was
only just able to complete his task. Strange to
say tho man who has succeeded Ban1tord.
though much younger, arrived in tho samo ship
aud 1t the Hnno time US ho did. Bamford's .ap"
penrance WaH rendered more rcpulHiya than than
It would otherwise llnve been by tho loss Of all
eye. which ho got injured i'll eomo drunken row
in Melbourne some fifteen or sixteen years ago.
Ills habits were worry intomperate, and my money
he Obtained from tho Government was soon
s4,landered in tho company OF degradcd lot OF
when ho was expected to lenyo the jail with
money in his pocket, md Join him in Lis drunken
orgies. He was accustomed to squat in sonic
wrotched pace Of shelter in tue neighborhoo]
whom he was "wanted" by tia authorities. To
| send notice to "Jack' that he WAS required ia
| come into tho iail WIS sufficient. This would be
given him two orthree days. beforehand, mud tlen
| he would at onco voluntarily inprieon htnae'f,
sleep OF his drunkenness. make hinlself clean,
and DO ready to hant, or tlog as his "job" might
be. His spcllH OF liberty, however, wore foW
aud fur between, FOR he was repeatedly con.
yictod as q yagrant. Doubtless the frequent
| intervals of temperance thus forced upon hin
lcngtlaoncd his days. The 1ifo lie led outside
I thu Jail without change must have killed him
years before. Damford. as 4 rule. perfor1net
the terrible work allotted him quietly and cfici:
ontly. Ho was faithful, too, after his kind, ant
to show good feeling to those he executed III
never omitted. After ho had pinoned his man
and 10 rendered him helpless, lie used always tt
shake him by the llanl and murmur q "Got
bless you " before ho pulled tho fatal bolt. Like
tho gfavedigger in Hamlet" - ho lad no foel
ing Of his busineBs." On ono occasion, when th
man ho executed had died simultaneously, h'
waB observed to lean over tho drop, mud with Al
mir of satisfaction while looking at his work. re
mark, "Ihe bost job i'll tho count1y-that make
foriy-soyen.h