By Staff Writers
First published in The Age on February 3, 1967
APPEAL FAILS: RYAN TO HANG
10 p.m. Government House meeting makes decision
Brisbane witness flies in too late
Melbourne prison escapee Ronald Ryan being taken to police headquarters in Sydney after his recapture on January 5, 1966.Credit: Warren Croser
Ronald Joseph Ryan will hang at 8 o’clock this morning. Fifteen hours of intense legal moves to save him from the gallows failed finally late last night.
At 10 p.m., a special meeting of the State Executive Council rejected Ryan’s last-minute appeal for mercy.
Ryan’s solicitor, Mr. Ralph Freadman, said, “We have just received a message from the Crown Solicitor, Mr. Mornane, that the Queen, acting through the Governor-in-Council, has rejected the petition to exercise mercy.
“And that’s the end of it.”
Asked if he planned any more action, Mr. Freadman said: “Not much. If anything more turns up, we will do the best we can with it.”
Ronald Ryan, who was the last man executed in Australia in 1967.
Late last night, a crowd of 3000 had gathered outside Pentridge prison. Many said they would maintain a vigil until Ryan went to the gallows at 8 a.m.
Ryan, 41, is to hang for the murder of the prison warder, George Henry Hodson, outside Pentridge on December 19, 1965. Hodson was shot during the prison escape by Ryan and Peter Walker.
The decision to hang Ryan was announced at 10.25 a.m. yesterday after a meeting of Cabinet followed by a meeting of the Executive Council.
Thirty minutes after the Executive Council rejected Ryan’s final petition for clemency, a former Pentridge prisoner who says he has new evidence flew into Essendon Airport.
The former prisoner, Allan John Cane, came from Brisbane in a bid to save Ryan.
Early this morning, Cane’s Melbourne solicitor, Mr. Bernard Gaynor, said Cane’s mission failed.
“It’s too late. It’s hopeless,” Mr. Gaynor said.
An affidavit by Cane, which was presented to Cabinet on Wednesday, says he saw a warder fire a shot from the No. 1 guard post at Pentridge on the day warder Hodson was killed.
Cane, 35, arrived from Brisbane at 10.30 p.m. and was immediately rushed into conference with Mr. Gaynor.
Demonstrators outside Pentridge prison the night before Ryan's execution.Credit: The Age Archives
Mr. Gaynor telephoned Government House seeking as audience with the Governor (Sir Rohan Delacombe). He was told by a Government House spokesman that nobody would be answering calls until 9 o’clock this morning.
Mr. Gaynor then tried to contact Cabinet ministers and inform them of Cane’s arrival.
But at 2.30 this morning, a new desperate bid for a reprieve was being made by the secretary of the Anti-Hanging Committee (Mr. Barry Jones).
Mr. Jones was conferring with the Liberal MLA Mr. Brian Dixon, who earlier this week opposed capital punishment.
Mr. Dixon had met with Cane, and the Anti-Hanging Committee was seeking the MLA’s support in a bid to see members of the State Cabinet.
Three attempts
Ryan’s legal advisers made three attempts to save him during yesterday afternoon and last night.
First Ryan's counsel, Mr. P. Opas, QC, sought another stay of execution before Mr. Justice Starke. This was rejected.
The second attempt failed when the Attorney-General (Mr. Rylah) rejected a plea to refer Ryan's case to the Full Court under Section 584 of the Crimes Act.
Patricia Maxwell, 21, of Burnley and Geoff Eames, 21, of Blackburn begin a vigil outside Parliament House in protest against the execution of Ronald Ryan. Credit: Staff photographer
This plea was made by Mr. Freadman who also made the third attempt to save Ryan in the form of a petition presented at the Crown Solicitor's office pleading for clemency.
Close secrecy surrounded all Government moves on the Ryan case yesterday.
Yesterday morning's Cabinet meeting began at 8.30 a.m. and lasted for 45 minutes. Then Ministers drove to Government House for the State Executive Council meeting which set the time for Ryan's execution.
The council meeting lasted for 20 minutes.
After the meeting, the Premier's department office issued this brief statement: "Cabinet has given full consideration to the material supplied by Ryan's solicitor and advice tendered by the Crown Solicitor.
"The affidavit by Tolmie which formed the basis upon which Mr. Justice Starke granted a stay of execution was withdrawn by the solicitor as its falsity has been admitted.
"Cabinet is satisfied that there are no reasons why the sentence pronounced by the court should not be carried out.
"The sentence of death will be carried out at 8 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 1967."
Ryan was notified of Cabinet's decision in his cell at Pentridge at 9.58 a.m.
First published in The Age on February 4, 1967
RONALD RYAN HANGED
Ronald Joseph Ryan, 41, was executed by hanging on a gallows in D Division cell block, Pentridge, at 8 a.m. yesterday.
He made no statement on the gallows. Father John Brosnan, Roman Catholic chaplain at the prison, administered the last rites.
A document certifying the execution was signed by the Sheriff, the gaoler, the turn-key, a constable, a Justice of the Peace and other spectators.
"The Age" was represented at the execution but will not publish an account of it.