Joseph Cordini – a robbery/murder.
The body of George Mizon, a hawker, was found on the 12th of October 1883 on the road to Hay, near Deniliquin in New South Wales, Australia covered with sheepskins, alongside of a wagon. Indications in the vicinity of the wagon pointed to the fact that Mizon was sitting in the vehicle when the fatal blow was struck, and the body was dragged to the opposite side of the waggon from the road.
The head was horribly crushed with a heavy club, and then further mutilated with a tomahawk. Mizon had been in possession of a sum of money in cheques, notes and coins some time previous to the discovery of the body, but no money was found on him.
Joseph Cordini (alias Joseph Gordon), a French hawker, had previously to the murder threatened to kill Mizon in the presence of other witness, and was the last to be seen in Mizon's company. He was arrested some days later, charged with the murder. Cordini was tried before Mr. Justice Windeyer and convicted and sentenced to death at Deniliquin Criminal Court in April 1884. In the condemned cell he was ministered to by the Rev. Father Hanley, who believed him to be innocent. On Wednesday the 11th of June it was reported that the Executive Council had denied Cordini’s plea for clemency.
Cordini was hanged at Deniliquin gaol at 9.00 a.m. on Friday the 13th of June 1884. Some twelve townspeople together with prison officials witnessed the hanging. He protested his innocence to the last, saying on the gallows “I never did nobody any harm”. The white hood was adjusted, the drop was released and death was almost instantaneous. The body was left hanging for 20 minutes and then taken down for the formal inquest.
After his execution there were unfounded rumours that Stevenson, the principal witness at Cordini's trial, had confessed to the murder. Even five years later a newspaper reported that a man named Harrison was by many people believed to be the real murderer.
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