Henry Joseph Belbin was 19 when he died.
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Margaret Catherine Ledwell left her home at Chestnut, Deloraine on 24th October 1913 to visit a neighbour 3 km away. On the way Margaret picked a bunch of pansies. Just after she left home, her sister Eleanor saw Belbin leave his house.
Belbin and a man named Heyward had been rabbiting that day, Belbin carrying his gun. Belbin found Margaret lying on her back, her clothing disarranged and her hat on her face. She had been shot in the head. Neither Belbin nor Heyward touched the body and Belbin went for the police. The doctor said there was no sign of sexual assault.
Two days later Belbin, when questioned said that he had asked Margaret for a kiss and then tried to take one. His gun was then lying on the ground. Margaret kicked the gun, which went off and killed her. The police, however, had found shot in the ground near the body showing that the story was wrong. Belbin was arrested and stood trial in the Supreme Court on 13th February 1914. The Judge advised the jury that even if the gun had discharged accidentally while Belbin was trying to rape Ledwell the proper verdict would be manslaughter but if he had shot her to silence her it would be murder. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
He was executed on the 11th March 1914, the executioner being from New South Wales. He left a written confession admitting he had shot her when she was resisting rape. His body was interred at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, accompanied on the journey by his mother in a cab supplied by the Government.
- Executions at Campbell Street Gaol 1857 - 1946
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Margaret Catherine Ledwell left her home at Chestnut, Deloraine on 24th October 1913 to visit a neighbour 3 km away. On the way Margaret picked a bunch of pansies. Just after she left home, her sister Eleanor saw Belbin leave his house.
Belbin and a man named Heyward had been rabbiting that day, Belbin carrying his gun. Belbin found Margaret lying on her back, her clothing disarranged and her hat on her face. She had been shot in the head. Neither Belbin nor Heyward touched the body and Belbin went for the police. The doctor said there was no sign of sexual assault.
Two days later Belbin, when questioned said that he had asked Margaret for a kiss and then tried to take one. His gun was then lying on the ground. Margaret kicked the gun, which went off and killed her. The police, however, had found shot in the ground near the body showing that the story was wrong. Belbin was arrested and stood trial in the Supreme Court on 13th February 1914. The Judge advised the jury that even if the gun had discharged accidentally while Belbin was trying to rape Ledwell the proper verdict would be manslaughter but if he had shot her to silence her it would be murder. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
He was executed on the 11th March 1914, the executioner being from New South Wales. He left a written confession admitting he had shot her when she was resisting rape. His body was interred at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, accompanied on the journey by his mother in a cab supplied by the Government.
- Executions at Campbell Street Gaol 1857 - 1946
Henry Joseph Belbin was 19 when he died.
-----
Margaret Catherine Ledwell left her home at Chestnut, Deloraine on 24th October 1913 to visit a neighbour 3 km away. On the way Margaret picked a bunch of pansies. Just after she left home, her sister Eleanor saw Belbin leave his house.
Belbin and a man named Heyward had been rabbiting that day, Belbin carrying his gun. Belbin found Margaret lying on her back, her clothing disarranged and her hat on her face. She had been shot in the head. Neither Belbin nor Heyward touched the body and Belbin went for the police. The doctor said there was no sign of sexual assault.
Two days later Belbin, when questioned said that he had asked Margaret for a kiss and then tried to take one. His gun was then lying on the ground. Margaret kicked the gun, which went off and killed her. The police, however, had found shot in the ground near the body showing that the story was wrong. Belbin was arrested and stood trial in the Supreme Court on 13th February 1914. The Judge advised the jury that even if the gun had discharged accidentally while Belbin was trying to rape Ledwell the proper verdict would be manslaughter but if he had shot her to silence her it would be murder. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
He was executed on the 11th March 1914, the executioner being from New South Wales. He left a written confession admitting he had shot her when she was resisting rape. His body was interred at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, accompanied on the journey by his mother in a cab supplied by the Government.
- Executions at Campbell Street Gaol 1857 - 1946
-----
Margaret Catherine Ledwell left her home at Chestnut, Deloraine on 24th October 1913 to visit a neighbour 3 km away. On the way Margaret picked a bunch of pansies. Just after she left home, her sister Eleanor saw Belbin leave his house.
Belbin and a man named Heyward had been rabbiting that day, Belbin carrying his gun. Belbin found Margaret lying on her back, her clothing disarranged and her hat on her face. She had been shot in the head. Neither Belbin nor Heyward touched the body and Belbin went for the police. The doctor said there was no sign of sexual assault.
Two days later Belbin, when questioned said that he had asked Margaret for a kiss and then tried to take one. His gun was then lying on the ground. Margaret kicked the gun, which went off and killed her. The police, however, had found shot in the ground near the body showing that the story was wrong. Belbin was arrested and stood trial in the Supreme Court on 13th February 1914. The Judge advised the jury that even if the gun had discharged accidentally while Belbin was trying to rape Ledwell the proper verdict would be manslaughter but if he had shot her to silence her it would be murder. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
He was executed on the 11th March 1914, the executioner being from New South Wales. He left a written confession admitting he had shot her when she was resisting rape. His body was interred at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, accompanied on the journey by his mother in a cab supplied by the Government.
- Executions at Campbell Street Gaol 1857 - 1946
Gravesite Details
Age: 19, Death date listed is the interment date
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