On 18 February 1957, Walter Bolton was the last person to be executed by the state in New Zealand. As nzhistory.net.nz notes, the 68-year-old farmer "was convicted of murdering his wife, Beatrice, and hanged at Mount Eden prison. Bolton’s execution raised the usual questions about the death penalty. Some people believed that capital punishment was legalised murder and that it was morally wrong to take a human life in this way. Others opposed capital punishment on religious grounds or because judicial mistakes could be made."

Strengthening the argument that capital punishment was in-humane was a claim made by media. A newspaper reported that Bolton's execution "had gone horribly wrong…. rather than having his neck broken the instant the trapdoor opened, Bolton had allegedly suffocated slowly." Four years later, the death penalty for murder was abolished.

Execution by hanging is depicted graphically in this 1928 drawing of an execution apparatus. It shows details of the trapdoor and rope alignment on the scaffold, and instructions regarding the brackets to be used for double or single executions. Archives New Zealand has other records relating to executions, some of which can be viewed during the month of February in the Wellington Office's 'Archive of the Month' display.

Archives Reference: AAAR 7206 W4706 Box 9/ 28 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=16563581

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Further information on the execution of Walter Bolton can be found here: www.nzhistory.net.nz/walter-bolton-becomes-the-last-perso...