Michael Barry (murderer)  Michael Barry (10 September 1843 - 2 June 1890) was a convicted Australian murderer. Barry was found guilty of murdering his wife, Mary Barry (née McNertney), in Rockhampton, Queensland on 26 February 1890. He was sentenced to death and was hanged at the Rockhampton Gaol on 2 June 1890. The murder took place at the couple's family home in a semi-private lane, off West Street between Archer and Cambridge Streets in the suburb now known as The Range. It was alleged Barry had begun his relentless, drunken attack on his wife during a prolonged argument regarding a missing purse the afternoon prior to the murder, in which he dragged her by the hair around the house. The sustained verbal and physical abuse culminated the next morning when Barry continued to physically assault his wife, eventually killing her by using crosscut saw handles and an axe handle to repeatedly strike her. The murder was witnessed by one of their four children, who were all subsequently sent to Meteor Park Orphanage near Stanwell, west of Rockhampton to live. After murdering his wife, he gave a full confession to police. Barry appeared in the Rockhampton Police Court on 27 February 1890 charged with the wilful murder of his wife. Among those who gave evidence was his daughter Johanna who witnessed the murder. Barry was committed for a trial commencing on 23 April 1890. Barry's trial began at the Rockhampton Supreme Court on 23 April 1890 before Justice Charles Mein. Barry was represented by Robert Lyons. Barry pleaded not guilty. With the twelve jury members not being able to agree on a verdict by the end of the day's proceedings, they were locked up for the night. They returned to court the following morning and told Mein they had still not agreed on a verdict with the foreman stating that some jury members had wanted "to make a law for themselves", alluding to their preference to see Barry convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. Mein responded by telling the jury that if they did, they were acting corruptly and were being dishonourable and disgraceful. Mein gave the jury one more opportunity to deliberate and reach a verdict for the offence of which Barry had been charged with. The jury then deliberated for another ten minutes before returning to the courtroom. When the jury was asked whether they had reached a verdict, the foreman said that they had. When asked if they had found the prisoner guilty or not guilty, the foreman said:  "Guilty - with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of the previous good character which he had, and the strong provocation which he had from his wife"   Mein said he "emphatically concurred" with the jury's verdict of guilty, but said while the recommendation of mercy would be conveyed to the authorities, the matter would lie entirely with the Executive Council of Queensland.