Conroy had immigrated from Ireland about ten years earlier, and before going to Fremantle was the licensee of the Victoria Hotel, located at the corner of James Street and Melbourne Road in Perth.
He demanded entrance, as he was a licensee of the National Hotel,[4] but was told by Snook that only ladies and children were to be admitted.
After he was sentenced a petition was raised and signed by approximately 1500 people, including all members of the jury who had at the time of passing the verdict asked the judge to be lenient.
A further call to the governor for clemency occurred during a public meeting attend by 1000 people at the Perth Town Hall.
[9] The execution however was not swift as when Conroy was hanged the initial fall failed to break his neck and it took approximately 15 minutes for him to die of strangulation.