The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-14
Execution OF Thomas Brennan for the MUIR
der Of Mary O'COnncr.

tice Lothrop committed him to prison for further
hearing
Execution OF ThOmas Bren nan for the MUIR
der OF Mary OConner.
From the Montreal Herald, Oct. 10.
This afternoon, the extreme penalty Of the law was
carried into eject on Thomas Brennan, who was
victed the late assizes of the murder of Mary
O'Conner The evidence circumstantial but
such as admitted of no doubt respecting the guilt of
the accused. He was, moreover, from the testimony
adduced at his trial. strongly suspected Of being the
murderer of the woman's husband, and that he also
attempted to take the life of little boy, their child
If the subjoined confession can be relied on-and
we have no reason to doubt its general correctness
the man was not so blood. thirsty monster as is
commonly supposed. 1t is true he lived criminal
life and probably justly forfeited but believe,
he did not designedly murder any one. Accompanied
by friend we visited him Yesterday afternoon, when
before God, and rs his dying declaration was true
All the exercise of our ingenuity did not cause him to
much prejudiced against him any one could be,
but we most candidly confess that, on hearing his
Wet was deserving of Communication Of punishment
Had time permitted we have no doubt this could have
been effected.
He was attended on the scanold by the Rev. j. Car
roll and persisted to the last in the truth Of what he
had told us. 1t horrfes us to relate, that when he
was thrown off the fall was so great that his head was
Since writing the above the sheriff informed us that
the convict admitted in his before the
him of her intention to murder her husband. This
makes the man worse than would otherwise appear.
CoNrEssIoN.-Iw was born at a town called Balyhub.
bert near Strokestown, county Roscommon, Ireland.
My father was carmar, and used to drive to Dublin
and Sligo. He was a decent, respectable man, lived
comfortably, was in the habit of killing fat COW
now and then; he farmed ten acres of land under
Roger Brennan, of Ballyhubbert, relative Of his
own. Iva sent to school several times, but never
learned to read or write My father had only another
son, who died from disease contracted by SHINING
horse which had died of the farcy My parents brought
to of rhiS sd bv
wife, He was q good landlord, and was very sorry
to hear of his murder which took place since
Virginia, which had six hundred and seven pas
sepgers $50 of whom died board of fever and dy-
sentery, and la, as many more when they landed MY
had died. My health on the contrary was good, and
earned dollar at Crosse Isle. stopped there nine
the quarantine station | brought them with to
Queenston. We stopped six weeks in the barracks,
and then went to house belonging to Mr.. Hum
phreys. On one occasion drank part Of pint of
whiskey there with Nancy Finn and Mary O'Conner.
Patrick Dalton got me turned out Of the house, be-
cause had not asked him to take part Of the liquor
after be turned me out Of the house, but per-
suaded to settle with him by MIR. Wynn. Humphreys
sent, with Patrick and Mary OConner, over to
Lewiston, to be out of the way. Mr.. Wynn's bar
keeper and c0ored man took me over the river. Nell
Hill the bar keeper taid ought to give him ten
dollars of the money received from Mr.. Humphreys be-
he had always been my friend but gave him only
eight dollars We went to Peter McCollom's, at Lew
ision, and took quart of whiskey with because
would not go into strange house without something
to treat the family was hearty, but not drunk The
of the house said that should stop there
without showing that he had money, and pulled out
of my pocket solA. Patrick o'Conner would not re-
main with us, but came back to Queenston. There
another quart Of liquor brought and got drunk
They put me in bed in one corner Of the room, and
when got up the same evening, my money was gone
immt dately charged Mary O'Conner and Me- columns
wife with the robbery, but they denied it, and said
had left my money at the tavern told them that
could not be- rs they had counted it on the table,
money, but Mary O'Conper Or McCollums wife. |
then went back to Queenston, where was informed
constable after witness against Humphreys,
and could not conceal myself any where but in box,
into which crept, and was not discovered. l. could
not think of being q witness against man after
taking money from him to sette with him. than went
to Poit nson, where remained five or six days. I'M
til the court over know nothing about the death
OF Patrick O'Conner-bs wife had done al to him.
He decent little man. IL appeared his wife had
aiven him something in cup Of tea, glass of
vhishey in the old chapel do not know who threw
him the cliff, nor have | heard who did 1t. ]
know nothing of the hammer spoken of OConuer
missing when returned from Port Robinson, and
TO get bis eye cured. | suspected she had murdered
him, but said nothing II was Afterwards learned
from herself that she had poisoned him Mary OCon-
per and went to Chippewa, to look for cousin she
expected frem the old country but che could not End
him. We took dinner, and pint of whskey between
US, at Chippewa, aud, on coming home bought a
quart of whskey at Halls tavern part of which we
crank the way and went into a God to drink the
remainder. This was the beginning of my mischief.
l
ton when abe took up stick and struck with it on
the back of the head. then took hold of her by the
throat, and she cried out, Are you going to kill me
She shook violently, fell to the ground, and foamed
the mouth. She had been subject to fits and at
time threatened to drown herself told her that she
lad better get the money from the person who had it,
and would make present Of 10 to her. | fright
ened when found she was dying, and kissed her
vtral times. When she was dead, went away short
distance and returned again thinking she might have
recovered. would have done any thng to restore her
aud kept her in my arms for about an hour. When
all hope gone, slipped the body the precipce
easy possible, whore it might readily be discovered
Vary OConner smart woman, of about forty
four years Of age, but very bad woman. She had
u, dpe0 her plaid frock for gallon of whiskey which
requestd by the person who had it, TO release and
which did 1t was in this way into possession
of Mary OiConner's dress Respecting the little boy,
have TO say, that on the morning went to Chip
uews his mother threw him down the stairs, because
he wanted TO go after her about forty eight years
of age. was concerned in any murder In lro.
land am much troubled about my family, and my
friends at home for they will hear Of my unhappy end
had not a fair trial
SUICIDE --Rensselaer Farley hung himself il
Lodi, CbsutauQno county, iuW DAYS since n, wal
-. ...nt.