The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-21


tsrday carried into execution against Matthew Wood,
convicted Of the murder Of his wife by poison The
general expectation was, that his sentence would be
eommuted to Imprisonment for life, and in this hope
he INDUCED himfelf to the very last The fact Of the
negro lately convicted Of arson having had his
tence commuted gave apparent strength to the frail
reed upon which the convict leaned but il failed him
in the hour of need though he chung to it till it broke
in his hand, aud he launched into eternity
On THURSDAY evening; the Sheriff received the letter
This letter gives the for the two repreves and
for the de6ntve conclusion at which he had arrived
to allow the law now at last to take its Much
better had 1t been for Matthew Wood it had taken its
at first. When the Sheriff made known this
burst into tears. Still he did not fully realize the awful
reality Of his situation for he" hoped against hope"
There was some faint expectation that the deputation
including MI Eamonds, keeper OF the City Prison.
might prevail, ct least in obtaining another respte
but their return. yesterday morning, from Albany,
only confirmed the determination expressed in the
Governors letter. A telegraphic despatch from Al
bany yesterday morning further advised that the law
should take its course without fail
The Sheriff had appointed 10 o'clock for the exc
sution but in Difference to the wishes Of the deputa
ton and give the convict every chance he intended
however, and the telegraphc dispatch, removed all
hope Of a communication or further reprieve, and he
therefore, fixed upon IL O'clock but with the delay
usually attendant upon such ceremonies, the execu-
ton did not take place till quarter before o'clock
There was scarcely any crowd around the prison.
owing to the uncertainty that prevailed to whether
Wood would be executed or not. No person was ad-
mitted without sherifs deputation-not even the
reporters So stringent the orders given that it
difficult to obtain admission with q deputa-
ton MIR Dunlap deputy sheriff, called at the Herald
Office in the morning. to say that the execution would
certainly take place, and that reporter would, Of
course, be admitted About half past IL o'clock 15o
persons were admitted into the yard and there was
general rash to the north end Of the prison. where the
gallows erected across the passage between the
prison and the wall that surrounds it. There was
4 about fifteen YARDS d6 5G% tne
sherTs kept all outside this, When upon the remon-
STRANGE OF the reporter Of the Herald against the i'm
pIorety Of refusing the press the right to hear and
make known the words Of the dying man, he and
two other reporters admitted within the railing
The gallows large oak frame painted slate color
somewhat like wooden gateway huge clothes horse
with one rail 1t consisted OF two upright posts fast
ened into two blocks of wood running longtudnally
seven eight feet; and at the top was transverse
beam connecting the two posts. The galows about
fifteen feet high and there just to pass it at
either side by the wall Into the centre Of the trans
beam fixed pulley, through which rather
slender rope was end Of which hung down to
within about feet Of the ground and had hook
attached The other end extended along the top Of the
crossbeam to the end, where it ran through another
pulley and down two three feet outside the upright
post where it was fastened to two weights, Of $50
lbs each. To these weights attached to second
and much thicker rope which running over an inde
pepden pulley above them and drawn down along the
post and through another pulley at the bottom was
then pulled tight along the block Of wood into which
the post fastened and secured firmly at the extre
nifty by several coils round it, The reader will see
that this rope had strain Of 800 lbs weight it, and
that the moment was cut the weights must tall I'M
u
them. Matthew Wood not more than the weight
CT one Of them. Under the weights bed of straw
TO receive them when they should fall.
About IL O'Clock small wooden box was carried In
by Mr. Bugget and another man The lid was fastened
down with nails, and when it was opened the execu-
toners axe was revealed. 1t il a broad and very
sharp hatehet which is used for any other pur
pose. Subsequently it laid beside the rope it was
destined to cut. Mr. Buggctt then made trial of the
ropes to If they would smoothly through the
pueys Al appeared to be perfectly satisfactory In
the meantime, while all waiting with bresthess
ln.lyf tAuro I'd vsr1A
overhsad,we number of mirrors adjusted through
the bars by the prisoners as to throw upon their
dence Man, had the largest one Of all. By the way
when the doomed convict was passing him. he shook
hands with him, and said Wood be sure you tell the
TRUTH So far, Indeed, did " the Confidence Man,
gain the confidence of the unhappy victim Of the law
that he prevailed on Wood to request permission for
him witness the uon his frend-a favor that
not granted, but which I" the Confdence Mani
determined to take In n way Of his own.
About 70 minutes past ~ O'Clock, the death process.
sion rounded the northwest Of the PRISON. and
advanced slowly and solemnly to the place Of execu
ton. The sheriff, Mir. John J. v Westervet and the
under sheriff Mr. James &. Willet. were linked toge-
Their, and both cooked hats and swords. Dr. CO.
vile Dr Hosack andDr Wilkes who professionally
present. also took part in the procession.
The unfortunate Wood was supported at either side
by Alderman franklin and Rev Amy Camp. He look
cd sick and pale and anguishsd He hung his head to
SIDE and seemed to need all the support nv recev
ed. His step tottered. He was = man about the mid
die height, stouty built, and with stupid, unnter
resting face marked with the Of small pox His
eye wandered about, and was very unsteady. He had
not the firm look OF conscious Of his innocence
In his face and lower jaw the animal evidently pre-
vailed the moral and intellectual He wore q
handsome white fl ck and white trousers faced with
black, and having black buttons he had also
white muslin cap trimmed with black. His arms
piDioned When he arrived under the gallows, and
being asked whether he wished to say anything, he
said, am dying innocent. May God forgive them
that falsely against me, hope to be forgven
die innocent Again he said, when Questioned by
the sheriff They have convicted me BY false testi
die for my sins, but am innocent Of this may God
ward them that swore away my life /" He repeated in
low tremulous voice, these words, words to the
same effect, several times, in broken sentences.
The fatal moose had been placed around hs neck be-
fore he left his cell aud Sheriff then hung the eve
fastened ut the end Of it, the hook attached to the
rope hanging down from the transverse beam and
tied the hook with twine lest 1t should slip out
tenancc Of the convict. This part Of the Sheriff 3
duty having been performed Wood said with In
his eyes that he thanked the keepers for all their
kindness- they had treated him like gentleman. The
keepers and some other persons then shook him by tho
hand, and the clergyman, Rev. Mr.. Camp proceeded
TO pray. The prayer was long and tedious. and Wood
wept al the time. buryiny his face In white bandker-
chief Towards the close Of the prayer he sobbed aud
Rroaned. The prayer having been concluded. the
Sheriff and other officers then took leave Of him. when
he raid, Tell every that the testimony pom which
die is false May God be with you all - The Sheriff
then pulled the cap over his face. ana in a moment
after he signined that he wished TO gay something
Mr. Dunlap, deputy sheriff wcst over TO him aud pulled
the cap down, when he whispered to him something =
the e Ct that he still expected there syody
around who had reprieve Being assured OF the con-
seemed TO become little more firm, rather more
signed TO hi. fate. He then calculated, May God
deliver me when come into his heavenly kingdom -
lie became silent aud motisnless for n moment, when
the Sheriff az sixteen minutes before o'clock gave
the signal by dropping white handkerchief The
under Sheriff. MIR wet, the instant seized the
raised II, and smote the rope. The weights FELL and
Matthew God raised In md-air bet the trans
verse beam and the ground. At ars there not
ton, and he feemed ss IL already dead but q. shout
minute two or three quvsrs passed through his frame
particularly his arms and legs. In about another
minute his legs we're drawn up convulsiyey. There
was brief struggle. and they fell down again cotc
stig Alter three minutes from the time the fell,
there was no melton whatever visible la any part Of
his frame. and. TO nll sppearaace, he was dead.
After hanging forty minutes. the rope was loossd
from the weights aud the body vas let down Strange
60 say II stil felt warm but that owing 20 the
heat of the sun, which was besming down directly
upon him all the time The doctors felt hi. pulse and
pronounced him dead The neck appeared a. almost
cut through with the rope, ard much stretched
that there some lutte difficulty In getting him
Into the conn In which he was placed just as he
tsten down except that his boots were taken of and
the nooee removed for some future occasion.
thaf frat hat f,s h.