The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-21

Jhe EXECUTION Oh Hall anu O'DOnnGus
Iron the Troy Daily Budget
We have already stated the leading circum.
stances oil the executions that took place at the jail
OF this county yesterday.
II was well known that the executions were to
De In private, except In the presence OF lew wit.
nesses, and that they would not take place until
about 3 o'clock. Yet, In the face of cold rain,
and the streets and sidewalks almost swimming
In mud, crowds OF men,, women and children
filled every avenue about the Jal, from IL o'clock
TILL almost night. And 1t was found neediul to
have the aid of the artillery and the Citizens Corps
10 keep the crowd IN decorum and protect the
doors from their pressure.
s. About o'clock, the convlcts, Barney O'DOnnell
ald Andreas Hall, were dressed In their shrouds,
and shortly afterwards had the halters placed
about their necks.
A ltlle before o'clock, the witnesses invited
to be present by the sheriff, among whom we are
conducted into the small room prepared for the
execution. Soon afterwards the cOnvicts came in
from The cells adJolning-Hall attended by the
Rev. Mr.. Baldwin, OF the Baptist church, and the
O'Donne attended by the Rev. MIR. Havermans,
of ST. Mary's, and Rev. Mr.. Curry, of st. Peters
church The latter were still engaged with O'D.
In repeating the services OF the Catholic church,
adapte To such occasions while the former had
been for some time in devotional exercises with
Hall.
A few minutes past 3 o'clock, the convicts
having been stationed under the loops that had
being placed on a block OF three or four inches
thickness, TO make his heghth equal to Halls, }
the latter kneeed with his spiritual attendants,
while Mr.. Baldwin LEI In solemn and Impressive
V. X In the touching and Episcopal service de-
signed for such occasions. After they rose, Hall
himself engaged IN an humble confession OF his
SINS and In an ardent appeal to the Throne Of
Grace tor forgiveness and mercy. ,O'Donnell
having partaken OF the sacred waters, then kneel-
ed, all The while with cross clasped In his hands,
which he often kissed fervently, and Father Ha.
vermans read the English and Latin services es-
tablished for such emergencies, pronounclng abso-
luton, &c, and then rising with the delivery of
the Lords Prayer and solemn benedlctlon.
The halters were then appended to the loops
the prisoners bid their ministerial friends and the
sheriff good-by, and then shook hands themselves
Hall saying, "Good-by, Barney, we have got to
blythe sherlfpuled the fatal cord, the convlcts
were suddenly drawn about two feet from the floor
where they renamed suspended, Hall kicking con-
vusively for lew moments, but O'Donnell re-
naming perfectly passive with his cross still firm
ly clasped in his hands. The jerk was not sudden
enough TO break their necks but they nevertheless
died in less than ten minutes, although there was
slight muscular pulsaton Tor some minutes longer
After remaining on the gallows tor half an hour,
the bodies were taken down, and that of Hall was
given INTO the hands Of his friends to be taken to
Petersburgh for lntermenl; while that OF ODonnell
was surrendered to his attendants Tor burial.
already been apprlsed, had previously made frank
confession of the crimes for which they were con-
ylcte6- Hall having confessed two additional muir
ders, and many other crimes showing instructive
cruelty and great wickedness.
The convicts evlnced extraordinary firmness to
the last. O'Donnell showed no emotion beyond
embracing his cross-preserving an entire compo-
sure OF countenanCe and articulating distinctly in
prayer; while Hall spoke with facility, and did
not seem even to tremble; indeed, while uader the
gallows, he repeatedly scanned the arrangement of
the ropes, and twice requested that window back
OF him should be closed, the air was too chilly
for him, until some one threw cloak over his
shoulders
Before the last sad Offices were performed in
behalf OF O'Donnel, his reverend confessor father
Havermans read in his behalf the folio ing confess
sion to the witnesses present.
"Rev. Mr.. Havermans will please to publish at
the hour of my death, this short statement as an
humiliation tor myself an etonement to Almighty
God, and warning for others:
81 declare before God and the whole court of
heaven, and to the world which am now prepar-
ing to leave, In the grace OF God, and with Ger.
tain hope of blessed Immortality,
THAT am guilty of the murder OF Antonio Rat
to, tor which am exceedingly sorry from the
very bottom OF my soul; and for which beg par
ly accept this prison, and every thing else may
have to endure;
"And though made an attempt to escape from
jail, 1t was at the solicitation of my fellow prison.
cIs, anu now am prepared WIFI GOQb grace 10
wear these chains, and any additional suffering in
conss quence thereof, till my last hour.
81 tear that came to all these mlsfortunes by
liquor, bad associations, and the temptations OF
the devil, which instigated me to do this deed.
"May God have mercy on me! Amen.
"TRoy JAIL, March 2, 1897
In addition to the above, Hall made the follow.
ing confession to the Rev. Geo. G. BALDWIN, pas
tor OF the Baptist church of Troy. We copy 1t
H. Asvu l.
this time the deceased-was AZ years of age last
May He was a vicious and unprotected bsy,
carly addicted to theft and drunkenness. Still he
had conscience, as his recollection and remorse
Tor the thefs of a string from his grandmother, Of
frult from his companions, &c, which detailed
with penitent mnuteness, show. A career of
youthful crime was, for while, interrupted by re-
hgious sentiments, awakened In revival at Pc
and lived moral life for two years. He
relapsed, and took again to robber1es to support
murder OF man who had quarreled with HIM, but
being batlled by circumstances, he abandoned It,
In early life, he says his mind dwelt on plots Of
murder, and the best methods Of escaping detec-
was to use a club well adapted to the purpose
la lS47, from revenge, he murdered, near
Troy, companion, whose body he plundered;
and TIE recital of this bloody deed, and OF the
Theits, burglaries, attempts at arson, and unexe-
cuted plans OF murder tor revenge and plumber,
occupied his time for the year preceding the muir.
der Tor which he was convicted. He was engaged
10 be married; but at this time rejecting on the
CRIME which had forfeited his life, aud would, if
discovered, disgrace his friends, he felt remorse,
and contemplated and prepared for suicide. He
was disuaded by the tears of his sister, who sus-
pected his purpose. He was only turned from one
CRIME to iall into another. lie started amid thun-
der and lightning to Petersburgh, and there slept
in barn at a distance from Smiths house He
knew that smith had money, and had often been
tempted to think OF murder as the means of get.
ting It.; In the middle OF the forenoon he woke,
formed his plans of murder, and then slept again.
HIS took a wooden handsplke. He reached
Smiths at night and called him out of the house,
telling him that the cattle had broken into his
meadow behind the barn. Smith went with him
to the place, when Hall struck HIM with the hand.
spike, killing HIM at blow. He returned to the
house, asked Mrs Smith for the axe, received 1t,
ask ed egain for drink OF water, and when she
offered IT. struck her fatal blow. She con-
hnued long time groanlng, and he struck her
again and again, but 1T seemed as If she could
not die" The plumber of the house gave him
5000 IN notes, and $4,000 In bills and specie,
doo thn nnlA hac H. ,osL L.. n