The New York herald., 1850-12-27
Our st. Louis Correspo- dence.

ST. LOUIS, Dec IL, 1850.
Executlon of James Gallagher for the Marder of
Mary Crosby-.Another Conrtcfion flr Murder
aud Sentence Of Death Nauigdti0n of the Ms
asst5pi Ripr.
The death penalty, for the first time in six years.
has been executed, to-day, in our city. The suf-
feier was James @ Gallagher, an Irishman. who was
convicted at the last term of our Criminal Court,
the murder Of Mary Crosby, a widow, residing
with her infant children in the northern part OF the
city The murder committed on the night of
the 4th Of July last, when the parties were ntoxi-
Gated. Mrs. Crosby was a woman az bad charac-
ter, and Gallagher had visited her for the purpose
Of passing the night. Bo,h became intoxicated;
and in the morning the woman was found dead
with marks Of violence about her throat, and Gal
logher lying by her side, stupeted with liquor He
was arrested, tried, and convicted for the murder.
nd executed today.
For several weeks past, the prisoner has been
egularly attended by Father Paris, of the Caiho-
hcchuroh, to whom be has persisted in declaring
HE innocence. He has, latiery, expressed hun
felf willing TO die, aud hes eaten heartily and
slept soundly. Last night he was several hours in
religious conversation with his spiritual adviser,
and afterward laid down and slept soundly uli
moEing.
The hour appointed for leaving the Jail was ~
o'clock, at noon, long before which dense crowd
had gathered in front OF the prison About half.
pest twelve the prisoner was pla cei in a close car
riege, attended by Marshal ID MCCULLOUGH. Father
Psis, and Rev. Mr. Hennisee: and, guarded by n
company Of light horse, commanded by Captain
Brinckman, and the city police, was conducted to
Duncan's Island, below The city, where the gall
lows had been erected. When the religious exer-
cises had been gone through with, ant the death
warrant was read, the Marshal informed the pr,-
soner that il he desired to make any public state
nent, he then had the privilege OF dong 81 Gal.
lsghef bowed in achnowledgment, and advancing
to the front OF the platform, said
''Citizens and Ffiends-I am no " making my last
dy ing words, and do protest my Innocence. Ihavs
been wrongfully sworn against | die as inno.
cent as lamb, and as happy at heart as a saint"
The rope was then adjusted, and at sixteen mi.
nutes past one o'clock, the drop fell The sufferer
gave no struggle, and appeared 10 die instantly.
Atttr hanging twenty one minutes, the body was
taken down, when II was ascertained that the neck
was broken II was placed In a neat walnut coffin,
decorated by silver cross, and given in charge OF
Fa her Paris, for Christian burial
The crowd was very large, the number present
being estimated at ten thousand, yet the utmost
order was observable.
James III. Cassidy, convicted OF the murder of
Semuel Heiierman, was sentenced, a day or two
since, 10 be executed on the 2ith Of January nsxt
but II is thought that in his case there will be a
commutation OF punishment, by the Executive, 10
imprisonment for hfe. II was heartess murdsrs
but Cassidy was drunk when he committed the
cfime, and has influential friends
The weather has been very cold for the hast ten
days and navigation IL almost entirely ssspeniet,
'he Mississippi being nlled with floating ice.