Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-08-22
EXECUTION
OF
JOHN McCAFFRY.

THURSDAY, Aug. 81, 1851.
Early IN the morning carriages and teams from
the country came focking into the city, to wit
ness the execution of the sentence of the law
upon John McCaffry, for the murder of Bridget
McCaifry, bis wife. AT half-past 10, A. NJ, re-
llglous exercises were performed at the Court
House, over the Jail of the prisoner conducted
by the resident cergymen of the place. at which
the officers of the law were in attendance At
II o'clock close carriage, with the prisoner,
started for the place of execution, which was
one half mile south of the city, and arrived on
the ground quarter before l o'clock The
prisoner was supported by Sheriff White and
Dept. Sheriff Croker, and attended by the City
Police and the Kcnosha City Guards The pris-
oner walked upon the platform with firm step
and took seat by the side OF the Catholic Clcr-
gyman; they Immediately kneeled in prayer for
the space of ten minutes; the warrant of execu-
ton was then read by Sheriff Allen, after which
tho audience were requested to listen to what
the prisoner lid rs sav.
we prisoner ,lra faced to the south and said
death Of NY VIE" en4 nope my fate will be
warning 10 you all. forgive all my enemies.
forgive al, the Witnesses against me, even Mrs
Reed" He then shook hands with Sheriff Al
LEN and the rope was adjusted about his neck
and was told that it lacked five minutes Of the
time, during which time the prisoner stood firm
with clasped hands, but the movement OF his lips,
showed he was in silent praver-the cap was
drawn over his face, and at precisely one o'clock
Sheriff Allen walked across the platform, and
with firm tread stepped upon the secret spring,
and the prisoner was hoistcd in the air. After
a moment or two there was a slight shrug of the
shoulders He continued to struggle for the
space of five minutes. After he had been sus-
pended minutes, the physicians were called up
on the stand to examine his pulse, at which time
his pulse was slightly reduced, and continued to
beat for amount ten mir utes longer, at which
time life was extinct and the prisoner was let
down into the coffin. There were from 1000 to
5000 people TO witness the execution.
The last agony is over. The crowd have been
INDUCED in its insane passion for the sight of a
iudcally murdered man. McCnffry murdered
his wife without the sanction of the Law, and Nc
Caffry has been murdered according to law
We do not complain that the law he's been enfor-
ccd We complain that the law exists. The
prisoner we know received from the law all the
mercy aud enity that the law and its foithful ex-
ccuton could give. From the hands ofthe kind
hearted Shorthand his family we know he recci-
we'd every attention and kindness which was in
their power to grant
They pitiod his fate while they dcplorcd the
iniquity Of heart that hurled him to his end
They have done what they could to smooth his
passage tothc grave, while they have encouraged
him TO prepare for the shutlljng off his mortal
coil. Ii is now all over. We hope this will be
the last execution, tia! shall ever disgrace the
mercy-axpecting citizens of the State of Wis
consn. 1t has been demonstrated that man
can be hung in Wisconsin, though often deni-
ed.
This dreadful consurnation ought to satisfy
the advocates Of the death penalty 10 the full
Let another system Of punishment be adopted
and other means used to reform the criminal
since the taking of the life Of the murderer is
not sufficient to deter from the crime,
Let society begin the work of Reform on the
individuals comprising it, before such dreadful
lessons will b. thought needed.
Let the proper mesns of education be afforded
to ALL Let all who wish to labor, have labor Of
fercd at living prices, and let the social compac,
be tie of Love, and bond of attracton--instead
of compelling people to live together, because a
priest has said over them form of words
We repeat the sentment-soclety at large is
responsible in great degree for the crimes and
miseries which grow out Of its iron customs and
lis unreasonable laws.