The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-21

There has not been an execution in the city oil
Albany, for murder committed within the corportion
limits, since 1879 thirty four years In October Of
tl3t yesr Hamilton was hung in the hollow beyond
tie Schuyler place, in the lower part OF the city and
the site OF the spot where Strang afterwards suf
fered for tie murder OF Wbippe. Hamilton was q
private in a rife corps and Major Birdsall of the
rife service, was his commanding officer. The can
torment was in the north part of the cityextending
beyond Lumber street. and covering all that portion
Of the city now occupied by the upper canal basins,
lumler yards, &c. No streets were then opened
rorth OF Lumber street. The place was called a
pasture and was sort of Common" Hamilton
had been punished for intoxicaton and the sting OF
bis chastisement coupled with difficulty he had
with Major Birdsa Oh account of nulatto servant,
Induced him TO murder that officer. One Sunday
evening, when the drums were beating for parade,
he entered the Majors marquee and bringing his rife
TO present announced his presence. Major Bird
sail ordered him to his quarters Instead OF obeying
be levelled his rife at the Major and deliberately
shot him through the heart.
The murder created . prodgious excitement
throughout the city. Hamilton attempted to commit
suicide by swallowing laudanum, but he to TX only
enough TO stupefy himself. He was man of high
fIirit and entertained keen sense of honor. Rum
his ruin. He was full SIX feet high and splen-
ddly proportional. When he was led out for eXecu-
tion he refused to ride, but walked behind the troops
with firm step and ndomitabe courage. As an illus.
trstion of the ruling passion to the last
lie twice caused the music to stop playing because it
was out of Understanding with his foot, and dis
He was neatly dressed in white, and wore black silk
gloves lie shrunk not at the gallows, but met his
ignominious death courageolsly His conduct
throughout excited in his behalf much sympathy.
Major Birdsal was native OF Watervliet, and much
esteemed. His residence was the corner of Broad
way and Wilson street
Two ar three years prior to this, q man named
Burns WAS executed for murder committed on Ar.
Dor Hill These are the only executions that have
taken place in this city for murder committed with
in its limits within third Of century past
Some ten or twelve years ago. poor, drunken tai
lor crszed with 6elirium hemens, cut his wfe's
throat committing most shocking murder. The
tragedy occurred in Beaver street. The miserable
wretch terminated his own life with the razor few
hours after his arrest. Young Sheppard was killed
by Rector in fit Of passion, and the jury found hm
guilty Of manslaughter. Some six or seven years
ago negro killed another, in Canal street, with
cart stake This was the result Of brawl, and not
deliberate. Still he was convicted of murder and
sentenced to be hung. His sentence was commuted
by the governor to life Imprisonment, but he was
afterwards p&rGoned and exchanged luis cell for his
colliu--he dying very soon after his Liberation.
Besides these instances, there have been two
three murders committed in drunken ARRAYS within
the last few years. but no such cold blooded TRACE
dies as those in which Strang. Leddngs, Dunbar,
and Hendrickson were the actors. Can any other
city OF the size of Albany say so much?
Hamilton shot Birdsall on the very northern limits
Of the city, and within few PAGES of Watervliet.
strang shot Whpple in Bethlehem, near but not in
the CITY, The Dunbar tragedy-one Of the most
shocking to be found in the annals of crime-also
occurred in Bethlehem, in the midst Of quiet,
peaceful and beautiful rural district. Leddings
killed his wife in New Scotland or Cumberland. The
last murder, and IN some respects the most extraor
binary and terrible Of them ALL for which Hendick-
son is now under sentence Of death, was also com
ntted in Bethlehem, several hours ride from the
city. This, too, was enacted in one Of the most
charming and pastoral portions or this county, and
in the heart OF as wealthy and respectable neigh
borhood as Albany boasts OF. -
From this record il will be seen that Albany
county is a. strangely and sadly noted for murders
Of the most revolving and mysterious character as
the city is remarkably exempt from crimes of that
character.
the rest Of the county In the whole range of petty
crimes it excels the county towns in frequency; ia
capital offences Of the gravest character the county
towns have infinitely more to answer for than the
city.