New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-18
EXECUTION OF NICHOLAS BEEHEHAM
From Our Own Reporter.
THE MURDER.

pronounced upon Nicholas Beehehsn at The last Term
Of the Court of Sessions for Suffolk County L. |.
IL will DO remembered that the prisoner had been
convicted Of an atrocou5 MURDER the general cherac-
ter OF which had been rendered terrible by the
circumstances under which il was committed Dur
ing the peaceful hours Of the night he entered the
abode Of bis employer and benefactor and with the
most fendish GOODNESS and determination proceeded
10 take the life Of every human being in the house
He succeeded so far as TO murder in the most bsrbar
Gus manner, Mr.. Wickham and his wife; they we're
found the next morning, literally hacked to pieces
The other inmates Of the house. consisting of the SER
wants, were successful in making their escape and
Wa principally owing to their testimony, upon the
TRIAL. that the prisoner bad been convicted Such are
the brief details Of the tragedy: details the recol-
lection Of which alone could nerve US to witness the
execution Of the criminal
VISIT TO TIE PRISONER.
On Thursday evening, we visited the prisoner, and
found him lying mattress, in his CELL engaged in
reading the Preparation for the Dying" from the
Roman Missal. He looked much older than when
we last saw him. on the occasion of his trial and his
manner had lost that coarse hardhood which then
characterized it. His eyes, dim and boodsbot ap.
pesred deeply sunken, and traces Of recent tears
In fact be seemed thoroughly Frustrated in phi steal
sense; and his answers evidenced complete and de.
sirable change in his feelings Weinquired - to the
condition Of his health, to which he replied:
al feel poorly to-day, Sir, very poorly
"You seem to be much changed since your trial,
Nicholas. we added: I" it is to be hoped you also
think differently
eyes, Sir, he answered " think do" and the
nervous twchipg Of the muscles Of bis face while he
was speaking fully corrobor ited his reply.
What must have been the feelings OF that wretched
man at The tmel alone in his CELL without one
human soul to sympathze with him, if we except the
good Priest who attended to the last moment--alone
in the misery Of the fearful present. alone in the re-
collection Of the fearful past none can estimate
the horror Of the varied sensations which oppressed
him. When we quilted him, he earnestly en-
ployed in his religious reading; and, from the half
choted signs which occasionally escaped him. we be.
ieve he was fully conscious Of the certainty of his
fate and impressed with hu nble contrtion for the
fearful crime for which he was about to suffer-
FRIDAY MORNING.
Early in the morning, crowds Of persons began to
assemble in the vicinity of the Jail, and up to the
hour of execution the arrivals by private and public
conveyancee were very numerous. The int abitants
Of the neighborDg townships appeared in their holt
day attire, many with their wives aud families and it
was not to hear joyous shouts and pesls Of
merry laughter proceeding from the streets. 1t would
appeer indeed, as though Riverhead about to be-
come the scene Of festival rather than theater for
the enactment Of tho last scene of fearful aud re-
voting tragedy. During the time, the wretched prs-
oner engaged in prayer, in WHICH he was accoa.
panied by the Rev. j. Mccarthy, who remained con-
staDtly with him up to the period of execution The
conduct Of Beebehan marked by extreme 6rmness.
He partook of his breakfast, usual in the morning,
and spent the rest Of the time in the society Of his
Confessor. From bin he received the last rites of the
Romish Church; aud through him he may have made
disclosures under the seal of confession, yet to no
other human being did he reval his guilt of the crimes
of which he has been found guilty. He frequently
told the priest that he did not bear any malice toward
those persons who had appeared as witnesses against
him. He said he forgave the girl whose testimony
had been the means of his conviction. AS the last
hour approached, he surrendered himself freely into
the hsnos of those persons charged with the duty of
removing his irons, and otherwise preparing him for
the fatal ceremony. During some twenty minutes &C.
cupied in this manner he kept continually praying,
sometimes striking his hand upon his heart while re-
peatipg the Acts of Contrition Outbursts of laugh
ter, and demonstrations of impotence on the part of
the Grove ousi6e frequently grated upon the ears of
al length the preparation was complete-he was at
tired il the shroud and cap, usual upon such occa-
,ions his arms were tightly pnioned behind, and the
Pres had snid that so far as it in his power he
had prepared him.
THE EXECUTION
Every available spot in the vicinity of the Jail was
occupied by persons DESTROYS OF witnessing the eAecu
tion Windows, fences and house tops were thronged
with spectators, and many had congregated in the
street facing II inclosure 1t would be fair to ess-
mate the number of persons present at three thousand
The galows had been erected few days previous on
A niece Of ground adjoining the Court house and
Jail. which in Riverbesd occupy the same building.
This had been carefully fenced in, and was now sur
rounded by a detachment of uniformed militia.
Alta few minutes past le O'Clock, the mourntui cor
tsee consisting of the prisoner and his conessor the
Sheriff. witnesses, and deputies, crossed the court.
ward. and entered the nclosure, within which had
been erected the scafold. At the appearance oil inc
criminal. the noise of the lookerson was somewhat
more subdued although many coarse les' anu 'aun''
ING allusicn was made with reference 10 hiul p"''
high above all other sounds, was heard, al TINS hi'
ment. the piercing screams of woman-ehe Oh 'ne
inmates Of the Jail, and native OF the same country
az the prisoner. Her cries, coming at such uu'e'
must have chilled the heart Of every human pe'ne
present The prisoner did not appear to be cognzan'
of anything which transpired, he was SO completely
occupied with prayer. For one moment as the ta."
rape was being adjusted his glance rested upon tue
sicke details of that prison yard-the grim "eguS
attached TO the gaows the rude coffin and the group
Of ate rn.yisaged men-and just then ray oil warm
sunshine pierced through crevice in the wall ana
formed such terrible contrast to the scene ana 70
L. xhNaD Afrnn