The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-17
EXECUTION OF NICHOLAS BEHAN,
MURDERER OF THE WICKHAM FAMILY.
DENIAL OF GUILT UP TO THE LAST.
ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL,
&C., 60, DO.
FROM OUR SPECIAL REP oRTER.
RIvERHEAD, SUFFOLK GILL


To day Nicholas Bshan, convicted of the murder
of the wickham family, was executed In the jail
yard attached to the Court House, in the presence
Of nrge concourse ofpeople. Tne crime of which
Bshan wss convicted was shocking, even to thf
strongest mind. At the dead hour Of the night, or
the ID tf June last, man steals into the quiet
dwelling OF Mr.. Wickhlm, of Cutchosue, where he
had formerly been employed by kind and indul-
gent master, and, without auy provccai,n, CO n
me fces on indiscrmiDs.e slaughter Of the whole
fsDily. The proprietor and his wife first fall dead
ber cath the axe of The blood thirsty villain; the mex,
object that met his view, co.ored boy Of
shout ten years o. age, was also struck down
with the axe, still reekirg with the blood
OF lis first victims. Some Of the domestics oil
TIE house becoming alarmed, be fies, Is pursued,
ard, after a wearisome chase, is captured in the
woods, some miles distant from the scene OF the
blcody tragedy. He is conveyed to jAsl at River
head, where last October he was fully convicted of
the murder, and sentenced to be executed on Fri.
cay the 18th irst. Such ia the brief history OF tha
awful murder of the Wickhsm family on the 81 of
June last, by Nicholas Behau. To-day, however,
he exsia.ed tie horrible crims o. which he was con-
vsctes by public execution. He died denying his
guilt, hut foreviDg all those who he said had been
instrumental in hia death
For weeks previous to his execution Bshan
seemed quite indifferent about his fate, and still
hoped that some chance would turn up whereby
reprieve committing the punishment to imprison
ment for life would be given. He mads frequent
attempts during this time to pick out one OF the
soaes of the cell sufficiently large to adm; Of his
escape, but was always detected by the keeper,
who ct last Thought it would be safer 70
i'm unop c1sI .rH
ingiy Nicholas was ronsd heavily; but he
still persisted in endeavoging to pick the
lime from between the stones that formed his cell.
On Thursday preceding the execution, as an ut of
cemency towards the prisoner, the irons were taken
off his harGs, 60 as to give foil use OF those limbs
when visited by tie Clergyman but Bssan, still
hoping TO make his escape, secretly set himself to
work, and commenced tearing up the Haor Of his
cell, thinking thereby to get out under the Eounda-
tior and make bis escape But here again he was
disappointed. for bereata the board floor was
mass d solid masonry, dsfJing all his Efforts al any
further attempt on bis part to break jail. Nj. Ed
noIds, the keeper, hearing Behan y. work went
into his cell, ard found him lsiag on the hole ne
Ead just maze in the ioor 30 as to conceal il from
the eyes Of the turnkey, VIII, however, was iarshe,
sighted toab Nicholas thought, flr, pusacg the BED
osido, the hole was fully Iossd to his view. Ts
prisoner was then manacled hand and to9t. On the
nlorning prece ding she day Of execution Behan was
visited by bis spiritual adviser, the Rsy. Mr.. Hc.
Csrtby, OF Hempstosd, l.. l., sho &C mpied tae
attention o. the culprt for several holrs
il prayer. IL wss on TIE occasion OF this Wait
tar be at last msds his public denial OF his
guilt, snd bsde the clergyman isform all tacs ia
the neiehbtrhood that be forgsve them, aud bore
10 enmisy towards the Court sbo hal coavi;ted
ard Sc telcsd I'm to dass; also, taSt ne 5orgaye
Ell. Hpl sn6, the servant girl IL the house OF Mr..
Wickhsm, although re said she swore away his life
After bis spiritual comforter departed from him. his
L..
in mis- CELL while won confined in the cell above
him ssDg sn Irish jig. With his handcuffs he this
cay inscribed on sEe walls of his cell, IN very ua-
Ineligible stJ le, the sentence:
Nicholas BehaD executed Nnvsmbsr Is, lS54:''
While various partl OF the walls we're insc- -Dtons
OF his name and other matters which could rot be
decypheIed, but which no doubt, from an odd word
plainly written, bore some strong relation 10 the
murder Of which he was convicted
THE DAY BEPoRE THE EXECUTION.
Crowds CT people were hourly pouring iato the
little village of Riverhead the day before the exeeu.
tion Of the unfortunate man. Little groups of
anxious visteIs nehs be ssen collected at the cor.
OF the streets ada ent TO the JAIL holding deep
conversation on the awful penslty Behan was
soon TO sui1,r About two o'clock in the afternoon
tbe train from Brooklyn arrived with large mum
btr OF men, women aud children, all wishing to be
present on the awful occasion. During the day toe
gallows upon which the crimcal was 70 suffer the
severest penalty Of the law erected in the prison
yard, which xas afterwards enclosed by an enclo-
cure about twenty feet high, constructed of pine
boards nailed close tpgeber, 50 as to prevent the
eyes Of the multitude from witnessing the death
struggles of the culprit A. sunset guard Of four
men was lla-ed in and about the cell OF Behau,
TO prevent the possibility of his es ape either by
strategy or force. Night closed upon the watchers
AID tie guarded. Morning came, bnt nothing oc.
Cured 10 render TIE vigilance Of the qua any
longer Necessary, IS Behar appeared recoaced to
his late, and was as submissive to the will OF the
keeper as could be expected
THE EXECUTION.
AT en- early hour on the morning Of the execution,
after having partaken OF his breskfast as usual the
culprt was visited by the Rev. Mr.. Mccarthy, who
held several hours intercourse with him-she time
of the reverend gentleman being spen. in prayer
with the doomed man who ia fe ' hours was TO sp.
pear before bis Maker there to answer for sll the
sins he bad committed during his brief stay on this
earth. The prisoner, after being close:ed vita the
clergyman for about three hours wss lett alone in
his cell for ar hour or 50. About this time he ap
peared mucn cnYsworn his features were haggard
anc is eyes dull and srDken About eleven O'Clock
the crowd increased to about two thousand, who
were posted in such positions as would command
view Of Behan when conducted from his cell TO the
yard OF execution. All we're in conversation, ard
tie topic Of sl related to tie character of the pri
soner, bis conduct when captured, and his general
appearance throughout toe long trial. Ia fact,
nothing sc was talked Of for miles around the
court house. Some we're laughing and ies.irg on
the occasion, while Others, more sensible, kept
quiet demeanor throughout the entire day, feeling
perfectly satisfied, no doubt, that the laws OF the
land would be virdcated full enough in the exscu.
ton Of the convicted murderer.
at eleven o'clock the Suffolk Guard Of Green
port, one OF the military companies, dressed in
uniform, arrived in the trsip end, marching to The
jsil, were me. by sheriff Phillips, who posted
them around the execution yard TO prevent the
crowd on the outside from breaking down the
sliUnt enclosure that Gbstructed the- view of The
gall0ws Drawing themselves up in military STYLE
Ibis company performed an srduous task-that OF
keeping back an excited crowd Of over three thon.
SAND pfrsops, sll OF whom weIe quite anxious TO
optaib some cniDk or elevated platform, whereby
view Of the eaows might Ire had; and maoy Of
tbs m, particularly boys Of IL or Is years Of age,
we're very unwilling to be disturbed. Hogevsr, ihe
space around the fence both In the and front was
sitter some expostulation and little man9nvti1g,
Gle ared CT the dense mass sf people that fe - mo
ncnss previously had been sEaying to and ffo ike