New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-08
NEWS or The or Y,

FIRE.-A small fire occurred, about o'clock
yesterday morning, on Tchoupitoulas street.
near Race in which small frame shed was
consumed The less was inconsiderable
lNQUEsT.--An inquest was held yesterday on
the boly Of woman named Mary ORourk,
aged 30 years, ? native of Ireland, found dad
in a house on Adele street, in the Fourth D;s.
trict. Verdict, 8 Death from intemperance
Another was held On tie body Of a colored
man found floating in the river opposite St.
Philip street, name unknown, aged about 35,
supposed to have been waiter on board he
steamboat Saint Charles Verdict, "Found
drowned
EXECUTION or FRANK SMITH-This convicted
Wite=murelerer was executed yesterday morning
few minutes past 10 ocloeb in the yard Of the
parish prison. A large crowd had assembled
around the prison to witness the show" but
were prevented feasting IN horrors, by the wise
provisions of our statutes, prohibiting pubic
exhibitions OF this Kind A number OF officials
and the members Of the city press Were present
in the capacity of witnesses. Every tL51s y a.
conducted in a very orderly and proper manner.
Smith conducted himself in calm anil digp; fed
manner The only words he spoke, g May
the Lord nave mercy on my soul !" which were
uttered as he was stepping on the platform aud
taking leave of his spiritual adviser, Father
bieAahon. After taking his seat on the seat
fold, the rope was adjusted round his neck by
the hangman, some ambitious individual who
had volunteered for the occasion and who wns
completely disguised. Deputy Sheriff Fabre,
standing on the balcony close by him, read the
death warrant of the Governor for his exeeu-
ton. During the reading of the warrant Smith
moved not muscle, there was no trembling
but he continued 10 call npon the name of the
Lord, and invoke Divine mercy The reading
of the warrant was finished, and the hangman
approached and pulled the white cap over his
face. Tie now SGT perfectly motionless, said not
a word moved not a limb, bat calmly waited
for the platform to drop. The hangman left the
platform, retired into q back room, where lie
cut the ropes which supported the platform,
and the murderer was launched into eternity
After hanging for some tine tho body was
lowered nearly to the earth wien il was exam
med by the attending physicians; the heart
was still beating violently, nor did it cnase to
throb for more than ten minutes Subsequent
ly, when another examination was hal, and be-
ing pronounced dead, the body vas taken down
and placed in q coffin. His neck was not dis
located, the knot having slipped to the back in
stead of remaining under the left ear, and so
he was choked to death,
Smith had very little to indicate murderer in
his countenauee; in fact it had rather mild
expression. lie made no 9, last speech before
being swung OFT; rleai nothing in e1tenuation
of the awful crime he had committed, though |
day or two previous he stated to several per-
sons, g That he was satisfied his sentence was
Just one that he deserved death he had no I
doubt he killed his wife, hut was unable to re-
call to mind the least circumstance connected |
with the murder; he was very drunk at the |
time
lie was On 1rishman by birth, was about As t
years of age, though he had lived in this city
for over fifteen years had been married |
about SIX years. and had &lways borne n very /
good character; he iivet in small house at
1he corner Of Broad and Common streets, near
the Swamp, where he followed the occupation Of I
a Wood chopper and was getting along very we'll,
and it is said had always lived happily with his
wife. On Sunday evening, when he committed +
the murder, he had doubtless been out and got
very drunk, aud returning home, quarreled
with his wife, and beat her to death with an
axe or some other equally deadly instrument
l1is to be hoped that this execution may have
salutary effect in preventing crime in this
community
FIRST DISTRICT.
foRREGY.-Ann Forrest, Bill Carney and Pat T
Lana, were all three arrested. yesterday morn
ing, on suspicion Of having robbed the coffee,