The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-09-20
The Execution Of Francis Dick at
DaVtOn-HiS Confession.

The Execution Of Francis Dick at
Dayt0n-His Confession.
Onthe moming of Saturday, August l3.
1853, just at the dawn Of day. old Mrs.
Young and her son James, boy sixteen
years old, were murdered at Day yton,. .,his
Stale, by Francis Dick. He was. ARE sted
and twice convicted, and sentenced to be
hung on the 9th inst.
On Wednesday he confessed to Sheriff
Henderson the general fact that he was
guilty OF the murder for which he was now
about to suffer. This much the priest de.
sired him to say, that the officer might be
sure that he was not executing an inno-
cent man.
On Thursday morning Dick was visited
by his brother, who is esteemed a very
worthy man. Both were much al
fecied. Frank weeping as he talked. II
had been suspected that he murdered
pedler at Troy, but this, as dying man,
he pronounced untrue. His brother Peter.
he said, was supposed to have died in Gt.
He did not so die-he was poisoned. A
boy, about Dicks own age, who worked
with him in the shoe shop, disliked Peter,
and, putting some ''siuff" in liquor, gave
it to him to drink, and ii killed him.
When Dick married, his wife's father
was liying-an Incorporate. worthless old
man. One afternoon he and Dick were in
Dayton together; after dark they started
home, but the old man never 20. there.-
/, He was found in the canal the next day,
with his skull broken.
Dick was suspected Of killing him at the
time, and in the conversation with his bro.
ther on Thursday, he confessed it. The
old woman. he said, was troubled by the
old man, and thought he ought to be out
OF the way. Dick thought so too, bu, did
not make up his mind to do the deed until
the day il was done. The old man that
morning had injured him deeply, and in
tender point. To resent this injury. and
take bond against its repetition, Dick
planned the visit to town, knowing his VIC
tim would get drunk, and might be easily
showed out of the world, with little room
for suspicion of foul play. IL couldn't
help it, was Dick 's-only apology for the
deed.
In regard to the murder OF his mother-in-
law and ..liule Jimmy" he stated to his
brother that he made up his mind to kill
the old woman two days before he carried
the resolution into effect. His reasons,
stated in this interview, were the same as
before given. Toward the boy he had no
ill-wil. lie struck the old woman in the
wagon and she tunbled out. Thereupon
Jimmy jumped ou. and ran, calling at the
1 r
Dick followed and caught him. 81 didn't
want to kill him''-said Dick-''I only
wanted 10 tell him not to .holler;' but he
fought me, and struck him, not intending
to kill him." He then returned 10 the old
woman and FINISHED her,
The evening preceding the day of exc.
cution. Dick stated positively to one Of the
Sheriff 8 deputies, that the implemen, used
by him in numbering the old woman and
boy was Steffin's spaGe-the same which
appeared against him on the trial.
| In conclusion, he said: 81 have brought
disgrace upon myself and you. Moiner
is old. and will not live long. Only two
of you will be left. am sorry for what
happened; wish | hadn't killed Jimmy.
but | couldn't helpit. hope you will for
give me-"
HE ExEcUTIoN-On Friday morning.
in the presence of about thirty persons. in-
cluding the Sheriff g assistants, invited re-
porters for The press, and most Of the coun.
~ officers, Francis Dick suffered death.
At l8 minutes past 10, supported by the
Sheriff and by the Rev. Father Younker.
of the German Catholic Church, he as.
cended the scaffold, and walked up the
trap, habited for the grave. After few
whispered responses, he affectionately EN-.
braced the revered father, kissing him up-
on the cheek. He then turned to Sheriff
Henderson, who asked him, in an under
tone, if he desired to say anything. He
replied that he did not Then asking the
Sheriff to give him as easy death as he
could, he bid the officer goodbye, kissing
him on the cheek. His manner was sub.
dued and affectionate.
The Sheriff then drew down the white
cap. covering the prisoners face, and step.
ping to the rear Of the scaffold. severing al
blow the rope which supported the trap.
The fall was but twenty inches. and did
not break the sufferers neck. He seemed.
however, TO die easy-moving his limbs
but little, and ceasing to breathe at the end
Of five minutes. After hanging twenty
minutes, the body was taken down and
placed in coffin, TO be deposited in the
vault of fhe Catholic cemetery.
Wheeling Fair.
The Fair opened yesterday with very
fair exhibition, in extent, variety and at