Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-05
EVENING STAR.
(Fron the Buffalo Republic, December IL
EXECUTION OF WILLIAM DAIRY FOE
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.


EXECUTION OF WILLIAM DAIRY FOB
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
VIM. Dairy was executed this morn
ing in the jail-yard, at twenty.four and
half minutes to twelve o'clock, for the
murder of his wife.
On entering the jail-yard, the horrible
paraphernalia of death, on the north side,
met the eye. Two upright posts, TWEEN.
ty feet high, with trap platform about
nine feet from the ground, and steps lead.
ing from the floor to the platform, com
priSed the instrument with which offend.
ed law and justice satisfied its demands.
An awning was spread over all, conceal
ing the gallows from any sanguinarily
curious eyes without, and q coffin OF
stained wood was supported on stools in
front of the gallows, which is the same
instrument upon which Fogerty was
hanged, some twelve months since.
A heavy gale was raging, and slight
fall of snow added horrors to a scene suf.
ficiently horrible without the turmoil OF
the elements.
We went into the prison to see Darry,
who was in the condemned cell, and con-
versing with his friends. He was calm
and collected, somewhat affected by the
contemplation of the awful scene soon to
take place, but bearing it manfully and
quietly. AS he passed out of the cell to
60 to the room above to be dressed. he
put his thumbs earelessly into the arm
holes of his vest, and walked unconcern-
edly and unrefectingly, it appeared to
US, toward death. After he had arrived
at the dressing-room, the Rev. Messrs.
Heacock, Smith and Warren conversed
with him. He professed himself ready
and willing to die.
After short conversation, Deputv
Sheriff Hopkins read to him the death
warrant, accompanying its reading with
few appropriate remarks. During the
reading of the warrant he kept perfect
ly calm and composed demeanor, not in
the least affected by it, but occasionally
gazed through the barred window in the
rear of the Jail. Rev. Mr.. Warren, after
the conclusion of the reading, knelt
down with Dairy and made a most ear.
nest prayer for the dying, from the Epis-
copal prayer book. After which, Rev.
Mr.. Smith made an extemporaneous
prayer, solemn and affecting, appealing
to Heaven to show mercy unto the poor
criminal, who uttered not one word, or
spoke during its continuance, and ap-
peared to be the most unconcerned of all
in the cell. Rev. Mr.. Heacock then
prayed for mercy upon the criminal
pathetic and sublime-to which all save
the prisoner appeared to respond. 1t
appeared to US that he was stricken with
apathy, and did not half realize his terri.
bic situation.
After the prayer, and while Mr.. Hea-
cock was conversing with Dairy, he ap-
peared to be more affected, and spoke,
dreading terribly the death he was about
to suffer-spoke of it as rible-horri-
BILE. He said he had confessed his sins
to God, and although he had a reliance
upon the mercy of the Redeemer, he yet
feared to die. When asked how he felt,
by Rev. MIR. Smith, he said: Miserable
miserable. He said: "I had no no.
tion of taking her life." He was sallow,
pale, evidently worn out in mind and
body-haggard and emaciated.
One of the officers of the prison in
formed us that Dairy, up to within two
days since, was continually cursing and
swearing-in fact, bearing himself more
like savage than q man. He wept and
made great complaints when the officers
were dressing him for the gallows did
not wish to be dressed-put his hands to
bis head and uttered deep groans. He
was dressed in gown of white trimmed
with Grape, and white drawers. He kept
moaning during the whole proceeding.
At this time he was perfectly CHASTITY,
and called frequently upon merciful
God" merciful Jesus" {" oh, Lord r'
"oh, Lord!"
The rope was put around his neck,
and he was allowed to set down for a
while. He then felt of the rope bsneath
the knot to see if it would Slip easily,
and inquired if it was " q hard death to
die" Melciful Jesus, what is this that
l have come to-" he exclaimed several
times, walking with hurried steps about
bis cell. and moaning and gr' aning in
an awful manner. He was q man of
about fifty years of age, his hair sprinkled
with gray, but strong and able bodied.
he remained in his cell dressed, with
the rope around his neck for some time,
never ceasing his agonized walking about
the room, except when toward the last
he knelt down and offered up silent
pl aver apparently. He remained on his
knees tor some moments. At half.past
eleven he was led upon the scaffold, &C
companied by the clergyman who had
been with him in his cell, where solemn
and holy prayers were offered up for the
welfare of the soul that was about to de-
part. He groaned loudly as he ascended
the scaffold, but knelt down calmly. He
was a picture of terrible fear, looking
more dead than alive. His hands were
then tied behind his back, he CRYING
MY God, my God, oh my God deliver
me !" The cap was then dawn over bis
face and the rope cut. At half.past eleven
precisely the soul of VIM. Dairy was
nchoroA int a.