The Trinity journal., 1856-06-07
Suicide of Yankee Sullivan.

Suicide of Yankee Sullivan.
This morning the notorious Yankee Sulli-
van committed suicide, by cutting into his
left arm. and bleeding to death. The pub
lie are well aware that Sullivan has been in
the hands of the Vigilance Committee during
the last few days. He dad confessed to
them his evil deeds, and made important
revelations as to the oallot-boX stuiing OPP
eratons in which so many high and low
scoundrels of this city have been engaged
for years past. Until it was decided what
course should be taken with Sullivan, he
was kept in close confinement He was,
however, allowed every indulgence in the
supply of food and other necessary refresh
mentS that the Committee could give His
nervous system appears to have been great
ly affected and broken down by the tragic
events of the last few weeks. He witnessed
the execution of Casey and Cora, and since
then has showed much anxiety and appre-
henson on his own account. He appeared
to have lost his appetite, and usually ate
very Sparngly.
/ This morning, about six O'clock, Sullivan
called the guard and asked drink of wa
+ ter. He told the latter that he had just
had horid dream. He dreamed that he
had been condemned to die he saw the
guards approach-they seized him and pin
oned his arms-they lead him to the fatal
window-the rope was placed round his
neck-he stepped on the platform, he saw
the deridng crowd, his sins crowded upon
him-the platform fell, he struggled-and
awoke, in the most frightful state of mind
g. !, i'll
cheer him. He said that the Committee
did not mean to hang him, but only to send
him out Of the country Sullivan, however,
was too much frightened to accept at first
the friendly consolation. He received the
drink of water he had asked for, and after q
time appeared to be more cheerful. The
guard then left him. A bout two hours later,
when Sullivans's breakfast was being carried
into his room, the prisoner was found on his
bed dead. He was dressed in his panta-
looms and shirt, and lay extended on his back.
He had cut his left arm at the elbow Joint,
ON the inside, to the bone. The main artery
was completely severed, and he must have
died in few minutes afterwards He in
Aicted the wound with the knife which he
used to cut his food with.
The body was cold at this time, SO that it
is probable Sullivan committed the rash act
Immediately after the guard had left him at
six o'clock. Remorse and terror produced
by his dream, had no doubt prompted the
suicide. Two medical gentlemen were i'm
mediately called in, who declared that Sui
liyan had been dead for some time and that
he could have suffered no pain lie had
/ allen, as it were, into a faint, and in that
condition expired. The counteuance of the
deceased showed no marks of pain.
Sullivan has made important disclosures
to the Committee, the result of which will
be knowa before long. lie confessed that
he had been convicted IN England for steal
ing, and had been sentenced to tranSporta-
ton to New South Wales for fourteen years
When there his bad conduct was such that
he had been placed by the Government un-
der regimen of the seyerest kind, different
from those other convictS who underwent
the ordinary penal sentence. lie escaped,
however, from New South Wales. 1t was
one of his greatest fears that he should be
sent back there again. He had Solemnly
promised the Committee to fight no more,
prize battles to drink and quarrel no more,
and had vowed that hencetorth he would
live an honest and peaceful life lie was
desirous to be sent out of the country, and
promised that, if he were sent TO the \ tlan-
tic States, he would avoid the large towns
and keep himself retired from the public
gaze. \ guilty conscience would not allow
him to wait the course of events in sud-
den fit Of remorso and horror he ended his
vile reer.- Ereatag Bulletin Isl uH.