The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-05-16
VOL. VIII.---NO. 800.
EXECUTION OF A MURDERE2-A
SCENE Under TILE GAnfiyNS

| oSfNb ONOEn fIE uALIOWS.
John Fitzgerald, who deliberately murder.
ed his own father, his mother, and his brother,
some months ago, was hung at Auburn, New
York, on Saturday last, during snow storm.
The Auburn American says he passed the
previous night in profound slumber, and on
Saturday morning dressed himself with scru-
pulous care. For time before leaving his
cell he laughed heartily at the crowd on tho
outside who were exposed to the snow storm.
The American further says:
One said to him: "John If the Governor
should come in now and commute your sen.
tence to Imprisonment for life, would YOU
like it!" "No sir!" he replied 81 would step
right out and pull hemp in preference. had
rather he hung than go to prison for lfe!"
doctor present asked him If he had any
objection TO giving up his body to be dissect.
ed! We were shocked at the inquiry, but he
replied with loud laugh! mo, sir! Yox
would look pretty cutting up my bodym
1t was announced to him then that cler.
gyman wished to see him. He rcplied-"lf
he comes in here he'll get my fst-that's all!
What good can he do me noc! don't want
him."
An earnest appeal was made to him to for
give his brother. He replied-"'rhat he had
Kind words cnly for those who had been kind
to him since he had been in prison." He ut
terly refused to forgive his brother!-
Said he-"Go ahead! You can kill me.
that's all you can do! Can't you arrange the
hanging so that can touch il off myself? [
want to die; Pm tired of Jail life, any way."
The sheriff entered the hall, and said that
the DrisOupr rtp atad that ot , ,y..J l.
be uttered after he was brought in, and that
the execution should proceed in silence
Prior to this he had knelt down in PRAYER
with the Rev. Mr. Ives, manifested much
emotion, and shed tears. Still he could not
forgive his brother, or acknowledge the hor.
rible atrocity of his crime.
The prisoner entered the corridor arrayed
iE gown of white, which covered him from
head to foot. He had on pair of dark pan.
falcons and gater boots. He was placed
under the moose amid profound silence. lIo
was apparently cool, firm, and bore himself
bravcly at that dreadful moment. While
deputy was adjusting the rope about his neck
he took umbrage at something that was done,
and exclaimed: "Gentemen! don't torture
me; hang me, if you want 20 !" And then he
added to some one near him, "Pm n pretty
hard boy"
lie turned to Mr.. Morgan and asked if
chlorOforn could be administered to him.
The reply, of course, was in the negative
lie never spoke again. The white cap was
drawn over his hend-the rope was put
around his neck. The victim was ready for
the execution. The spectators stood breath.
less. His arms were pinioned, and his wrists
tied together. He stood firm and unmoved.
he did not quail, even at that awful moment.
We noticed that his fingers twitched little,
and that letuir'ed his thumbs, bpt there was
no exclamation, no prayer, no sob, no sigh,
no repentance.
AT precisely six minutes after o'clock tho
rope was cut, and Fitzgerald was twtched,
with violent jerk, about three feet from the
iioor The hoist must have broken his neck.
lie struggled very little. A few conyulsivs
movements about the chest were alone yisi.
Bile. In less than six minutes the physicians
declared him dead, and after hanging the re.
qulrcd time he was cut down and his body
given over to the charge of his friends.
The heartless rccklessncss of the prisoner
was preserved almost until the very last mo.
ment, and Ills tirmness never deserted him.
During the morning he danced and sang in
his cell, and no one would have dreamed that
he knew he was within few hours Of
eternity.