New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-17
.,..:, g .or or THE DRAMA.
n THE LAST ACT - ~ ->' N I. w
4 ro.s711 az 40 EXECUTION Or KENNEDY

,,u,c,nt IN cosTLow xND EXECUTION or KENNhipf'
vas the DIV appointed for the execution
4 lanes GosEfow, for the murder d policeman John
Dunn; and Atrick Kennedy, for thsrnurder q james
rru;s M further respite having been granted by
the Governor every preparation for the solemn act
Wss made on the preceding day, and both the young
men composed themselves to meet their doom. They
prepared themselves differently, however Costlow,
,refeing death by his hand to the death ordered
~ lawssecrety planned suicide, insxhicha but
100 well succeeded. Ats o'clock Yesterday morning,
nc released himself from prison and from all earthly
Ills by meanso Of dose Of strychnine; how obtained,
40 one could tell. Kennedy on the contrary, under
the sustaining influence Of religion met the dread
penalty of the law unfalteringly.. 5r. .fqs =,
There was Of course, great press at the Sheriff s
office for permits to enter the prison and see the
execution of Kennedy; but none were permitted
inside save officers of the law physicians reporters,
and some Of the Sheriff S personal friends.
!. The scaffold was the one generally used in the
Parish Prison-a trap attached to wall by hinges,
and by rope passing into the cell through the
window, with two beams projecting from the top of
the same and a moose hanging from each beain-one
Of them having been intended for Costlow. The pris-
oners were all shut up in their cells but they could be
seen peering anxiously through the gratings.
At little after II o'clock, Kennedy appeared on
the upper gallery, clad in white his hands tied be-
hind him. and the deatfrcap on his head. He was ae-
companied by his spiritual adviser, the Rev. Father
Hilbert, Of the Jesuits church Baronne street He
walked firmly and composedly along the gallery,
down the stairs, and out on the little side gallery
leading to the scafod. There, he made respectful
bow to the spectators, and said: May God bless you
all-may God bless you a-thats all I've got to say.
God bless you all that's all I've got to say
The Priest then pressed crutiix to his lips and
embraced him, after which he took his seat on the
fatal stool without betraying any emotion, further
than solemn and sorrowful expression of his coun-
tenanee. The Deputy Sheriff then read the sentence
and deathwarrant to him. He looked intently at
the Deputy during the reading preserving his COM
posed demeanor all the time. After that, the Priest
prayed for him, ard again pressed the crucx to his
lips and embraced him. The doomed man commenced
praying in low voice, and continued praying whilst
the eSecutioner tall figure in slouched hat, black
mask and blue domino, adjusted the moose about his
neck and the white cap over hsface. The last, SOL
emn service of the Church was then read; the trap
fell and Patrick Kennedy was launched into eternity.
He died with apparent ease; drawing his body up
only two or three times in hardly pcrceptihle man
ner After being suspended until lite was declared
extinct by the physicians, he was let down into his
coffin decenty disposed therein, and shut out from
earthly sight forever. @ ....
A large and miscellaneous crowd of people were
assembled in the street, in front of the prison, long
before and after the execution, piercing the stone
walls with their imagnations if not their eyes. A
Gordon of policemen was drawn along in front of the
tn Eoer }tnsY +ifrda basi h.
doors and gates. Long after it was known outside
that the execution had taken place. portion Of the
crowd remained.
The execution over. the Coroner empanneled jury
of inquest, to pronounceupon the alleged suicide of
Costlow The deceased was stretched ont en- the mat
tress in his cell his rigid appearance and downpoint
ing feet betokening that he had died spasmodie
death. A postmortem examination was held by Doc
tors Sabatier, Deley, and several other medical gem
tlemen. The stomach bore evidences Of strychnine
and few sprinkles of that poison found on the
floor of the cell. But one witness was examined, MIR
Begenshi, the turnkey.
This officer testified that he had not the ,emotes
idea of. the manner in which Costlow obtained ant
secreted the deadly drug he had used On the even
ing before, in view of the fact that he had once at
tempted suicide, and of the common report, outsid
by hanging, thorough search was made for such al
ticles as might be instrumental in causing dealt
Costlow was taken out cf his cell stripped naked an
every seam of his clothing examined in the presenc
of Capt. Baldwin, the turnkey and two other officers
In his pocket was found lancet-the same which h
once secreted in his drawers with suicidal intent
More than this, nothing was found. He submitted Il
the search with perfect coolness and good lumol
cause it was feared lie woud commit suicide, but ii
order to f1atter Costlow with the appearance of in
partiality Before Costlow was returned to his cell
his bed and every other movable was taken out ant
fresh mattress and blankets belonging to the prison
placed there instead. 'hg
Before being locked in Kennedy asked the fayol
of being permitted to spend the night with Costow
saying that as it was their last night earth they
might as well pass ittogether. He expressed his in
tenton of watching over Costlow and preventing him
from committing suicide should he attempt this re-
lgious training causing him to look with horror upon
the act OF sefdestruston. His request was granted
and he was locked with Costlow in his cell. How
they passed the night together was not known, and
never will be. AT about o'clock yesterday morn
ing, Costlow sent one Of the watchmen after the
turnkey. That officer went to him, and gave him a
glass of whisky, which he drank with apparent rel
ISL. A short time afterwards, being down in the
yard, the turnkey was informed that Kennedy was
raising great alarm in the cell Rushing up, and
entering the cell, lie found Costlow very sick on his
mattress, and dying Kennedy was on his knees by
his side praying over him, pressing cross to his lips
and exclaiming, Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy, what have yor
done what have you done!" Immediate efforts were
made to save him, hut to no purpose doctor was
sent for, and in the interim quantity of sweet oil
was forced down his throat. He was too far gone
After few short spasns he Slaughtered out and al
was over. ~
The jury of inquest accordingly rendered verdict
that James Costlow committed suicide by taking
strychnine How he got the poison, is secret which
perhaps died with him.
The following notes were found in the cell-Cost
low having written them with pen, ink and paper hi
was permitted to have:
Mn EpwAEp BEGENsRI Dear Sri .n uhout TO leave ,hi
world for better. deem duty write these few lines
order that You may get them viii leave them my room
write them TO bid farewell that Heavenly Fathe
may bless You oT the kindness have from YOU durr
all my Imprisonment You have done all for that you pos
sby eoad do consistent N youdgy May reward you
and always hope shat you will meet with the same iron
every body as yen do from your happy
Janunaryi5. JAS H. CosTI,uW
Mr. BEGESsKi You will please accept Of the small token
Of esteem that here named my razor shaving not truh
and looking glass, this is my last VIII and testament
january ID JAS. II. COSTLOW.