Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-14
VOL. ). NO 35.
Warrant for the Execution of Lutz.

In June, 1856, 4 muderous affray occur
red upon Wood street, in this city, during
which a young man named Richard O'Leary
was stabbed in the back. from the effects oF
which he died in few hours. John Lutz,
the son of thy citizen, and also young
man, was suspected of having dealt the fatal
blow, and his subrequent fight confirmed
this suspicion. He remained absent for over
year, during which time he travelled over
the greater part Of the United States. He was
fnally arrested in St. Louis, and in July,
1857. he was brought to this city, and COM
mitted to jail upon charge of murder, the
grand jury having found true bill agains;
him, in his absence. In December following
he was placed upon trial, aud upon the last
day OF the year, after careful and impartial
trial. a jury Of his country declared him gull
ty of murder.
The prisoner, however. was not without
hope. He strenuously denied his guilt, and
alleged that mortal wound had been inflicted
by another hand than his, and he even went
far as to give the name of the alleged mur-
derer. His friends, who are both numerous
aud influential, aided By talented counsel car
ried the case before the Supreme Court-but
as they depended mainly upon a technical de
feet in the indictment, the writ of error avail
ed them nothing, and the judgment OF the
Court below was affirmed. which fact Is gen.
orally known t. our readers.
Beng thus vested of every ray OF hope,
the prIsou.r had to succumb to his destiny
aud for mouths and weeks he has been await
ing the arrival Of the warrant which should
fix limit to his days. aud sever his thread
of life 1t is with feelings of pain that we
chronicle the arrival of the death warrant,
which passed into the hands Of Sheriff Pat
ha fol-
of the document -
Pennsylvania, ss
In the name ard by the authority of the
| the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"Wm. F. Packer, Governor of said Com
onweal,h, to Rody Patterson, Esq Higt
Sheriff of tie county of Allegheny, sends
greeting
Whereas. at Court of Oyer and Termi-
ner, held at Pittsburgh, in and for The couu-
| ty Of Ailegh heny, in the Commonwealth Of
| nnsylvania, at December sessions, A. D.
! 1886, u certain John Lutz was indicted for
| he crime of murder, aud at Dece nber term,
A. d. 1857, of said Court, viz: ou the 31ss
day of December. 1857, Was found guilty Of
murder in the filst degree, and on the second
day Of February, a. ID, 1858, was sentenced
by the said. Court IF Oyer and Tcrminer to
''be taken hence TO the place from whence
you came, and from thence to the place of
execution. aud that you there be hanged by
the neck until you be dad
NOW, therefore. this is to authorize and
require you, the said hody Patterson, High
Sheriff of the county of Allegheny, aforesaid
to cause the sCnteuce of the said Court ot
Oyer and Termlner to be executed upon the
aforesaid John Lutz, between the hours oi
{ ten O'clock in the forenoon, and three o'clock
in the afternoon, of Friday. the .frst dag
IF October. Ammo Domini one thousand eigh
huudrcd and 6fty-eight, in the manner direc
: ted by the act OF the General Assembly o
c he Comm nweaith, approved the tenth da.
: of April, A, d. 1884. entitled ''au act t
$ abolish public executions" aud this shall b
: your sufficient warrant"
il Given under my hand and the great ses
st of the State, at Harrisburg, this sixth day o
!. July, in the year of our Lord one thousan
= eight hundred and ffty-cisht, aud Of III
d Commonwealth the eightytiird-
by the Governor,
H. l.. DEFFENDAcH,