Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-09
The Execution OF DonnelIy for the Murder
of Moses.


Or. James p. Donnelly, a Young man well
known in this city, and where he has vet MANY
warm friends VINO believed him innocent to the
last, was hung yesterday at Freehold, ~ =, OIL
charge Of the murder of Albert s. Moses at the.
Seaview House in that State
Donneily was born in Warren street New York
OF Irish parents. He is physician and surgeon
by profession, and attended the University o.
Georgetown, ID. C., and the Hospital at New
York During the prevalence OF yellow fever a
Norfolk, Virginia, a few years aeo be volun-
teered bis professional services in behalf of the
sufferers there from that epidemic He has spent
considerable time in this city, moved in good
society here, and was engaged to be- married to
The dang hter OF one Of our most estimabie citi-
zens. The day previous to his death, he sent tel
egraphic messages to this Young lady ask ny to
see her prior to his execution, and she. with true
woman's devotion, was most aax ious to 20 but
IL was not deemed advisable by her friends lie
further requested, that at all events some person
from Washington should see him before he died ,
and in accordance with this wish gentleman of
this city, repaired to Freehold and was with
Donnelly to the last
Donnelly's escape on Saturday night was Doubt
less effected by persons holding responsible stu
ations, and the matter Is to be investigated. On
Tuesday rumors were afioat OF preparation on the
K. az
vance in force upon the town, attack the Jail and
Set the prisoner free. The same schooner which
was in readiness of Keyport at the time of Dom
nelly's escape, apparently for the purpose of con-
veying him beyond the reach of the authorities
was said to be still lowering on the coast manned
by q numerous crew. The Sheriff received an
anonymous communication from New York
warning him that large body Of men were
preparing TO proceed to Freehold and Iiberate
Donnelly. The Sheriff said lie would place little
reliance in the letter IL not for the fact tina,
IL was written in the same handwriting as an
other which he received some time since. in
forming him that Donnelly had a club and a
sum OF money concealed in his cell-information
which proved correct. Immediately on receipt
Of this letter by the evening mail on Tuesday,
the sheriff ordered out the military company
which Freehold boasts, and sent order, to the
commandments Of companies in the vicinity, d.
Iecting them to assemble at Freehold The jail
was guarded by the military on Tuesday and
Wednesday nights.
On the night preceding the execution the fol-
lowing corps were ordered on duty: The Mon
mouth Blues, Capt j X Patterson, of FIeehold
~ muskets; the Monmouth Guards Capt H. J.
canine, OF Blueballs, 30 muskets; the Ocean
kines Capt. Brown, Of Long Branch, as men :;
and the Excelsior Guards, Of Fresh Pond. IS
men company from Perth Amboy were also
ordered out
on 'he same night raj men were seen by
INC seh.lheis providing about the Jail at a late
noo,, an ihenectual attempt was made to ar
's'Aeh' several close carriages heavily laden,
passed through Freehold at a m coming from
the direction Of keyport MANY tbouybt ,bev
were filed with men '
On Thursday Donnelly was with Rsv oo..o.
Cummings and Young, Catholic cls,av,"a.
New York, his spiritual advisers s,RsI,a,
rites have just been administered 10 me ,, 80
Donseily, "and what say now ought "a he D.
Aieved have been asked whether woula n,.
Ter 10 De hung inside the prison or in the prise,
yard told them II made no difference In !.
only for my poor father and sisters that care
No man can say that Donnelly is a coward Don
nelly never meanly skulked to kill a man 70.
morrow shall have something to say shall
give clue to the real murderer. ! never would
have done il under any other circumstances but
now, Tor the sake Of my family, | will let no
man, who Is my friend, doubt the truth Of word
shall utter to- morrow. With hell on one side
side and heaven on the other, | shall speak and
my dying declarations ought to be believed. ,,
Donneily spoke of his escape as a desperate ef-
fort for liberty.
The three sisters and other relatives and friends
OF the prisoner arrived from New York I'm the
morning train. His father was not there
Al o'clock p. m, yesterday, he was hung I'm
the presence OF an immense crowd; first HAVING
made a speech Of some two hours long, in which
he ably reviewed the testimony and reiterated
his innocence. ...-
His body was taken to New York, attended by
pr. Cummins.