The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-13

F4Wgd~r
Of nhs Brotacr's Wife.
HIS PARTIAL CONFESSION AND ASSERTION OF INso-
CEnoE ON THE GALLows.
From the Rochester Union, July 10
Yesterday at twenty one minutes past three o'clock
r. M: Isaac L. Wood paid the penalty provided oy
law for his crimes upon the gallows at Genesoe,
Livingston county. As this was the first execution
ever witnessed in the county of Livingston ana al
an impression is too fast obtaining hereaoouts that
murderers should be lionzed rather than punished,
We may be justified in laying before our readers
something of detailed report of the execution.
The manner in which the trial and execution was
conducted reflects credit upon the officers aud the
people of our sister county. who have nooly and
firmly indicated the law OF God and man, and in
SO doing have committed no act which need shock
the sensibties of the most refined friend Of law and
order supported by justice, or any one else not 50
depraved as to sympathize with crime well as
criminals. The punishment Of Wood was not in-
fiicted in spirit of revenge and was attended with
none of those roous and dsgraceful proceedings on
which the opponents of the death penalty harp
so much. Isaac l.. Wood, who murdered his
wife, his brother brothers wife, and sought to
murder two innocent children, was brought
to the gaLows by the people of Livingston
county in an orderly manner, and with
great solemnty has paid the penalty of his crimes
with his life; and the scenes OF yesterday no doubt
made an impression for good upon all VINO witnessed
them and life is more secure in that section OF the
State. Thinking that the people of Monroe may
profit by the lesson of their neighbors at the SOUTH
we give report Of the execution
OF the trials and conviction OF Wood we need not
speak in detail as all readers are familiar with
what has transpired in the courts. Wood was con
vcted OF the murder of his brothers widow by poi
son, at Dansville, nearly three years snce Prev
iOusy his brother had died and his own wife, all un.
der the symptoms OF poison. At the time OF the
last murder there not sufficient evidence to
"a ut an arrest and nothing was done about the af
fair. Wood sought to sweep from existence a whole
family including two children of his brother, that
he might possess their little property of some of
oh ha had al ms hv af
ries. He nearly accomplished his purpoSe-the
children alone survived-and fled to the West where
he remained in seclusion for about two years. when
as murder will out-facts were obtained 10 war
rant his arrest and he was brought back to answer
He was tried once and the jury failed to agree but
q second trial resulted in his conviction.
After the sentence was pronounced, TO take erect
on the 25th OF June, an effort was made 10 obtain
writ of error on the ground that the crime OF for
gerry was proven the trial, but Judge john
son was firm, and refused the application. Cover
nor King granted respite of two weeks TO Wood,
and that respite ended yesterday with his life OF
the Justice OF the sentence, few If any doubted, al
though Wood persisted in his innocence OF crime
from first to last; but partial confession betrayed
him. and removed from the minds OF ali at The
last moment what doubts they may have enter
tanned.
Wood was man thirty-six years of age, of small
stature weighing only one hundred and ten pounds.
He had a common education, and while resident OF
Dansville he was a member of the Methodist church,
destroying the lives Of his victims. At the time of
his trial he exhibited symptoms of evity and ndiffe-
renee to religion, which led many to suspect his
guilt, and which destroyed all confidence in his sin
Gritty as professor ofTelgon. In time of trial and
great embarrassment the true Christian finds con-
ISOLATION in his faith, and does not then
put aside its profession to resume it when
s sq nases sna 1per aSd w hsy ha as
retired to debe Wood returned TO the Jail with
his brother, who proposed to spend season in
prayer. The prisoner declined, saying 1t was no
time to pray then. From that moment his brother
wavered in his hopes OF innocence, and now, We be-
leve with all his relatives, believes that Wood
q guilty man. We mention this circumstance to
show the character of Wood, and how much his re-
lgious pretensions are worth as well as To explain
the reason why no blood relations attended hm in
his last moments.
When COL Wood, his counsel, communicated TO
the prisoner the fact that he need entertain no
further hope of escape from the dreadful sentence,
he seems to have set himself about the double pur-
pose of putting show of Christian fortitude aud
making people believe that he was prosecuted and
inDoce 1T man. He was advised by his counsel to
call spiritual ad yisers, and he intimated his willing
ness To do 80. He asked COL Wood 10 send him such
a clergyman as he thought would be suitable. Ac-
cordingy Rev. Mr.. Burchmore, rector OF the Epis-
copal church at Geneseo, attended him regularly at
the Jail and to the last moment OF his fe afforded
such spiritual consolation and advice as he could.
Rev. Mr.. Bown, Of Geneseo, and Rev. Mr. Minde-
vile, of Dansvile whose church the prisoner attend
ed while at that place, also called upon him fire.
quenty and the former attended him TO the gtllows
On Tuesday last sister-Mr Clark, OF Lima
called upon Wood, and babe him farewell. She also
left an order with the Sheriff to deliver the body to
an undertaken from Avon, who was to have It
properly inferred The brother Of the prisoner, be-
fore referred TO, resides in New Jersey and at
Dansve yesterday, but did not see the condemned
10 bid him final adieu. Mr.. Barnard, Of Lyonia,
who married a niece OF the prisoner, was present at
the execution. lie, in common with the rest Of the
family, regarded him as a guilty man. Thus de-
serted by all his relatives, who had reason best TO
know his guilt, this wicked man went to his final
account.
On the evening before the execution, by request,
District Attorney Hendee, Sheriff Mccarthy, j.
Kershner, Esq., and two deputies, visited the icon's
room in the jail. He talked OF the crime for which
ne was condemned, and II was supposed that he
was about To make confession. 10 was then that
he volunteered 10 say that he knew that his wife,
brother and brothers wife were killed by poison,
and that an attempt was made TO kill the children
He also knew who the guilty party was, but would
not reveal the name. He said he not the guilty
one.
On Thursday night he was quite calm, and slept
for more thar two hours soundy and quietly, as the
jailor states He spent most oil the morning and the
time up To his last moments with the clergy.
The gallows had been erected, previous to the re
spite in building OF rough boards on the east side
OF and adjoining the jail which was not suitable for
an execution, being OF timber, quite small in size,
aud built at an early day. The building erected Was
about 20 by - feet, and sixteen feet high. The gal
lows frame was post extending to the top OF the
building with grit and cross tic. From the latter
q broad plank extended to the ground, and along
this the fatal weight rose aud fell. The weight
of iron, weighing $40 pounds, and and fell five
and half feet. The weight, when elevated, was
supported by rod and latch upon the plank. and
the latch few out at touch Of the treadle by the
foot Of the sheriff. A rope from the weight
the pules at the top Of the gallows frame and to II
the fatal moose was adjusted, so that when the
weight fell the man jerked about four feet from
the ground, and settled to within two feet again.
All the preparations were made by Sheriff Mccarthy
and his deputies with care and GOODNESS, that all
should pass oil In solemn and becoming manner.
The Jail Is situated in a beautiful grove behind
the court house. Around the jail were posted the
Canaseragas, of Dansville. and the Big Tree Artil-
line of sentries multitude Of six or eight hundred
assembled to get a view of the prisoner as he was
led from the jail to the galows. The people were
quiet and no sound Of revery or rioting, bolster