New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-09
THE EXECUTION.

THE EXECUTION.
FREEHOLD, Jan. 3, 1853.
Although under the influence Of powerful doses of
morphine, DOnnelly could not sleep last night. The
anodyne however, prevented return of the Paintings
and spasms and he rested most of the time compare
lively tranquil About o'clock this morning he fell
into slunber, from which he did not awaken until
after 8, when the priests arrived, aud he was aroused
to attend to his religious exercises. He taken TO
the keepers apartment where High Mass was per-
formed by the Rev. DIR. Cummings of New-iork,
assisted By the Rev. Fathers Young of Princeton,
Jocklyn of the Rcdemporst Fathers in Third street,
and Ducbtt of Fordham
Aiter receiving the Holy Sacrament, he manifested
surprising fortitude and talked with his relatives and
others around him quite cheerfully. i understand
that he had written a long statement duplicating
various persons in the crime for which he is about to
suffer but by the advice of his friends he destroyed
If. His spiritua advisers as well as his friends con-
suited him TO say but little on the scaffold, but he
seems determined to have his way in the matter
About 10 o'clock he descended to the prison work.
room and walked TO and fro for nearly All hour with
his brOther-n-law.
Mr. Van Doren the ialorl and his wife took leave
Of him. when he thanked them for their many kind
nesses TO him. To Dir. Van DOren he said: Good
"bv God bless You, old man; you have behaved like
father TO NE since have been here. All, well do
IL remember how you would come TO my cell door
and weep my sad fate" The stern old Jaller
gave way to his feelings, and left the ROOM Subse-
ouenty DOnnelly signed paper eXonerating linn aud
his family and every person in the PRISON, from all
completely in his escape, and added - did 1t all my
self, and if my friends had not failed he that night
should not to-day have been here: would moi have
trusted any mau in New-Jersey that night An old
10, ~. hair u1o al way
hi. shoulders, approached the young man, and taking
him by the hand, fervently exclaimed, in accents
broken with age and emotion: "My young friend,
GOD bless you, and give you strength in your dying
"hours; remember that Christ even the chief
"of sinners Put your trust in him, and he will sus-
tain YOU" Tie poor fellow sobbed his thanks and
turned away.
Willie Donnelly was sitting in the iailorS room, con-
versng with the clergyman, crowd OF rough fellows
climbed from tie street TO the top of the wall OF the
iai and sat there knocking their heels together, and
chatted and laughed about tho execution as they
looked through the little window and commented on
the prisoner appearance and the shape OF the gaows.
This lasted for nearly half al hour their remarks being
perfectly audible where / sat- when the Sheriff sent
some of the militia around and drOye them of.
Soon after II o'clock Donncly retired to his cell,
and attended 10 his toilet with scrupuous nicely His
hair was brushed with the ncBs precision and he care
fully busted his coat then he partoek OF little
brandy having tasted food snce tho previous even
ing, and walked around the prison in company with
Dr. FineI, and babe each of his fellow prisoners
cheerful farewell. lie warned them to seek the paths
of virtue and TO take warning by bis untimely end AS
he reached the door of one cell, in which woman was
confined her little child isped out Papa, Papa" and
an old negro bubbered ont in the most violent manner
when he babe him good-by. Then retnteriug his cell,
he engaged in prayer with the cergymen and con-
nued with them until the Sheriff came at ten minutes
before II, to announce that his hour had arrived.
then went into the yard and took station near the
gallows. There about hundred spectators in
the yard but outside theynumbered several thousands
All the trees and buildings commanding glimpse OF
the galows were crowded and the angry strife OF the
crowd for the best places could be heard distinctly by
every one in the yard. In fact the umu became 50
great that towards the close the prisoner words Were
scarcely audible 10 those around him.
few minutes before noon the procession emerged
from the side door of the jail into the yard The
Sheriff came first supported by his his Deputy Tie
evidently very much disiked the duty which the law
had imposed upon him. Then came Dcnnelly sup
ported by the clergy reading the service for the dead
Tie doomed man was bare headed, and neatly attired
III piack' lie Waheu nIm! 10 INC Sal'"'' ~ -V
upon the PLATFORM without assistance; but his face
was banched, and his eyes red from weeping. Turn
| ing 10 the assemblage, atera few moments spent IN
Devotion he addressed them in clear finn voice, in
| the following words:
| To my friends around me, 10 my friends - Ner-
Jersey, 10 an friends IN N6c- York. az BH6dio, and IN
mg or" orcd home, lldshiHgtoa address these pass
| '"g ,coTds; Long ere my dying words shall have
| reached them, poor Donnely will have Dreathed on
sarth ms last breath and all that remains of him will
be the cold clay feel that here surrounded by the
ministers OF Justice, by my friends the military dis
| play, brought ont, that the inevitable DEGREES
| OF called justice, are about to be carried out.
| And, therefore, L feel that l stand upon ground
| cousecrated to justice When l look lback with
| in my own soul; when reflect upon my position;
when reflect upon those who to-day gather around
| me-upon my old schoohnates. my old friends miles
! and miles when reflect that in few minutes more
slal stand before the judgment Seat Of God there
10 receive The reward or punishment OF deed, done in