Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-05-19
Hanging a Man Twice-.Rev0lt.
ing Scene.

Hanging a Man TWice..RevOlt.
ing Scene.
Michael McNamee was executed at Chi
cago on the 9th for the murder of his
wife. He confessed the killing, but claimed
that he did not hold himself guilty of
murder, that be was so drunk tina. be had
los, the use Of bis reason, and knew not
what he was doing. He expressed grea.
contrition for the deed, and met bis fate
with religious resignation. A few hours
before the execution, the sacrament was ad-
ministered to him by Rev. Father McMul-
len.
A sister of McNamee came on from
Philadelphia TO solace her brother during
bis last hours, and to take care of his two
ophaned children, an interesting little boy
and girl. They win accompany her to Phila-
delphia. OF the last interview of the Sis
ter and brother the Chicago Herald says;
Day before yesterday his sister visited
him, and the interview was one which
would soften heart of flint. The,woman
was in very paroxysms of grief, and her
sobs and mourning could be heard through
out the entire Jail. She hung upon her
brothers shoulders with all the tenacious
ness sisters heart could develop. His
little son, bright boy of six years of age,
little Andrew, as he is called, who became
somewhat notorious by being present at his
fathers trial, also was present to bid adieu
to his parent. His fond caresses and en-
dearing talk while with his father formed
a scene which would make the stoutest
heart finch. The little fellow had no idea
what was to take place, but seemed to
know something dreadful was about to
happen. The bolts and bars, the presence
of the priest, and the conduct of his aunt,
created a mystery in bis juvenile mind,
which, to the looksr-on, showed intense
grief.
The sister brought with her garment,
which she had fabricated with her own
hands, in which she wished her brother
clad when be took bis last view of this
world. 1t was made of dark colored cloth
and in form modelled after a loose gown,
trimmed with white fringe, and q short
apron, upon which were worked the letters
al. II. S"
The execution was within the jail under
the new law of Illinois, in the presence of
some twenty witnesses. The Tribune thus
describes the revolving scene of twice hang
ing the miserable McNamee:
The mode of adjusting the fatal moose
is known as the French method. To pre-
vent Just what subsequently occurred, the
slipping of the knot, thus substituting
slower strangulation for the instant by the
of the neck, the cord about the
neck is exchanged for thick, double,
sewed belt of leather, nearly a hands
breadth wide, of length little less than tbs
of the neck. In the snds
are eyelets through which the rope passes.
Thus stiff collar is made which renders
dislocation inevitable. The collar used
yesterday was the same used at the execu-
lion of Staub. 1t was adjusted to the
neck of McNamee, his hands were bound,
he black cap drawn over his eyes, he
stands upon the fatal trap, the clergy re-
peat the prayers of the church, and while
n the utterance of ssOur Father which art
n Heaven the drop falls, the bound frame
,f the condemned wretch falls distance
If eight full feet upon the straining cord;
t holds, but horrible to relate, the collar
parts at the eyelet and the victim falls
heavily fifteen feet upon the floor Of the
all basement. A cry of horror escapes
he spectators. There is no movement of
life in the black robed and hooded body.
Officers Brady, and Palmer, and Kennedy,
and Greene, raise it, and bear it to the
head of the stairs, before the first symp-
Ioms of consciousness on the part of Nc
Nance are discovered.
The hood was removed, and under the
excitement of that awful hour the bruises
If fall. at another time no light affair,
we're probably znfelt by the wretched man.
1e was asked, "Can you stand alonei"
md probably misunderstanding the ques-
ion, answered, "Yes, | can stand that and
vice that.ns Is q
The rope was then re adjusted, this time
he usual moose. The priests take their
,osition at his side, he bids them sgain
dieu, and at given signal the -clang of
he falling trap, the rush of the descend
ng body, and the sharp twang of the
cord, and the struggling frame
f McNamee was suspended in the air.
By some misadjustment, the second time
be knot slipped aside, and the neck was
ot broken. When the body had hung
,urteen minutes the heart circulation was
till apparent though faint. The strug-
les of the expiring wretch continued for
ONE minutes. ....