The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-13
EXECUTION OF M,MAHoS AT NEWARK.


EXECUTION OF M'MiH0y AT NEWARK.
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Execution OF James Mcmahon for the Murder
Of HIS sister.in-Law, Ann McMahOn--
Full Particulars Concerning the Muir
dar-FBis Escape-Intcresting Particulars
or His Arrest MT Iilinoistown-The Singu-
lar Conduct Of the Accused During His Tri-
al-Tzis Alleged ConfsssiOn 70 His Sister
Descl iption OF the Prisoner-His Conduct
Since HIS ConvictioM--stolcal Indifference
Curious Data OF the Physical Phenomena or
the Death, &C., sc.
Yesterday forenoon at II u o'clock James McMahon for
feed his life the gaows the county jail yard in the
city ofNewark New Jersey the murder of his sstern
law, Ann ScMahon, that city, the night Of the 10th
of September, 1868. tfte ta
The murder evidently cool and premeditaed ono,
and the fact became known the public mind was
shocked to the fullest extent The circumstances attend
ing this horrible tragedy foowst appears that
Ann McMahon sister law to the murderer, residing in
Chambers street, left her home during the latter part Of
the afternoon, and called upon intimate acquaintance
named Kurtzendofer, living at No. 80 in the same
street, where she agreed to meet her husband,
who in the morning came TO this city, where
he remained during the day. Two hours were
spent in friendly conversation, after which she
having business outside Of the house, went ou followed
by Mrs Mcmahon, who, on gaining the hall way, went
towards the front door, and when passing out two
shots fired in rapid succession both taking effect
She Immediately called for help and staggered back into
the room and foil to the floor corpse SO close was the
weapon when the pistol discharged that her face was
badly burned also the upper part of her DRESS
AS the inmates OF the house became acquainted
with the fact cry Of murder'' raised and in few
minutes large number of spectators arrived and sur
rounded the house. The greatest excitement prevailed and
all sorts Of questions asked 10 who committed the
bloody Decd but nobody appeared TO know Coroner Gro
Immediately notified and arriving in the room
commenced to examine the body and found that one
entered below and had passed through
the head, coming out Of the right cheek shaterng the
jaw bone. The other had grazcd the left arm psne-
trating the chest and heart making an ugly wound,
Either would have been sufficient cause instant DEATH
Information Of the affair was aso given to the Chief Of
the ecene Of the murder, and made thorough search
through the bouse and the adjoining houses vicinity
young GIRL residing opposite, that she had seen man
with pistol during the early part Of the evening the
neghborhood, who had subsequently disappeared. He
was also seen by several gentlemen, but was not
recognized. The Coroner in the meantime summoned
jury Of twelve men, and proceeded to view the body and
premises The body lay in the where deceased had
died, and presented horrd appearance. The car
pet was saturated with the brain and blood of
ns s woasa w ss we' the SS
adjourned the inquest until the next morning, when
Mrs. Kurtzcndoier stated that sho had McMahon
standing outside the fence adjoining the house just previ
ous to the murder that he fired the pistol then jumped
the fence and followed deceased into the entry way
fred again when she fell dead. Mcmahon then ran down
the yard and scaled the fence, and this city and
called upon his brother, in Tenth avenue. The next
afternoon he prpccedcd in the boat Albany acconpa-
MED by his brother Philip McMahon and thence the
proceeded West i1i3.t --...-,.----....
Meanwhile every effort was made by the Chief Of Police
rk tn bfipC tho mn IN
to this city and secured the services OF two police officers
and visited the residence Of his brother Tenth avenue
ly expected that Rhiip Mcmahon, who had left wife
and child in this city aud who criminal. would
city of Newark, having obtained a permit from
PSst%aster a Fowler was Stationed e i" pssss p a
me arrival Of the mail from the West Oh Tuesday,
October s. letter discovered directed to relative
Of the frgves, and in James McMahons writing. IL was
at taken in possession and from It's contents was
ascerta!ned that the parties in noIstown, st.
Clair county, H.; that they in good health and
wanted their friends to keep STILL also that Mcmahon
st. Louis and was without signature The Chief Of po
lice of Newark acting upon this information, started oil
TO St. Louis, accompanied by officer who WIS well &C
quanted with Mcmahon, and reached there ON Sunday
morning, October g. The Chief remained In st Louis and
despatched the officer to Inostown TO watch the Post
Office, TO see who called for letter for Reilly. Finally
the Chief went TO Inoistown disguised, and on the
following Wednesday learned that letter for Reilly
had been asked for, and was shown the house where
the applicant lived IT was occupied by a large num-
bcr Of Irish laborers who were at work on a rail-
road. The Chief and the officer at O'Clock the next
morning. went to the place and watched for the appear
ance OF the men as they went to work. and soon after
Mcmahon appeared with the others, and was instantly
taken in custody The afternoon the officers having
previously secured him with manaces started for Newark
where they arrived on Saturday, October 49, and lodged
petely astonshed his arrest but made resistance
He appeared calm and collected, and made remarks
concerning the awful crime with which he charged
The Grand Jury OF the county found bill of indict-
ment against him, and on the morning or the 8h OF No
vember he arragned before the Court Of Oyer and
countrymen, and sentenced by Judge anes to be exc
cuted on the 18th of January, 1852 Immediately after
the sentence was pronounced Mcmahon and said
~ have not had justice done The witnesses against
me were all bad characters, and all brought
up TO against was tried and convicted before
Jersey, but if he had been tried New York he wouli
have been acquitted Throughout the trial he manifested
cold Indifference as to his fate and oked with the of
GERS about the probability Of the result.
On the 10th day Of November an application was made
by his counsel to the Chancellor Of the State for new
trial. and after argument of counsel on both Sides the
Chancellor refused to interfere During his incarceration
In prison he has been cheerful, and appeared duly
cerned and sensible Of his position the day Of his
cution approached His time has been occupied in read
ing religious books furnished him by his adviser, Rev. b.
McQuaid, pastor Of St. Patrick's cathedral who daily
administered the rites of the Roman Catholic church 70
On Monday last his mother and sister called upon
him IN his cell, and brought with them seye-
need. They also furnished him With pair OF
light slippers, when he remarked 10 his sister, 'she
ought 10 have brought him pair Of boots, he could
have worn them during the execution and they being
heavier it would tend to shorten his DEATH Tuesday
evening they called for the last tme and informed
heartrendng scene ensued before they left Mcmahon
admitted having killed bis sister because she hateful
TO him. Tam, however, informed from another
that he always denied having taken the lie Of the unor
tun6te woman.
During the past week the Sheriff and his deputies have
been busiiy engaged In making preparations, as to
make the execution of smoothly possible. Tho
execution of Low in 1sf2, and in the year sr for the
ecuon oil John krpstcn for the poisoning OF his wife, 1t
was erected at the southcry end OF tho La directly op
rossc the passage way which led to the ccDdemned cell
A hafpas tcs O'Clock the large hall crowded. there
being nearly 900 persons present, who had been fur
nshed with passes from tho freehoders the most Of
whom tried 10 gain access 10 the cell Of the ps0lscr but
wercTeiused by the officers For two days previous 30
the execution McMahon complained OF being quite uuwe
but bis sickness was not OF serious nature. Tuesday
evening he retired quite early and after getting up this
morning. remarked 10 the keeper that he md
loved moro comfortable slann In his lc