The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-05-17
Horrible Burgling at In Execution Ia

Horrible Burgling at IN Execution La
Chicago.
The execution of McNamee, for the mur-
der of his wife, took plsce at Chicago on
Friday last. The Press and Tribune, gives
the following account of the shocking scene,
made doubly horrible by the awkwardness
of those appointed to super intend il:
The mode of adjusting the fatal moose is
known as the French method. To pre-
vent just what subsequently occurred, tn"
slipping of the knot, thus substituting slow
er strangulqtion for the instant cath by
dislocation Of the neck, the cord about the
neck is exchanged or thick, double, sewed
belt of leather, nearly hands breadth
wide, Of length little less than the cir
cumference of the neck. In the ends are
eyelets through which the rope passes.-
l hus a stiff collar is made which renders
dislocaiion inevitable. The collar used yes
terday was the same used at the EXECUTION
of Staub. 1t was adjusted to the neck Of
McNamec, his hands were bound, the eack
cap drawn over his eyes, he stands upon
the fatal trap, the clergy repeat the pray
ers Of the church, and while in the utter
ance of "Our Father, which art in Hea
ven," the drop falls, the bound frame Of
the condemned wr tch descnds distance
of eight full feet upon the straining cord +,
it holds, but horrible to relate, the collar
parts at the eylet, and the victim falls
heavily fifteen feet upon the floor of the
Jail basement. A Cry of horror escapes
the spectators. There is movement Of life
IN the black and hooded body. Officers
Bradley, and Palmer, and Kcanedy, and
Greene, raised it, bore it to the heal If the
stairs. before the first symptoms Of consci.
BUSINESS on the part of McNanee are no.
ticed
The hood is removed, and under the ex-
element of that awful hour the bruises of
IA fall--a another time n" light affair
were pIobab y untelt by the wretched man
He was asked, "can you stand alone -
and probably misunderstanding the qu"s
ton, answered. ayes, | can stand that,
and twice that"
The rope was then re-adjusted, this time
the usual moose. The priests take their
position at his side. lie bids them again a.
dieu, and at given signal the clang Of
the falling trap, the rush of the descending
body, and the sharp twang of the straigh-
tened cord, and the struggling frame Of
McNamee was suspended in the air.
By some misadiustnent this second time
the knot slipped aside and the neck was
not broken. When the body had hung
fourteen minutes the heart circulation was
still apparent, though faint. The struggles
of tue expiring wretch continued for some
minutes. We have no mind to incur the
charge of persuing that Officer with vim
dictivc spirit by any comment of ours on
Sheriff Gray's management Of the execu.
ton Of poor McNa nee. That it was bad
ly conducted, and thus from these mistakes
gathered horrors new aud needless even to
the galows, we submit for the verdict of
our reaners,
The drop fell for the second time at ten
minutes past three o'clock lifcless re.
mains were cut down at ten minutes before
four P. NJ. They were placed in black
walnut coffin and delivered to his sister,
A little later hearse was driven into the
Court House Square, and the remains Of
poor McSamee were borne away from the
scene of so much terror, even as he has pas
sed from the presence, though not from
the remembrance, Of his fellow.men.