The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-25
Three Eexcusions in CalIfornia

On Friday, sepembtr 81, James whltford ing Al
San Francisco for the mnrde OF Edward Sheridan Whit
ford native OF Engand, and arrived In California in
1857 on the shp Beau Monde, r. N Liverpool He
carpenter board. Lat fail 20 was employed by Ell
ward sheridan barkeepar q sailors boarding house,
on Chambers street but for Lis services he
ceved his pay, 1ueh he frequently demanded IT, Last
February the erenpg Of the 2lt he csllei the
Last time, dem ,nded hts money, saw Sheridan paying
cut 10 some employees, but could get for himself
On his trial IL WAS proved mat Tntford waited for
Sheridan that night and shot him. When
he was about to be sentenced by Judge Hags august a.
whitford asked for a new trial. BE said, II were
granted him. he would be able prove that WAS the
ycti OF fou conspiracy his life away
The Judge ,od him tia. the jury we're, 80 far IS no
Knew, impartial men, sud be believed he had bad far
trial The evidence had been ~ extent ecamssAn-
tia but sufhcielt 20 convince the jury and they
had reformed verde, Of guilty Aer ut. sentence hs
sglo did for mescy and lid not expect mercy
as roae bad been thowu him eince he came tato the
county.
ridar Ulce be attempted 10 steal some men from
ship The hai Dor, and nearly killed by the
ug HIM areacfally the leI leg which kept him 10 the
Marine tpts Tor several nonths When the snip return
ed 10 san In the OF me- Whtford went
demanded Of the captain that be should pay
him io1 biz suilsr gs OF ime which captain
refusing 10 DO whiord shot nj him twice with pistol,
but mssing bm, nung the w.Ap n into the bay thus
important piece Of evidence and he escaped
eoIyetlop He continaed his career q violence no -
ses .sG ss 10 a s ?:
number OF clergy but be preferred 70 die In Tho
cahole faith Accordingly, Father NasagDotto and tho
He became qeiie resigned 70 death, though 10 said ne
old give up hopes repreve until The night before
Al haf past eleven The jail yard began 10 be occu-
pied by the police, reporters and other parties
invited BY The sterin There were no mi
su6jccl OF rene remark. Altogether not than
the minimum numoer prescrisea ny lag (thsty)-the
ofcors oens excepied-were IN The JAIL yard al any
time curing The aiternool. Policemen guard
The ROOT ~ The jail buie1g, snd one or tso
s,aore ed on the ioos private houses Immediately In
rear 81 the sane although hey did no, preyent Inc lat
tftm being occupied by such men and boys ~ could
nnd m eligible pace o. oessrva,ion thereon
Alta fcw inmates pssttw.ise pain Implanted wooden
cen brou by the rear n,or and placed " the
lett 81 the ra0~s slsps and between the landing OF the
stairs thTou, which IL WAS re4srea Of the
prisoner TO make his last entrance ato sensibe ves
Of this sunlight world OF ours In hicN moments more
the rcpc was adjusted on The beam AZ ABOUT Tea
pa,t tw,ye ooof as the northeastern
oi the yArd oIening through The prison wall
grated on ~ hinges, ~na the saeria, with
1s dsputep, Rev. Fathers Magagrotio and Cot
ter snd The prisoner appeared The spectators gathered
mmsoiaiey ~ the uPpcr cod Of ins yafd, and we're
oep, o. INC s,sps Hc was Supported bytso depu,irs
He looked at his cofa 40 be passed with "a EXPRESSION
that 80 med TO del DO curiosity Alone lie ws preeeisa
stsnt hrs spin taal councillors h took ones step
tue evidsu,iy making demand upon the strength
re, ptrstion med difficult and s,rared Arriving ontns
Of the platform, his exact place on tho trap r
poIted out and be AssCued ~ ~ his psn acc7rd anu
viii ca,ef attention 10 the DIRECTIONS Of the depu,ss
He claspea . crurinx stn both hands. ans uncfr the
LENSES nroos.csd 10 READ the death warrant A. the
Of the ting be ksssd toe cruci1x ON al ~
sections, and voluntarily took GU ne old cap ana
lie said, ssGenlle men. = solemn occasion like the
present you viii not expect me 70 make long orason
l merely wsh 20 hope thsf ,u villa all pray Tor ne, a.
hope % soon pray you In another an better world.
hope that All whom may have injured Ia tns life sli
fcrrve me ss forgive eTcgy ~no has ged
me- To M ,pir,us advisers here Who have oeen kind
enough 10 n ster 10 me the comforts OF religion,
return be heartisl. ,ssass q Dying man; sSa sss
In s,,enearoe upcr since my trial God Bcss 700,
and God have mercy upon me and Joa"
The prisoner then bond BY four shaps-one PASS
Ing rouno his elbo ~s securing them behind, ono
pss.ing round hts hips and holding bis wrss iown
olose BY bis soc one LISTENING We snse sna ,he A
orcnsvy tone u voice. "Jess have mercy Cd me
Then he foo~ed the prayers directed BY the pfiesM
The ssss,an, priest feorcnsiy prnssa the cfamax
20 the doomed mans ips that he might slss
a. Ali vas ready but the csrcisrg u ths ne,-e Ihe
csnyen,,rsly passing Il over she prisoners head,
and was actually passed over before his eyes and
withdrawn four % evs times eefse y could he made 70
the prcscnce q the miserable up The moose 70
required point and their utmost strength " bring
u back. Sometimes II would easily and al oiher
times the noose would BE- Imncvcable The suspense
during period fearful indeed but The torture 70
whnford considerably asvassf by the priests who
spoke him ooosong words and placed 70 his lips FRO
quensly the crucnx 70 airs His attention vas thus 10
great turned from the aGitated efforts OF the o
GERS spp~As thA the rope had been wet sosped, aod
bad swollen considerably, 90 much NO a. 70 prevent s
Slipping readily. me natural trep,dasos q she cr,st
ND sepssiss seewcd 70 delay Ne operation Of removing
dhculty. 1he nth Trial succcssful, ard - the
black cap down Vie poor mAns FACE be took his
nes biss the cvos o. Christ The drc fell instanta
neouly, and eight fret fell james whiHorf the fs,s
ripe A fret there wNs nos NE slightest movement,
thea there general raising II The body, thso shrus
o. ~ sbculdsr, thea raising a shs knees, shca an
osbsr shoulder shrue
n ansea minusss ne man was prouounced dead, aud
N thvty three minutes he wss cut down
TWO MIN Huro m PLACER COUNTY.
On ehe Same day thai Whloyd suffered death IN IAN
rrsaseco, Joseph NJ noLcs end 0saaro Qsnsaro were
hUng Auburn, rnces oosaty, tha ses soe ~ mur fer
q lceeQA nAoMee, q Dutch Ehs Maroa 8. l0eo and ths