The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-31
THK EXECUTION YESTERDAY.

Of Dennis MeHenry-Ths Hight Before The
Execution Scenes ut Tho SsalFsld-Spoosh
Of The CsIprlt- appearance and Han.
ner Before Death,
~, ks.s -.
John Crmnins, the unfortunate naa whs in the msnth
Of october last tssk the lfo II Dessis MoEosry Was
hanged yesterday morning twelve minutes after nias
O'Clock in tho prison yard Of tho TOmbs Tho case q
Crinmins has not oooasoned much interest in tho pubic
mind, owing 70 the fact that there was nothing extra
ordinary The circumstances connected with the sad
ARRAY which terminated In the death Of koHenry.
The quarrel bstweea the prisoner and McHcnry orisi
Ated u believed, some scandals oirculsted by The
at,ee rejecting tho good character OF the formers
lite. McHenry also owed Crimmins Some small amount
Of oaey about tho payment Of which there had been
misunderstanding. Crimmins kept grocery and liquor
store in Peu street, Mott, aad had forbidden Nc
Henry visiting his place. Nevertheless, the 10Th Of
October the latter company with four Ave scquan-
tances, went TO the prisoners store and commenced
70 drink While they thus occupied Orimmins
came in, and almost Immediately an altsrcasioa
sprapg up, McHenry refusing to leave tina store
until hs settled for what he owed. The result u
told In . few words Crimmns retired 70 . room
of the sore procured sword bsyonet, rushed out aer
McFeury and overtking him. abbed him three times
In the back chest and thigh proper to state, with
going deeply into Details that tho conduct Of McHenry
had previously been In tho highest degree provocative
and 1t not until Crmmns had been ,ited and
gered almost beyond endurance, that he committed the
deed for which he yesterday forfeited his life.
Though little publicity has been givea to this oAso,
and the public do no. appear to have boon much interest
ed In the cuprits fate still very great efforts have beea
made the part Of his relatives, friends and
induce Governor Morgan TO commute the sentence But
all in vain; the Executive firmly wi,hstood all prayers
for pardon, preferrng to let the law take its
gular COURSE Notwithstanding that tho jury who con-
victed the man. strongly recommended him to mercy,
and even Judge ngraham n,eroeded In his behalf Ever
since his confinement he has conducted himself in man.
ner which won for him the good wishes Of every one
But ill within few days ago. when the result of the in
terview with Governor Morgan made known TO him.
he seemed 10 entertain tho greatest hopes that he would
not suffer the extreme penalty Of the law, and that his
sentence would be changed to imprisonment for e Tho
disappointment therefore the terrible, and ap
peared to come upon him with crushing weight, which
threatened at first 70 completely him. Through the
good Offices however, of his spiritual advisers tho Rev.
Fathers DuranQue, Mignard and Sanguinetti, he WAS
finally brought to state OF the most remarkable resgna
ton, and expressed himself fully prepared to die.
THE CULPRlT TAKING FAREWELL OF HIS WIFE AND
CHILDREN.
Early Thursday his poor heartbroken wife and Two
little children in attendance upon him, and spent
the whole day with him In prayer and aGeouona,e dis
Tho wre,ched wife and mother inconsolable
and the prisoner himself, though firm and determine cd
otherwise, frequently overcome and wept copiously
Between and O'Clock the time arrived for sepa
ration. Crimmins had evidently nerved himself for tho
occasion, and by violent effort kept himself from
ternal exhibition Of emotion. But his faithful loving wife
frantic In her grief In the last embrace she wept
and wept IL her crushed heart would break
with the greatest difficulty that tho good Father Duran
quet prevailed upon her 70 calm herself and relinqush
the clasp around the neck Of tho prisoner Tho latter
spoke little; in fact merely artcua.ed "Farewell," in
yemulous voice. returned the embrace of his wife,
kissed her again and again, and then bade adieu 70 tho
two children-one baby only about year Old and the
other five years and few months. The long last look
with which he gazed after his weeping wife she le the
cell with the two little ones and tho subdued mournfu
Of the latter, touched the hearts Of ali who
presont
After this trying scene was the prisoner became
composed than ever, and turned his thoughts
tirely the consideration of eternity. He made
fess!on Father Dnrananet. and allowed indi-
cations Of tho profoundest penitence. The tms
until midnight was spent in prayer and
communion with his spiritual advisers, the Raw Fs4hers
Duranquet, MignArd and Sanguinetu, Roman Catholic
priests. frequently he walked up and down the corn-
der epeasrg kind words 10 his keepers, Mess. Fnay,
Cunppeh ham and Kellogg, to whom he expressed himself
grateful for the kindness they had uniformly shown him
He also visited few OF the prisoners and held
saton with Mortimer Shay, who is sentenced To be
cued shortly for somewhat similar murder. He babe
the latter to prepare meet his fate Christian, and
hoped that be would meet him in heaven.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXECUTION.
About twelve O'Clock Captain Bowling arrived with q
teegraphc despatch from Governor Morgan to
a petition which Mr. Kelly, the Sheriff. had sent in
behalf Of the prisoner Captain Bowling announced
that all hope gone, the Governor having
for the last time refused commute the sentence. The
prisoner took the composedly. remarkng that he
bad expected much and therefore prepared 70 die
He thanked Captain Bowling for his Efforts and handed
him the following letter, which be desired TO have pub
lnhed:-
CRY PRISON, March g. 1850.
Ny good friend think my duty before depart from
this lie to my gratitude 70 you for the int
ress,0r have taken in my osnan God bless you for
left undone by the good men who Interested
themselves in my behalf ! die with my best
wishes to the good people OF New York; for l
have more friendship since have been in prison
than ever before So now, dear friend, fully
resigned to the will Of the Almighty. know am
ing broken hearted wife and children after me; but
the will Of the Lord must be DONE l am we'll fortified in
spiritual matters through tho good priest and the good
Sisters have received great consolation from them May
God epare them to the poor prsone for they very
kind indeed And now, dear friend, take my leave Of
you all the kind people who interested themselves in
my behalf May God bless you all. Good bye, Captain
Your well wsher, JOHN CRIMAINS
Atseven O'Clock yesterday morning mas was celebrated
by Father Dursnquet the chapel Of the female prison
The prisoner received the Holy Communion with tho
greatest devotion, and at the conclusion OF the
tired to his cell to await the summons of the Sheriff
THE PROCESSION
Started from the cell Of the condemned at minutes
past nine O'Clock in the following order
Sheriff Kelly.
The culprt, supported by the under Sheriff and Father
Duranquet
Officiating clergy Fathers Mgnard and Sanguinctu