The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-04


EarIy-Parfng With HIS Relatives J
Courage .eus Bearing Of the Cuiprit-
M Speech on the G'bbet-
The BungliDg Work Of
the Hangman,
D. &c. 10.
Jarpes Stephens The wife roisoner, W ooee case has
Seen frpn time 70 tims called 70 sna attention of our
vesders from the umerstOn Of the peculiar crcuu-
ssanses that 70 hin arrest the exhv nation Of the body
Of his wife, The chemical analysis trial aud conviction
sxpiated hh crine the gallo rs yesterday morning.
We DO rot propose 70 enter ag into the merits Of the
case, IS gave IN yes'erdays Herald q com.
yendious and succmct repcTt OF the whole case; suffice
4 70 say that the extreme penalty Of the law
No. msted out 70 the oupr by his executioner which
event tcrk place yesterday forenoon At twenty three
minutes before ten O'Clock 10 the jail yard Of the Iombs
prison. Centre street under the direction Of Aish sheriff
John liely, assisted IN this delicate duty by Under
SAerD vuee and corps Of regular and special
shers among the latter were the reporters for
. he press.
PARTING WITH HIS RELATIVES.
The immediate relatives Of the deceased were Mrs.
Hannah, hss:stsr, and two neces. They visited his cel
pr The last time Thursday morning. under strict
vsanee Of the Deputy wardens Of the prison. The tenor
~ to them purely Of aregous character
expressing his innocence Of the charge which resulted in
ssnvctson, and expressing his conviction OF hap
Ssn his forgiveness of his es and desire to depart
manner to prepare for death stating that although he
10 precede them TO another world, the time
hoped 70 meet them in glory They then parted, AFTER
taking last embrace amidst soos and tears from all par
Ties.
she PRISONERS DESIRE TO BE HANGED EARLY.
During Thursday Sheriff Kelly had frequent interviews
with the prisoner, with TO GET possible not only
confession bis crime, but to obtain clue possible,
10 the muderous plot 10 kill the keeper Of the prison. All
these met with i'll success, and he requested
Sheriff Kelly 70 hang him at sx O'Clock in the morning
The Sheriff replied that while he willing and anxious
70 grant every request within Ills power the law specified
the time between the hours Of nine and twelve he
SAcrM be compelled TO carry out US provisions He
would however execute the sentence very soon after
AiBe O'Clock. 49,
THE sMhReoRr THE EXECUTION.
At eleven ocld1 thursday night Rev. Messrs Knapp
md Sinner the ual advisers Of Stephens, ad-
united to his cell, when, after short interview with the
prisoner and performing religious ceremonies the keepers
81 the prison. by order of the Sheriff. allowed him leave
his cell and walk up and down the lower corridor Of the
prison. attended by deputy wardens Finley and Keock.
intervals The prisoner and his attendants returned TO
Me cell Of the former where prayer and singing
conducted at intervals throughout the entire night,
making the prison vocal with the Of the exercscs
cup tea but refused eat any food Al one time be
vas confronted with Shepard, row under sentence OF
relative 70 aSe peculiar shepard could
30 able TO prove his innocence hoped he would reform
meet him in better world. Shepard was then allowed
70 leave his CELL and in company with stephens went 70
The cell Of the latter, where they engaged In prayer.
HIS LAST DAY-BEFoRE THE EXECUTION.
On being Yeconveyed his CELL prayer and singing
resumed till O'Clock when he partook Of breakfast,
sitpg Of cakes and tea Of which he ate quite heartily
On being asked how he felt he said First rate never
better in my Kfe.n The reverend gentlemen then re
sumed the religious exercises which they continued till
the hour arrived for the procession 70 move of towards
Between eight and nine O'Clock yesterday morning, the
Sheriff. with his deputies, with their badges and Of
paced Al the gate Of the prison yard and no persons
we're admtted out those having appointments - special
The shers posse otherwis ordered Tor special du-
took their positions in the preon on the Elm street
na oSer
Almsh0use Governors Oliver, Pnckney, Gunther, and
CoroDers Gamble, schirmer, Jaekman and o Keefe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GALLows.
The ga,ows used this occasion was tie old time
worn looking apparatus which has already served 10
launch into eternity thirteen other criminals, including
Coleman, Donnelly the negro DOrsay and the youthful
cuiprt James Rodgers, who, will be remembered,
convicted Of taking the life Of Mr. John Swanston while
the latter was quietly walking in Tenth avenue in compa
she usual quarter Of the prison yard running along Elm
street. and shut OF from the rest Of the open space inside
the walls Of the Tomss BY large IRON railing, Which,
strong body Of policemen little more than half way
from the entrance 10 this hanging COURT two up
right posts about twenty feet high nailed firmly 10
The heavy walls; and resting the tops OF these posts
a strong beam from the centre OF which dan
ged the murderous hemp, swinging to and fro in the
sharp wind, rs If impatient for its work. Along the
under surface of this cross beam the rope
paced through small iron hooks, until !. reached
lowe, where 1t went downwarde into little enclosure
Of boards, in which the hangman waited b dden from
vew IN readiness to cut the cord at the sherrs signal
mass of iron weighing 300 pounds was fastened to this
end Of the rope SO as to have sufficient force to pull
the body Of the culprt up with . sudden and
jerking violence This simple continuance is thought TO
De most effective In is operations but believe few
those who have been hanged in this have had their
Iecss dsccated with the Jerk and have conseq aenty
and st put in the occasion Of the hanging Of
man, another wife murderer.
MOVING OF THE PROCESSION.
At half past nine precisely the procession formed
Nrrderers corridor and commenced move out slowly
INTO the yard First came Judges Connolly, Kelly and
Steers NEXT the prisoner himself with the black cap on
Ais head and Il sable cloak thrown over his shoulders
supported either side by his spiritual advisers the Rev
Nessrs Knapp and Skinner following these were the
Sheriff. his deputies the jury, surgeons reporters and
others summoned to attend In accordance with the
The procession passed through the gate Of the enclosure
about twenty eight minutes to ten o'clock in the following
Judges Connolly Kelly and Steers.
ne prisoner with the Rev Messrs. Knapp and Skinner
Sheriff Kelly and Deputy Vultee
An NE persons summoned as deputy shcrifs.
DOCTORS Woodward, Coven and simmons.
Reporters and others.
The culprit walked with firm and determined step,
holding his head downward, with his eyes nteny fixed
On the ground There seemed to be IN his look, while
- This position singular vacancy and want Of expires
sion or feeling of any kind Whatever, which the phys
pale and boodleee but the most scruinizng eye could
rot detect in the fantest Of afcrpg apprehen
eon neither could there be observed in his limbs that
aght quiyerrg and tremor which have been known 70
4verpower the storteet mails while approaching