The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-03
Execution Of William Fee, in Lyons,
Wayne County, N. Y.
From the Rochester Union, March "a. !

Yesterday afternoon VIM. Fec, who vas convicted OF
the murder Of unknown woman, paid the penalty OF
bis crime the gallows at Lyons The murder was
committed Oh Sunday, the 25h Of Sepenper last
town of Gslen The victim, female OF IS years or more
was ira cling along a highway not much frequentod
with her satche Ia hand, ana doubt in Of
employment Fee pursued avowiug thar he woud "a
her, and declaring that big purpose Should be pshed
at the cost Of NE 1t accomplished and repeat
ed and subsequently, the leiess body the poor woman
was found where he left IT, with finger marks upon her
throat indicating that she had died from strauguaiion
Fee ravished tbis wsan, and for that deserved
death yet the law FOR that crime alone would condemn
him TO The eaows Fee denied that he committed
The assault upon the woman, but declared that he did
kil her. He Has attended on that Sundny by Thomas
Muldoon who jointly indicted with Linn for MUIR
der, and low awaits trial. s'
Fee resided Lock Pit mile Or moro from the scene
OF the murder, had been employed q laborer on
the canal work He had father cihec two or three
brothers His conduct bad ard he for three or
four years, since the family have resided there the
terror Of all who knew him, and bis relatives do bsar
favorable character. Ore OF bus brothers now en-
der indictment for assault aud battery Zee was about
twenty three years old and bad resided this country
-ior sixteen years, he being al native u ireland
rs soon as became Enown that mirder had been
committed on the ighsay Pee and yuIdoon fed, but
York and The leter IN ,ermsr m New
20 trial e oyer and Tel miner for Way ae held iii Fe
ruary, by Judge Knox, and cpnviotsd He ably
DEFENDED. and tod that MS ather spent 81 900
bis efforts Lis Sentence passed 70 take
eilfct the 23d of March. ---r
1t lot III the present week, we understand, that
The Brai answer was obtsioed deprived of all
hope Of repgeve, II indeed he fully nere OF IT,
He has never manifested any degree Of psnissnee, while
trte Of religious feeling The last day two, and
even then he scftened ct sufficiently
warrant hope that be was condition % die. He
not had religious educston his mother ID Catholic,
and his father bitter opponent OK tzt faith and, amid
her the boys appear to have gole
without any religious guides Up TO two days of
the execution tie young man declared himself TO be
Protestant He Was Waited By number Of ciergynen
OF different denominations from time time but yney
made no impression upon him that at all satisfactory
AT ereth his mother, who deeply attached TO him.
conquered tie opposition Of her son after having con-
ILLUSTRATIONS Of Father Constance, OF clyde. Father
Casey, Palmyra father mother and o,oters OF
the prisoner took final leave OF him on Thursday The
parting was IN affecting one az between Tue mother and
her {.
During Thursday Fee appeared to be quite cheerful and
was inclined 10 treat the approaching lightly He
ioked with the sheriff when he asked him try new
ara when told ne would be- be replied 81 stiall be
dressed up and ready TO travel and viii go down iowa
about hapsst four 10 morrow. A; The hour he AIMED
yesterday Lis mortal remains in colin driven east
ward from Lyons toward The home Of his parents 4
until near twelve He was cheerful Ia the eyenSs snd
even tod stories to lehtan the hours they passed
away When he laid down to rest, hs slept souudly till
near day light lie then and dressed himself for the
last time as spiritual advisers calsd uoon him early
ana remained with him 10 the last Abou. zine clock
The prsouef partook OF he holy sacramento we do
not that be made auy confession OF his guilt to
the priests Iii attendance upon him oa4 1
On the morning Of the execution Mrs Fee desired 10 see
her again but he would lot u tho meeting
as be feared that he would be broken ia courage to
90 through with the terrible ordeal approaching 90
The gallowg erected in one Of be small halls Of the
jail, into Which not mte than fifty sixty persons could
be admitted so to see the prisoner rhe gaiows was
formed OF scaDtlng, with four upright posts twelve feet
high, and i've feet apart Across the top oak
At The front end above the prisoner was 10 stand
was gooved wheel or putty and another inserted
in TIE timber over the centre Of the frame, The msip
rope ran these rollers falling In front 10
which the halter was attached the other dropping to the
centre of the gaiows frame whore heavy weighs were
attached. These weights, in all 254 pounds, sus
pended by email cord passing through the main timber
above and over tito PIN The weights had fall OF per-
bsps eight feet When the cord severed by blow
Of the the weights fell and ierked the main rome run
ming over the grooved wheels In order there should
be failure Sher Snedaker had The gallogs mt nm in
the Jail "
Deputy Nottingham then read the death wa-ran, in
loud and clear tone While the Iesiinx was gong on tho
prisoner stood erect, supported by depues swayinx
backwards and forgards, as if undergoing great mental
agilatou and kept bs attention chiefly directed to the
crucix which be held in his lett hand In his right hand
was white handkerchief and both articles be clatched
hinlyy even after the vital spark had fed. y us
ham said ----,r.-.- ~
William Fee the time has arrived TO put this sentence
into execution. Have you any thing 70 says 50, you
nave now an Opportunity TO say whatyou wish.
Yes, sur. Ii ia for the murder Of tnis woman am
here to die am not guilty. die innocent Of the
der. give my best respects to Mr. Sneaker and Mrs.
ady Clark o he turkey perfect psp
man. he has Used me wen since have been here. Ny
enemies in tins wcfle parton with The greatest pleasure
and forgive Them as hope God will forgive me-
Fee thsn took seat Ia the chair assigned him. ths
priests tneeed in front Of biD and Father Constance road
prayer, which the condemned repeated after him ~
sentences Ia audible toue and VIZ much promp,ness
All this time swayirg motion backwards and forwards
was noticed Attic cose Of the prayer Fee rose and was
asked he had anything further to say2 49,
He replied 81 have word more TO say. hope that
my parents viii not throw any reflection UPON nv mart
ner, Tom Mucoon, when am gone. There will bs M
reflection upon him--inat my felix's will throw no resc
flon.n ~ sS
HE arms were then pnioued with strap. While this
was ue'ng DONE he remarked, az in answer TO some
question about The strap, 81 don't know how FAR do n IL
W lie then cast az eye upward and looked at the rope
aud halter Tie halter was the used for the execu
ton OF Ira stout In this city, borrowed for this occasion
~ tbs point IN The proceedings District Attorney
net er Hsed the prisoner what he meant speaking Of
he meant to say that Mudoon was in
nccenu His answer eyes, they must not blame him
foi me being IN bis company Col bless the whole OF
yees boys That's all have to sayi"
TIE cap then drawn over his face and the halter
adjusted 20 his neck. While the batter being pu;
Fec said "Put right be done by and hy.v