New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-31
EXECUTION or JOHN CRIMMIES.

peryisorE Of the county, number OF medical gentle
men p,estp friends ofbe deceased, and selected few
whom curiosity led to the spot The time Of Tie hang
ire was fixed between the hours of and ", bat toe
prisoner, after oil hope of reprieve had left bin, wa
anxious that should be with as early as possible
and bis with wss granted His last hopes were diss
pated by receiving telegram from Albany at . g. m
Stair that the Governor had peTemptory refuses 70
take any action in bis behalf.
We have already laid before readers the fill
facts ard history Of this mans trial, and the efforts
made to procure pardon Nothing remains, therefore,
but NJ review the circumstances of the crime as 1t was
committed and to chronicle the incidents of the unfor-
tunate end to which it has brought him. Various are
the opinions expressed in the street. and by those
whose attention has been given 70 the matter as to the
meIitf of the prisoners.crime.
It is thought by many that bis Lot exceeded the
measure of Justice meted ont to the larger portion of
boso Tho are in the habit in this city of making free
use of knives and pistols upon the persons Of their
neil hbors with or without provocaion. But people
who al familiar with the reckless and common use Of
deadly weapons among certain classes of our night
wandering, saloon euentDg population, and the fire.
Quent fatal mshaps to those not concerned in the
least bIameable think differently and are of the opn
WV NNe'A.-G
more than bis due.
The facts of the case are briefly these: MbHenry
tered the liouorstore of Crimins with several friends
and after they had been drinking tire together
Crimmins came in. Recognizing McHerry, with
whom he was at enmty he told the bar keeper to sell
BIN no more liquor and ordered him to leave. Nc
Henry, in reply, made use of offensive and abusive
language toward CriumiDs and his wife, when, as be
la L.. ..lk
after him.
McHenry, upon gaining the street, threw
stone or stones through the windows of the house,
when Crimmine, rushing into rear room, seized
bayoneed musket, and with this weapon pursued
McHeDry through the street. stsbbing bin once as ne
fed. The wounded man stumbled aud fell and then
Crimnins stabbed him thrice again he Lay upon the
ground, using, according to the physicians who en-
amined the wounds, much physical force in infiCting
them. This the Jury called MURDER for this the Judge
sentenced him TO be hung, and the Governor did not
ind upon review of the case, circumstances sufi-
GENTLY extenuating to warrant his interference with
the course Of the law.
On Thursday night, before the execution, Crimmins
did not retire until midnight, being attended by his
priest and exclusively exercised to matters
ing snotber world Not even his wife was with him,
as he desired to think nothing of matters CT this world
nor to be troubled by anything that would draw his
ate ntion from what most important for him to
consider. He took cup of tea at about IL o'clock, and
appeared to be in an easy and unexced condition of
mind. he spoke little. When the final telegram ar
rived from Albany, fixing his doom beyond the power
Of change he simply remarked rather bitterly, that he
thought the Governor might have extended mercy
toward him. He supposed however that it was all
right.
His manner was firm, though concerned and he APP
peared resolved to meet his fate ike man. BE was
attended during the night by Keepers Finley and ke
logg, and two Deputy Sheriff. who were relieved at
O'Clock by two others. His sleep was calm and un-
disturbed. AT o'clock he awoke, and shortly after
ward took sparing breakfast. None were admitted
to bis cell but his spiritual advisers and the few hours
of the morning were spent principally in devotional
exercses. He visited by Ills wife, ard, after a
private interview, bado hor aaootonAte aiiAn aud
she left the prison with her friepds.
As the time of the execution approached, crowd
gathered about the eide entrance to the Tombs and
policemen from several adjoining PRECINCTS in large
numbers were brought in and stationed in single fle
around the central edifce in which the prisoner
confined. The Board of Supervisors and the Sherifk
were together inside awaiting the hour around the
SSSA4
erected the day before. 1t was the galows used in
the execution of Saul, Hewlett Hosr, Rodgers, Sse-
phens and others, this being the twelfth hanging fer
which it has answered. The spot was the same, the
secluded and gloomy " Hangman's Alley
Against the wall running along Elm street was
an incoture of rough boards in which the executorer
stood AK in hand ready to catch the signal of the
Sheriff.
At 20 minutes past 8, the following procession
marched soemnly out Of the door of the central prison
building, and around the northern walls, approaching
the eallows First came the Sheriff and the Under
Sheriff. next the prisoner dressed in the us Ial hang
mans cap and otherwise in his own wellworn Sunday
tuit OF bIoadcloth attended each side by Sheris
Vuee and Stephens, and followed by his spiritual adj
visers the Rev. Fathers Duranquet and Mgnard Of ST.
Xayier's Roman Catholic Church in Sixteenth street,
and Father Ssnguinetti pastor of the Italian Roman
Catholic population of the city, formerly worshipmg in
Canal street.
They were followed by Deputy Sheriffs Donney,
Crombie, Cornell, Kelly, Murphy, Anderson, Riley,
Dreabr, Smith, Watson, DOnahue, Stanley and Hor-
tom next came the Coroner the Board of Supervisors
who acted in their usual capacity jury, and the
Physicians.
The Sheris formed circle with their slaves before
them and the prisoner and tie priests knet for a
minute two repeating prayers. An aged looking
crucx in the left hand of the prisoner was revereny
kissed BY him, after which they all rose, and he ad
dressed few words to those who were standing
around him. His speech, however, was 80 low thai
but little could be understood.
Before leaving this world, he said, he would 40
knowledge himself very much indebted to his friends
and the people who had taken an interest in his behalf
they had all been very kind to him; might God tisss
tbema all. He was sorry for the crime he had commit
ted he did not mean to do it, bat did ii in greatpas-
ooul