Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-30
remain very respectfully, yours,
q M ATWATER.
K1ecution Of a Womnn a. 81. Paul.


licly strangling 3 woman seems to be the very
acme of barbarism. But few cases have ever
occurred in the United States, and none should
SO lol 6 as society can be protected by i'm
prisonment for life. Minnesota has recently
taken the life of white womanIon scaffOld,
Mrs. Mary Ann Bilansky, convicted of the
murder of her husband, a Polander of some
wealth, who removed from Illinois to st. Paul
in 1857 She was married to Bilansky in
ls47, and in their family resided q man named
John Walker, with whom it was proved Mrs. B.
was intimate before and after her marriage. On
the 18th of March 1859, Mr.. BllanEky died
suddenly, and arsenic was found il his stomach.
1t vas proved that Mrs. B. purchased arsenic,
and she was convicted of the murder. The al
legged motive was to get possession of Bilansky' s
property, and enjoy it with her ParamOur. The
Minnesota Legislature passed resolution to
commute the sentence of death to life impris-
onment, but the Governor vetoed it, She was
executed on the 29d of March, and the scene on
the scaffOld- the last act of this terrible
tragedy-is thus described:
when the prisoner arrived upon the plat
form, she was led forward and kneeled upon
the drop; the clergy, jailsr, and the Sisters aud
other ladies', in the same posture around her.
About FIVE minutes were thus spent in reading
prayers by the clergy, in which she seemed to
take deep interest. Upon rising she was as
ked if she had anything to say. She spoke for
a minute perhaps. There was some repetition,
1 -lyr tk,k 4.
81 die without having had any mercy shown
me, or Justice. die for the good of my soul,
and not for murder. May you all profit by my
death! Your courts of justice are not courts
of justice-but will yet get justice in Heaven.
am guilty woman, know, but not of this
murder, which was committed by another. l
forgive everybody who did me wrong. die a
sacrifice to the law. / hope you ell may be
Judged better than have been, and by more
righteous judge. l die prepared to meet my
God"
Mr.. Hoffman then whispered q goodbye"
to her, when she showed some agitation, and
said: 80, Mr.. Hoffman, you promised to stand
by me to the last" He assured her that he was
not goiug to leave her.
Mi Miller, the deputy sheriff, then approach
ed her with the rope, when she exclaimed: "DT.
Miller, how can you stain your hands by putting
that rope around my neck-ihe instrument Of
my death"
He assured her that duty compelled him to do
it, and she made no resistance, and only said:
"Do, for Gods sake, put it on SO it will not
suffocate me.'
1t became necessary in fixing the rope to
lift the vail that was tied about her neck, when
she said; "Mr. Hoffman, 90 leave that vail
between the rope and my neck"
/ -, Il Nho IT, Of a.
being removed, whUn she said: elk it any
way, 90 as not TO sufocate me-"
After it had been arranged, DR.. Miller took
the black cap from his pocket, and proceeded
to put it on her head, when she said: "Be
sure that my fase is well covered"
All this took place in less time than it will
take to read it, during which she said several
times:-"GOd have mercy-God have mercy on
my soul" Her last words were-"Lord Jesus
Christ receive my sonl.''
She was requested to take step forward on
the drop, and then, everything being prepared,
| Dr. Miller made motion to Sheriff Tullis, who
pulled the fatal rope, aud in an instant she fell.
| The fall was about four feet, and the machinery
was SO nicely adjusted that the n e was scsrceS
| ly head outside of the inelosure.
There was scarcely any movement in the
body after it dropped: slight convulsivs mo-
tion and leaving Of the chest was all that was
observed.
The body was allowed to hang about twenty
minutes, during which time prayers were read
audiblY by the clergy, who remained kneeing
on the platform.
The physicians having examined the body
several times, then stated to the sheriff that
life was extinct, and she was cut down and
placed in plain black cofin that had been
placed in front of the gallows during the whole
period Of the execution.
Her demeanOr on the scaffold was excellent.
She was not defiant or stoical; neither did she
shed tear. 1t is the opinion of many that
she expected pardon or reprieve to the last
moment.