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

ypg nas to ~ y aught elso However, have an ibid
g trust ~ Lord and Saviour, Jssas Christ, Who d,sd
bee ior q, poor sinners. feel prepared TO die."
silly S-s,sphens, have you no more 70 say
u Rev Mr.. Knapp ,hsn Appvoacaed near 70 the pri
" sr, ard said 70 hun, in voice trembling with asisa
james yen are now about 70 be launched into eternity,
guilty you inDocentS'
srnmxs-l have only 70 say that Am innocent
profound ensaon the hearers who all expected that
The prisoner would Ct the last moment give out, and con-
fses h guilt openly Many seemed So. os sa .a
Stephens merely turned to the sherin ana exclaimed
Be quck-be quick AL reccded at these words, save
aoust the moose with the utmost care. Everything ss
length being readiness Mr. Kelly reteated few steps,
and exactly al thirty minutes after nine O'Clock gave
the signal the hang nan Up went the cupr high the
with sudden violent jerk rs usual but slowly, as
by the strength Of mans arms instead Of powerful
weight Of 800 pounds. II became evident imuedi-
asey that something wrong, and soon runor went
round rope been unwound instead Of cut by
The hapgman appeared that the executoner, who was
inexpersnced rot frightened and thus the barbarous
manner Of hanging the cuprit was explained.
II extraordinary thai under these circumstances
the unfortunate wretch suspended between heaven and
earth did exhibit indications Of violent suffering The
moment the frightened around his neck and he was
and skns OF we4s ren
few interviewed without the slightest indication
Of suffering except the hard breathing, which was fear
another convueve broe took place. the vessels in the
seemed to be sweed almost to bursting, the fingers
once or twice spasmodicaly Three minutes Game, and
with fsTy feeble tremor showed itself IN the whole
body; bus lasted only few seconds, when all further
motion ceased and life seemed 10 be completely extinct
The surgeons, DTs Woodward, Simmons and Cove view
ed the body after suspension OF ave minutes, and gave
but the body was not lowered un. fourteen minutes had
expired The surgeons then again examined the body,
found pulse and the aesh ICY cold Considering the
cir eplpY ded \
which owing, doubtless 70 the feeble condition OF his
constitution Had he been in good strength at the time
have struggled in the most frgh,fu agony for half
hour.
REMOVING THE BODY.
When the body had been suspended for some forty
minutes two large sheets Of spread under
the galows, and the corpse slowly lowered 70 the
ground. Al this point the physicians closely examined
the pulse and heart, and the black cap removed
from the face. The features purple, but not 80
much discolored as might have been expected The
mouth was dstended, and
His eyebaIl farther out than when he lived,
Staring full CHASTITY, like etrangled man,
His hair upreared, his nostrs stretched with struggling,
And his hands clenched like one
And .ugged for life, and was by strength subdued.
The mark around the neck where the rope had been
tghtened was also perceptible.
The body was taken TO an adjoining shed, where the
Sherns jury held an inquest on the body The follow
ing is copy Of the official document, signed by the gen
State IF Nee Ymk Guy and County Of NeO York. 49,
We the Sheriff Of the city and county Of New York, and
the other public officers and persons whose names
hereto subscribed certify that James Stephens who
was sentenced by the Court OF Oyer and Teriner held
this day WAS pursuance Of the said sentence
executed by hanging BY the neck until he was Dead In
the jail yard Of The jail in the said city and county and
we The undersigned, do certify that Witnessed the said
execution, and that the conducted and per-
formed in conformity the provisions Of the law Of this
State concerning capital punishment and Of the said sen
tence.
In witness whereof have the said JAIL subscribed
hereto this third day Of February the year
- JOHN KELLY, Sheriff.
s1n eq.c sss9, eo Police n sSesoe
Richard Kelly, Police Justice.
J. Sherman Brownen, Police Justice
Michael Connolly Police Justice.
John Clancy, County Clerk
David A. Fowler, Deputy County Clerk.
Theodore J. Fonda, Civil Justice.
Henry N. Fsher, N. D., House Surgeon New York
Robert F. Weir, NJ D. House Surgeon New York Ha-
pital
c. Godfrey Gunther, Governor Of Amshouse.
James Lynch, Governor Of Almahouse
Benjamin r. Pinckney, Governor Of Almshouse.
Washington Smith, Governor Of Almshouse.
Charles Brueninghausen, Governor Of Amshouse.
F. A. Boole, Alderman Twelfth district
Robert L DaIragh, Alderman Ninth district
Gershon Cohen, stephen r. Pinckney,
George W. Rcome, p NJ Horslee,
W. TTyop, Samuel Mcbride,
". W. Waleh, T. II. Walsh,
Moses Cummings, c. A. Waterbury,
Andrew l. Savage, j. B. Gore.
At the conclusion Of the inquest the Sheriff handed the
body 10 Mr.. Bennett, nephew OF Stephens, and
Messrs Fee Smith ard Piano, formerly shopmates Of the
deceased nj Stephensons coach factory Shortly after
these gentlemen laid the corpse neat mahogany coffin
containing the following inscription
JAMES STEPHENS,
DKD FEBRuARY 8, 1860,
AGED 80 YEARS.