Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-12-27

hOrrlDlS!
The Indianapolis Sentinel gives full partic.
ulsrs OF the shooting to death BY musketry,
Of three persons charged with the crime oi
dssertion It lie most shocking narrative
and calculated to chill the blood Of oil who
read it, A fourth, John Lsnnop, was repriev
until next Monday.
The names Of the persons shot TO death, =
were
l. John Murray, alias jobs Maionsy.
II is said that his parents, who reside At
Williamsburg, are respectable, hard working,
worthy people As yet they have not learned
the dreadful fate that has befallen their only
son. When the news does come to them, and
they realize that their boy has found an gno.
minious grave, God help them to bear up un.
der the awlul affection Il will come like n
thuHderbolt, and, if they have hearts and
feelings, there can be no doubt that the blow
will hasten their feeble steps toward the grave
OF the broken.hearted and depressed.
2. Thomas Ryan, alias John Hanrahan.
The latter was the real name Of this young
man there is aotbing that can be said or writ
ten in his favor, except the poor recommen-
dailon that he possessed to an extraordinary
degree the attributs Of brute courage. He
was what dariAg aud unprincipled and woIlj-
ly men would denominate a game" man
and such he died. He was born at Rondout
Ulster county, New York His father and
mother died when he WAS child, and left
him no other legacy than their good name
and unspotted regulations. He was thus at
q tender age, thrown upon the cold charities
OF the world. An evil genius haunted his
young life A naturally vicious disposition
prevailed over what few good qualities be
possessed, and under the corrupt teachings
OF bad men, he became a bravado and a
desperado
He could not be made to believe that he
would not, at the last mSmsnt be pardoued.
:. Charles BilliRgsley, alias, George Rob
berts. But little is known of his previous
history.
He was great braggart, and would at times
boast OF hair-breadth escapes, his perilous ad- |
ventGrers, and the many wonderful exploits |
IN which he mas been engaged since the era
OF bounties and bonntyjumping These stor-
les are many Of them, it is to be supposed, |
simply the creation Of brain fertile with i'm.
aginatloD, aAd the premptiDgs Of a heart
be thought hero, even though it should be
The herosm OF brigrsnd At the last, how
aver, as the hour Of doom drew nigh, like the
others, he earnestly protested that one deser-
lion was his only otfense.
All the regiments about the city we're
brought to Camp Burnside. Thirty-six men
we're detailed to do the work of death. The
condemned with their collins we're brought TO
he place of execution
PREPARATIONS FOR THE TRAGsDY
Everything being in readiness, q Sergeant,
EAo had been selected for that duty, approach.
ID John Maloney, and led him to coffin No. 2.
Here his feet were tied, bis coat taken of, and
he was forced to cit upon the foot of The re-
,eptacle in which his flesh will return to the
lust from whence it sprang. Hanrahan was
placed in like position upon coffin No. 3, and
Billingsley upon No 4. Their caps were then
aiken off, white bandage was placed over
heir eyes, and three doomed mortsls had seen
heir last Of sunshine this side of the grave
THE DEED OF BLOOD.
As the last bandags was securely fastened,
Major azzam retired 10 the left OF the Holy
Father, and, addressing Lieut.. George Wag.
ler, Acting Post Adiutant, in firm, clear
,oice gave the order, "AH is ready" Lieut..
Wagner then promptly gave the exciting
Ready, aim, FIRE aud the loud
'epOrt Of that volley OF musketry announced
% the assembled multitude that the bloody
Iced was done.
HOW THEY DIED.
As the bullets sped on to their destination.
md pierced the bodies of the unfortunate men,
Tot groan was heard to escape from their
ips. They fell back like logs Of wood, and
hardly muscle was seen to quivsr, except in
he case OF Billingsly Hanrshan fell upon
ils coffin, and remained there. The two 9th.
RS fell first upon their coffins, and then rolled
III upoR the ground.
DREADFUL OCCURRENCE.
Surgeon Charles j. Kipp, in charge Of the
Prison hospital at Camp Norton, whose
luty 1t waa to examine the bodies after the
execution, gave il as his opinion that Bill.
ingsley would not die within ten or fifteen
minutes. Under thess trying circumstances
Major Gazzam, as an act Of humanity, or.
Tered forward platoon of four men, one
u whom was commanded to place the
nuzzls Of his gun st the breast of the ,
lying man, and FIRE RepugnAnt as was
he duty, he had no other alternative than
9 obey; the deed was done, and the struR.
ling soul was freed from itS earthly tsns.
nent. Let no man consider this other
han deed Of mercy. 1t was dreadful, il
vas appalling but il was an imperative
necessity, suggested alike by the promptiugs