The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-26
TERRIBLE SCENE.
Wilson, the Murderer Of tho Hon. Burr
Burton, Hanged at GeneSeo.
Horrible Confession OF Murder
and Crime.

Horrible Confession OF muroer
/ and Crime.
Go. Go. 90.
From the Rochester Usios ara Advertiser. Dec. 23I
| Yesterday-Friday, December 22-was the day desg-
n,ted for the execution Of the brute In human form who
has been lying in the Jail at Gsnsseo Livingston county,
| for some time past under the name Of Henry Wilson.
me execution took place d O'Clock in the afternoon
and we give such report q The affair and incidents re-
hitting to the murderer = VIM most interest the public
The day was stormy and cola and the outside attend md
execution being private under tho statute only one
hundred and Afty persons weSc present.
rHx DEyox MURDER AND CONVICTION.
rns wsSn = Y cu'ss ss .ss
ursr Of Heavy Dsvoe elderly rssadsas q Portage,
como two miles from NundA ne crime wss com.
Sruisi manner q were al tho nssasss e. which VA
son was 1uiiiy He supposed shat Mr. Dsvos bad noasy
sss 81 amssif q Inc as srssss avias cswisd =
the bedside Of the old man, he eWoe him esd dsaneed
his money Mr. called Aloud tSr hn son. VINO sleptan
who stood there making ths dsmand pointed pistol
Close 70 tho head OF the old and told him that Il he
called again he would take his life. Mrs Devoe, who
was lying beside her husband begged Of him 70 obey the
command OF the villain and lie down. believing that 70
the safest course 70 % "as s
suaSsa nv ,hs nIeadn9 OF his wife He called again for
his son and the fend fired, inhicting wound that
The SON, aroused BY the alarm began TO in the
chamber above The murderer called TO him ut the foot
Of the stairs and admonshed him NOT 70 come aow s
ORDER The son, stout, fully grown man., inheriting
OF the courage Of his parent who was then weer
Ing in blood, dared not go down. and remained In ms
| chamber Wilson meanwhile proceeded to the room
where girls sbpt and securely bound them with
cord One OF the girls nineteen years Of age the
nth civ q
threats OF the murderer and yielded passve 70 hs de
mands He used string or cord ike carpenter chaik
line with which he tied the hands and feet OF these ie
males Having searched the house at his leisure ana
procured money supposed to be In all about eghy
| dollars, he left the premises.
After little time the girls liberated themselves and
cautiously repaired to the room where Mr. Devoc slept
there behed the dreadful spectacle OF the murdered
lying he fell In bed under the fire OF the burglar
and assassin The elder sr ran TO the chamber and
found the in bed, with his head concealed in the
clothing and told him that his father had been san
The son, still trembling under the influence of fear
would only down to the scene Of the tragedy after the
| girl consented to lead the way.
II for this murder that Wilson was executed yes
terday and IL nothing else were known OF his wicked
careerif he had not confessed to the preparation Of
crimes revolving and arocious, who would
stand 70 plead his cause or nepose one sympathetic
word thought on his behafY He was, beyond
all question: as deeply dyed in crime e,.s pare
this century, to say the least Those who might other
wise hesitate and shuddcr to witness an execution upon
the gaows looked upon this wretch in his dying throes
with composure and all felt relieved when they beheld
his feess body and realized that his soul had
quatciy mee out just punishment toone go guilty.
The prosecution against Wilson WIS conducted by G. j.
devoted his best energies 70 the duty. and did himself
great credit He called to his assistance Colonel John
Cochrane Attorney General of the state o. 0ney, Esq,
Of Nunda. conducted the Defence assisted by his
brother and they did all that could be done for the
prisoner.
The murder of Mr. Devoe was committed on Monday
night and the villain arrested next day Meanwhile
the whole community was aroused and escape proved
impossible Wilson walked eastward along the railroad
toward Hornesvlle twelve miles, to Canascraga Station
There he seen 10 emerge from q lumber yard and
enter car. The party who saw him also entered the
and seized him he about 70 draw pistol
and defend himself Tho evidences Of his guilt were
found upon hts person in the shape Of four silver quar-
those by Mr. Devoe The inmates Of the house
did not fully identity him. but the testimony was qutecon
his was found abundant evidence OF his profession
well OF his guilt There was revolver and cartridges
knife, keys without number, matches, wax CANDLE maps
and charts pocket compass rubber cup screw driver
railroad guide and other articles sufficient 10 I'LL his
pockets He had advertising slips cut from newspapers.
Including from the Daily Union and Advertiser OF
jane 1894 which was o lengthy advertisement Of DR..
Hechnger aurst and oculis Of this city II Is possible
that he may have suspected that the Doctor was doing
large business and had plenty Of cash He may have
taken ais advertisement as memorandum TO remind
him to call some night and relieve him. may be that
his sight or hearing was defective and no intended to
seek advice.
THE MURDERER IN JAIL.
From the moment that Wilson was placed in custody
Of Sheriff Chase, at Genesco It was apparent that he
most desperate villain and unless closely guarded
he would escape cost what might The walls OF the
old Jail would have been but cobwebs TO him but for his
shackes and the vigilance Of his keepers He
fined in the hail. with heavy shacke his feet rvc-
ed chain and this made fast TO the floor He
was rarely alone and constantly meditating escape On
into saw and set about saving loose his shackes This
knife he concealed in the bottom OF flag seat
chair Il Was suspected that he received from young
woman named Esther Hobrook, confined in
jail on q charge OF poisoning ~ MI Nor
| ris, but who had assisted In doing the jail
aud wrote her note before his execution thanking her
for her kindness sending the pencil with which he had
girl by the convict at the qaows will be seen by the
report. The knife did not serve him. His plot was
to the sheriff ana the movement sa,ecnea He had
svowed his purpose when he had removed his irons TO
stand behind the door the Sheriff his In,
assault him, kill him, and then 60 out at the door
| On another occasion he obtained knife and had
II Ia his pocket The Sheriff took 1t from him
by force, holding him by the throat till he sur.
but finally ceased TO talk In that way and declared that
when he was hung they would hang blooded man
that is, one who had courage to die on the galows
This proved to DO true. He utterly refused spiritual
advice during his confinement, and spent the most
of his time In reading fash novels and writing
a sort OF blind sketch OF his criminal career He ate
freely, gained In flesh and slept soundly In Jail
His conversation was coarse vulgar and proiane and he
was thoroughly callouscd as human being could
we'll become On Thursday night he retired ut the usual
time, and had n fair nights rest. On the morn ng
OF the last day hc did not cat his breakfast with
his usual relish-indecd he ate but small part Of
that assigned him II stood before him on the table
when he was taken away for execution Visitors went
10 the room up TO few moments before he lett H. and
he conversed with them In jocose way He read q
yellow covered novel, one OF Ned Buntnes own
seres and remarked that he could not finish that and
two or three which no had by him. Some one
suggested that he had better take the Bible The wretch
replied that he did not want itthat he preferred the
book no hnd--the novel.
Rev. Mr. Ives Chaplain Of Auburn prison. called upon
him, and they recognized each other, Wilson having
served term in the prison, though Mr. could not recall
his name. He was rather kindly disposed toward Mr.
Ives and consented that he might make prayer nj tho
gallows.
son Of Burr Burton, who shot At Syracuse by
Wilson, also called upon him and talked freely with him
about the affair Neither appeared 10 be grenty affected
by the interview. Burton helped himself 70 some Of
Wilson's tobacco ntimating thai be would mot have any
use FOR II.