The New York herald., 1865-02-04
MILITARY EXECUTION.

melancholy scene which, however necessary 70 preserve
the discipline Of the army could fail to strike all the
Spectators with Its impressivensss and soemnity
criminal paid the forfeit OF his crimes and gave up his
life accordance with the strict regulations which have
been found bs essential In governing and controlling
large bodies Of men ndiscminately brought together
The facts Of the case simply these and win prove
to the minds Of all the necessity existing for the example
made yesterday and the justice ofthe sentence sxecued-
In June last James Devlin living In Baxter street Of
this city enlisted in the First Connecticut cavalry
ceving the heavy bounty then being paid But short
time after enstng he deserted and coming back to the
city enlisted in tho Forty New York Volunteers,
again receiving largo bounty He remained with tho For
yhird but few weeks when he deserted his coors tho
second time and returned to the city TO spend his i'll
gotten gains m Of dissipation and vice Upon his
FIRST enlistment he left his wife and three children en-
rey destitute and after his second deserion and return
TO the city refused support live with her. but took
up with notorious living Mott street, spend
ing upon her his money and living with hor his wife,
Continuing this course Of conduct till his money
exhausted he enlisted In the navy, and was placed ON
board the receiving ship North Carolina At this juno
ture II the patience OF the wronged wife gave out
and with view OF obtaining of his bounty for herself
and children she visited him on board tho ship Not sue
ceedng in her Efforts and finding herself deserted for
base woman, she became fenzled and determined upon
against her heartess husband and the who
had thoroughly destroyed her happiness. Going to
the military authorities Of this city she denounced her
husband as deserter and bounty jumper, detailing his
past course OF life and where he might be found lie was
arrested the 18th of last month and tried by court
martial convened by Major General Dix or the purpose
trying deserters The officers OF the regiments In
which he enlisted fully identified him. and the proof Of
his crimes overwhelming that he made attemp.
to defend himself but upon his conviction made full
confession.
The sentence Of tho court was DEATH and wednes-
day Colonel Bumford commandan OF Governors Island
received the order for the execution Of the
unfortunate to take place yesterday, between
the hours OF twelve and two O'Clock N. Immediately
hut huG md
Governors Island designated The place OF execution,
tho doomed man was conveyed TO Fort Columbus, ana
confined in small cell to the right Of the salyport OF tAe
garrison and the order Of death read 10 him. The order
heard in silence by the prisoncf no visible sign Civ
But twentyfour hours given him td prepare for
DEATH but everything that could be- done for bis com
fort was promptly performed by tho officers oil the Tort
His wife found after much trouble, and brought
TO see him Thursday afternoon when she was
first informed that her husband doomed to death
and doubtless the thought TO her In that awful mo
ent that she had thus doomed him. The scene upon meet
ing with her husband truly heartrcndng the wife ut
tering loud lamentations, and bescechng in the most
abiect husband would forgive her for
being the Of his doath. He said he would freely
forgive her and that he cherished no hard feelings
her Father Heay of the Barclay street Catholic
church, attended him. and attempted to lead his mind to
the consideration of religious things until the hour for
closing the ga for the night came, when both left him
for the last nights rest he was destined to have upon
earth.
female friend again visited him. aud with the priest
remained with him until the preparat for the mourn
At the last garrison CALL half past twelve, sho fell
her knees upon the stone pavement and In tho widest
cried out In supplicaon to God to take care
of her and her soon to bo orphaned children Every
thing being Ia readiness detachment Of the Twentieth
prisoner, with his hands tied behind him. was led
and placed In their midst On getting full View OF him
he appeared to be about thirty years Old ye feet and
made very much o. . man. He had dark saIlen look,
hut evidently impressed by the awful position In
which he found himself placed. The guard, with the
prisoner, accompanied BY the priest and his wife,
marched from the fort out TO the parade ground where
the band and four bearing his coffin awaited them
Upon reaching tho parade ground halt was was
n h1sband "Is pu. her ar%s around his neck and
kissed him. he bending down and returning the last kiss
being VINO had any claim upon him and who had not
serted him. Tho wife then led away by two soldiers
he w al OF Garth
for tho conclusion Of the tragedy The procession took
up ts nc Of march the prisoner walking with his con
execution, which tho south side OF the island
facing the Narrows, tho shore Of the bay Al this
place the soldiers Of the garrison and large number OF
recruits were drawn up in line forming three sides OF
square, tho open side being towards the water Upon
whie the procession marched around the inside Of the
square, giving all opportunity Of seeing the prisoner
and perhaps OF learning useful lesson therefrom.
The prisoner being placed in his position by Captain
Ryer the officer Of tho day, commanding the proceed
he performed his painful duties the finding and sentence
the marital rcad TO him, as also the order
for his execution During this time the priest remained
with him. supporting him by the comforts Of religion 20
which hc seemed to pay the utmost attention. long
prayer made, and upon its conclusion corporal ad
vanced and bnndaged his eyes, and ven at this crtc"
moment not the rantost tremor emotion observed
in him by those who stood neor, he having
evidently made up his mind die game without
fear He then knceled close 10 his coffin the priest and
officer in charge lett him alone, the rng party OF ten
drew up in tn distance of twenty feet Captain
Ryer standing by 10 give the word command After
kneclng and up TO the word fire at ieast two minutes
passed in horrible suspense waiting for the exact time
IL. Itch nf tyfaa
susceptible of being ted upon, these trying mo
Of suspense surely would be the time; yet "a far
| as could be seen not muscle quivcred and moth ng
seemed to Indicate that violent mental conflict was
| gong ON within: AZ two precisely the command was
The sword-tRe signal agreed upon-ten mus
| kets discharged their contents into the body OF
James Devin. and that instant he ceased to breathe
Upon examination found that all the bullets had
struck him, in tho breast and ono in the neck,
breaking his spinal column and causing instantaneous
death He fell forward upon his face, extended At full
length ard remained that position while the garrison
recruits marched by to Wow the body when It was
put the colin and conveyed 10 the dead house to
await claims Of the widow, who wished his body for
The solemn and painful duty over all felt rolevc cd
and whc they the necessity ofsuch acts they
in the opinion that In the present instance the
duty was well perlomed and as ar ss poss,Dc Invested
Upon approval Of the sentence Of the court mart
and upon giving the order for the execution Major Gen
sra Dix made the following communication TO the court
and public, which will DO well for certain class of
| men to mako note Of - .
l The Major Generni COMMANDING snus pIomPt IN Inc
execution OF the sentence upon the accused
OF the aggravated OF the case
within the period OF eight months he enlisted twice in
the army In the navy having twice during he
same period deserted the Gag OF his country HIS case
s Of those IN which bad men, tempted oy enormous
bountics enlist the service for the sake OF making
money with the deliberate purpose OF desertng and In
which the profit proportoned 70 the number of sue.
| cessfuI rcpettons Of the crime BY common consent
theee Infamous men designated BY tho expressi,
propery bc termed traitors and public pundcrcrs; and
tho Major General Commanding IN approving the sen.
lence OF death pronounced BY tho court deems his
duty 10 the army aud tho country 70 announce that In
ali ike cases he will the punishment awarded u
crie of every prneple Of moral and poll
ticaj obligation 10 be executed with the utmost nncxi-
| bity and promptness JOHN A. DIX
| Major General Commanding Department OF he East
L
/ Art Announce snena.