The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-01
THE HEFFERMAN MURDER.

CrtnatnaIs-BtavadO ana Bluster-- They
"Die Game" 'a
NasaviQe (Jan 26h) Cor Cincinnati Commercial
The four Hegerman mnrderers were hung to-
day, at thirteen minutes past twelve O'Clock.
Their real names are James knlght Tnomas
Perry, George Crab and James Lysaught Two
had been in the Rebel army.
Yesterday several orthodox ministers called,
conyersed, and prayed with the prisoners, VINO
exhibited some emotion. Afterwards, Father
Begrath, OF the Catholic Church, was with them.
They all protested the Roman Catholic faith.
knight and Perry were bapuzed. The other
two had been baptized in infancy. The prisoners
had previously shown great hardihood, singing
euch pieces as ''Bold Jack Dunaho, and ''Bingen
on the Rhine" The past two days had tanned
them down, but they were still stolid, frivolous,
and careless joking about their doom.
This morning Perry's brother brought him
clothing. The parting scene between them was
heartrending, Perry giving way to tears and
sobs Colonel Innis provided the others with
clothing Lysaught said at first that he didn't
want any pants, as those he had on were good
as gold to hang IN. Grab was asked to tell who
shot HefTerman. He replied, THAT is not fair
question: I'll never tell that in this world"
Father Begrath came about 10 O'Clock to at
tend them in their last moments. Lysaught
said he felt as gay as lark. De SAID he mad
been badly treated, else he would De WIN his
| parents now. Father Begrath read touching
| letter from Lysauehts parents ID the Bishop,
| asking him to have James grave marked that
| some day they might take the body away. He
| was earnestly eN0OfiBu 10 TeDeubduCe, DuJ ut It.
| mained almost st0lid. Some one in the room
| having q looking glass, he jumped up, exclaim-
ing, "By golly! l must look at imy face once
moren TRen turning to Crab. he remarked,
Lock at yours; it's your last chance
Crab replied at amt any use." Lysaught
| asked. aughngly, Afraid you'll break the
| glass ~ when all four seemed much tlckled.
| Crab having takeL Lysaughts handkerchief, the
| latter playiully snaChed it away, saying, Let
| me smell it everlashng.n Then, turning to
| Crab, said, you're enough to make monkey
| grln.'
piled "I don't dread 1t Bit It's best TO take 1t
| easy it's got 10 come"
Grab indicted the following letter to Byron
| Heaton, 0swego, New York;
George Crab, the boy who used to run on the
| packet with you, in 1861, is about TO be hung.
| He requests to be remembered kindly, to your
| self and family"
Perry took his brother aside at parting, and
advised him never to indulge in sinful lazy
ways, never to swear, and to let alone whisky,
cards, and bad houses ''ior the like of this has
brought me to the gallows. | want you to take
my body home and let mother see me. am
sorry she did not see me before | was hung.
Tell her to meet me in better world, as l am
prepared to die. Cod bless you Goodbye
When the priest left them for few moments
| they began to chat and Joke about the ropes
that would hang them, the feeling OF contritOn
being evanescent.
An immense crowd, numbering fifteen thou
| sand persons, were on the ground. At twenty
minutes past eleven, the prisoners were brought
| to the gallows, which they mounted with firm
| step, and stood gazing around for nineteen min
| utes, while the charges and specifications and
| sentence were being read. Perry compcsedly
| leaned against one OF the uprights and sur
| yeyed the crowd. Crab took hold of the moose
before him, and viewed 1t with a comic look,
! testing its strength with his thumb, and rub
| bing his head against the rope.
Knight buttoned his coat, chewing his cud OF
| tobacco violently, and showing nervousness.
| AS his arms were bound he quivered a moment.
| During the prayer he knelt bowing his head
| and holding his handkerchief to his nose, which
| was bleeding. His last words were, II have no
| hard feelings against any one. am going to a
| better world" Lysaught took farewell chew
| of tobacco, say ing, pretty rough, amt itW He
| asked forgiveness OF all whom he had injured,
| adding, 81 am glad we had time for repentance;
| am glad we were removed from the Jail 10 the
| Penitentiary. If had stayed at the jail would
| have starved to death" Crab also asked for
| giveness for his mlsdeeds, and thanked Mr..
| johnson, keeper of the Penitenhary, for his
kindness. Just before the drop fell, he shrugged
| his shoulders, and exclaimed, Its kind o. cold.''
A chum called On him on the platform, and was
| aflectlonately kissed by Knight and Crab; as he
went down the steps, the former called out,
| "Take warning by this"
Just before the drop fell, Perry held out his
hat, and said, Jim johnson, give my brother
| that"
! Al thirteen minutes after IL o'clock the rope
| was cut and the four bodies fell with heavy
thump. Lysaught's neck was broken. The
| knot slipped with Knight and Crap, VINO dled
| with many struggles and convulsiye writings
| Perry died by sirangulation. but did not move
| much
Alter hanging twenty minutes the bodies were
| cut down and placed IN common pauper cotins.
| An early attempt was made to erect whisky,
| candy, and apple stands among the crowd Of
spectators but the military promptly interlered
The bearing OF the condemned showed that
they had agreed to brave it out. Their highest
estimation of conduct on such occasions seems
TO have been to die game. They certainly me-
death with as little show OF fear as is possible tC
imagine in youths not out OF their teens.