Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-03-08

Sh6'6hhNOj ShASt Awe o'"oAs SOhh
W. Hughes, a native Of the Isle of Man,
SO years of age, was hung in the jail of
our county, at l o'clock this afternoon, for
the murder OF Miss Tamzen Parsons Of
Bedford, in this county, on the 9th Of
August last.
+ HISTORY OF THE CASE.
This case has created the most intense
excitement in this community since the
commission Of the deed until the hour of
the execution. DR.. Hughes was q physi-
clan and surgeon of more than ordinary
requirements, and in his own island was
possessed Of wealth and high position in
society. He was not only q murderer, but
was also q seducer, forger, and bigamist.
He first seduced his victim, then forged a
decree Of divorce from his lawful wife, and
with it prevailed upon Miss Parsons to &C.
company him to Pittsburgh, where he mar
ried her, but was soon after arrested, tried,
and convicted Of bigamy. and sent to the
penitentiary. He was afterward pardoned
out by Governor Curtin /; but his infatua-
ton for Tamzen Parsons was not abated.
He pursued her relentlessly, which finally
| eliminated in her death at his hands, for
which he has to-day suffered the extieme
penalty of the law.
CONDUCT OF THE PRISONER.
During his trial and throughout his in.
generation, he has exhibited the most
wonderful control of himself, and his con-
duct in prison has been exemplary. so far
ns the treatment Of the officers Of the law
was concerned.
ATTEMPT TO SECURE 4 COMPUTATION OF
SENTENCE.
After his conviction and sentence, IN
application was made to Governor Cox
for a Communication Of sentence to imprison-
ment for life in the penitentiary but the
application was refused.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
On Wednesday night last, he attempted
to destroy his own life by taking a dose OF
morphine, which he had procured from
some unknown source, and concealed in
his cell, to be used at the proper moment.
His attempt at suicide was discovered in
time, and his life saved.
coXPosuRB OF THE CRIMINAL.
He was cool and composed all the fore
noon, and up to his very last moment.
SPEECH UPON THE ~scAFPoLD.
Upon the scaffold he made a long, and
at times a disconnected and incoherent
speech. He ackno wledged the justice Of
the sentence, though he denied that the
crime was premeditated. He discussed at
some length the different views Of re-
ligion, and made the following statement
as to his belief:
~ do not believe to-day that Jesus was
the Son of God. My anatomical prac-
ticc, everything, says the doctrine Of the
immaculate conception is not right; it is
against natural philosophy and against
human nature. I believe He had O pure
spirit, and that a better man never reigned
on earth than Jesus Christ; that in spirit
and heart He was next to the Creator
Himself, as far as we know yet, at the
same time, I know from my own expert
ence that the connection between the de-
parted spirits and those Of this world is
complete. While I am to-day to suffer
the extreme penalty Of the law. I will see
you all altogether"
II EXECUTION.
At the conclusion Of his speech, his
arms and legs were pinioned, the black
cap was Drawn over his head. and the soul
Of John w. Hughes. the seducer, forger,
bigamist, and murderer, was launched into
eternity. His body was taken charge Of
by the Manx Society.