The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-19
THE EXECUTION TO-DAY.

INK 6AhGVttOW ~ SN'
49,. a. E,.,v Ee-rs. the wife Murd~res- Wis
e~ndoc, since He wss CcDdsmnea-
Ia Csmsnfs Suicide Prepsraassn YET &c ~
ecssaen, &c.
rhs scsnod eia claim another vichm scoAy IN sne
vemon Of Franz feuis wife murderer VINO 70 W
,,aeotea ~ The rombs between the hours Of nine and
Twelve A. Yesterday reporter para asst
pro, and through the courtesy OF Captain Coulter the
,.,r v,s so.l,ed 10 have short interview with the
a..n.6 Eeyr,s hal been removed 10 q cell the
ona cor,aor in order that he might not be annoyed
- ,,s noise occasioned by the carpenters in putting
m me gslioHs o Bren-also a wife murderer
eas placed in the same cell with Ferris,
AID no doubt proved very acceptable COM
Jay Father Duranauet was with the prisoner AL the
mornluS aud at two Of the Sisters Of Mercy called
spou condemned, and remained with him for nearly
= hear. Ferris was much depressed in spirits and ~
seaared ordinary effort the OF the Sisters TO
make Dim fool resigned TO his fate. 10 the ordinary
iooker on he q man much below the ordinary
standard ana not calculated either by hs appearance or
conversation 10 inspire the vhtor with either sympathy
o. interes H. protested In words resigned his
fate bat has showed that his mind WIS
Al al ease, and thai his thoughts were still with the
world Even M 20 yesterday he entertained the hopo
the Governor would commute his sentence to I'M
pssonmont for life Notwithstanding his counsel Mr. ~
kmzng Jr, had previously assured him that there was
so chance whatever Of executive clemency.
Mr. Figaniere the Portuguese Consul who has been
antirns his efforts 10 procure communication OF the
sf bis final interview with tho Executive Mr. figa-
ucre represenfsd that capital punishment had long
abolished in Portugal the prisoner would not
nave been sentenced 10 death II he had committed the
MURDER in his country He thought therefore, that
no creator punishment should be melted out TO Ferris
Than the laws OF his native country demanded, and
bored that considering the relations which existed be-
~ cn the United States and Portugal Governor Fcnton
voud grant hR petition The Executive firmly refused
Ia interfere in the promises however, and informed Mr.
Iiganere thai The sentence OF the court must be
ruted Ferris was apprzed OF this nnwelcome piece Of
Qriu hll a m md he IN
mss that he was low spirited and extremely nervous
daring the remainder Of the day.
TEERls' CONDUCT ~ PRISON.
since his sentence the prisoner has conducted
himself in unruly manner, giving his keepers
unusual trouble by his continual complaints about his
food sleeping accommodations &c. There was not the
slightest cause Tor grumbing but he indnlged in the
rlks constantly, and proved very unpleasant person
4 have anything to do with On occasion the keep
rS suspectng that he contemplated suicide when the
worst came TO the WORST determined 10 make thorough
ANIMATION OF his cell After long and tedious search
nanlity of chime found ingenously concealed
q his iookipggsss On another occasion he was de-
seoted eating The heads ucor matches which he had
inserted here and there in apple. 10 divert
sacion and at the same time render the fatal dose
paiatabie. He had swallowed small portion OF the
pa soned fruit when the trick discovered but not
surrient unpleasant consequences He has
been undr watch from that until the present
s~ndarin further attempt at suicide of ex.
se,ne difficulty
nsroRS or HE MURDER.
The murder OF which Ferris convicted
mitted on the 18th of September, 1864 under clrcun
OF the peculiar rociy II appeared upon
abe trial that Nary Ferris the wife Of the prisoner with
noor of tenement house at No. 81 James street. The
prisoner man al Incorporate habits and in conse-
quenoe OF nus cruel treatment his wife she
p-ied 20 live apart from him. Some time before the
murder Ferris made assant upop his wife with an
ave causing such injuries that her life dcspared or
After her recovery abe prosecuted the prisoner and he
sent 10 the Pentsnary for SIX months, his term Of
Imprisonment expiring few DAYS before the murder
Hpo the 9th Of September 1854 the prisoner cam6 10
Me residence of hR wife in James and inquired IL
shs home Hs wife being oui al work no LEFT, and
~enL 10 humber OF places where he thought she
working and npou beng informed that. she not
Here Fe,rs would iall down his knoes and swear
nv the Virgin Mary that he would kin his wife
Mary before nine O'Clock thnt night He returned in the
afternoon " james street. when he took large knife
from his pocket commenced sharpening IL upon tho
with TIE mention as he declared Of using
the weapon upon he person Of his wife, but finding
her AZ home lie left In the evening, when Mrs Ferris
nabe home from work she was informed that her bus
band out OF prison and had been 10 her
threatening 10 take her lie Fearful or violence the
poor woman brought her bed down stairs and msfc
arrangements 10 pass the night with one Of the neigh
bors She had scarcely completed the change and put
her children TO bed when ferris reappcared armed with
Ftnding her door locked he broke IL in with the
ave, and not finding his wife he expected he
nenccd TO himself upon her by break
iss all the furniture Attracted by the noise Mrs.
Ferris went stains and expostuaied with her hudDand
Dpon his insane conduct, when he new Al her like
bend and dashed her brains out with the The cries
Df - murder and watch = brought the Fourth
precinct police To the spot and Ferris arrested before
he r0uld leave the house. When asked why no had
He'd his wife he made reply, and manifested dR-
position give the police little Information As
possible
TN the trial his counsel set up the defence OF insanity.
bat the evidence wholly faied 10 sustain tho theory.
The prison physicians both agreed That he and
said that in Their daily contact with him they
suspected him 20 be ANYTHING other than perecty
National being The Jury having promptly convicted
she prisoner Recorder Hoffman sentenced him 70 be
sxecntsd the l4th Of April. 1863 writ NJ
and stay of execution which WAS argued
before the Court or Appeals gave the prisoner a
sespate Of nearly year. In June last he resan-
fenced and The 18th OF August the mc fixed for his
execution Application was then made 10 Governor
fenfoD 10 coomu. the sentence hut he refused in
Ferris spiritual advisers then urged FOR re-
spite, the ground that the prisoner not in a ht
sspdion 10 die The Governor granted their request,
repr.eying the condemned for month"; but assured
ahe that when the time up they need no, look for
sny further cemency.
rpon which Ferris will expiate his crime the
upon which Gonzales and peliicer hanged Itwas
erected yesterday In the place where Frery 9us
-x"cuted, and the object Of much curiosity 90
visitors and the prison officials
INTERESTING BREACH OF PROMISE CASE