The New York herald., 1866-09-30
EXECUTION IW CALIFORNIA.
Hanging Of Thomas ByrneS for the
Murder Of Charles I. Hill.
Full Account Of ghe Crime and The Cir-
GaIastaRces Attending Ii.
TIE auRDERER'S SPEECH On THE SCAFFOID

q
county California Thomas Byrnes suffered the penalty
Of death for TIE murder Of Charles T. Hill Probably the
criminal history Of California does not furnish another
such case or colo. blooded murder II was deliberately
planned and executed with horrible system Of detail
which could only have been carried out by one whose
nature vas hardened, and who nend than
human The Of murder, unfortunately, has been
TOO frequently committed in that Sateoften in quarrels
where both parties fault frequently in the heat
OF passion 10 avenge real fanced injury and for
various motives and reasons which, If they cannot be
urged IN Justification, viii at least create sympathy and
ply for the unfortunate being who suffers death
penalty for giving full sway to his evil passions But il
,s seldom deliberate murder is carefully planned
ana systematically executed where the only motive to
the crmo L the robbine Of The corpse d the victim
Such tho Of Thomas Byrnes.
DISCOVERY or TIE MURDER
on tie l4h o. March 1865, newspaper carrier living
beyond hayes Park In Sans Souc Valley, was gonl
home night, when he noticed something white in his
pathway and STOPPING 10 examine il, the clear moon
hight TO his gaze the ghastly features of corpse
Horror stricken at the sight he ran swiftly home lie
his adventure to his wife, but did nothing
more unt the next morning, when the LAID
before The Coroner and the corpse was brought 10 the
dead II was clad n garments Of fashionable cut
and fine texture with patent leather boots OF the latest
style and the appearance OF Young gentleman Of
means Around the body and under the arms tied
leather strap, TO the end Of which attached a
peco 81 rope The feet tied together with
another rope The coat was torn in shreds
as il the body had been dragged the
rough road and through the bushes and the
skull broken by so heavy blow that The fracture
extended nearly round the head. The OF the
few swiftly through the town, and hundreds OF
people visited the dead house for the purpose OF iden
3yng, j possible the corpse It's clothing In the
pocket found two pawn tickets, one of which called
for silver cup inscribed margaret TO Blanche which
had been pledged by Mr.. Hill, and which led TO the
Adjudication 81 the body. IL ascertaned that Hill
went 70 California with woman known as Blanche Alex
ander, the inscription the goblet coupled with
the IN the pawn ticket caused inquiries TO be
foot respecting Charles 7. Hill Ii
alned from the woman Blanche that Hill had formerly
Toomed the Mansion House. San Francisco Upon cali
ing the Mansion House it ascerained that Hill had
lott there some weeks before leaving his runk and cloth
ing, which time nothing had been heard Of him.
The morning after his disappearance, the landlady
stated a Tall young man, with curly hair and long
cut his face extending from his TO his chm, had
called at the house, with hhs keys, and had dressed
himself OF Hills clothes, leaving his own, which
were bloody in the ROOM subsequently he called again,
stating that he had been sent there by Hill and de
msnded Hill's trunk, which refused him Her
description Of the answered precisely that Of
Thomas Byrnes and the detectives satisfied
that nc knew something of Hls whereabouts. Byrnes
was then IN the county jail awaiting his trial in the
county Court for grand larceny for stealing watch and
cham from hotel in First street. He Immediately
taken from jail and brought 10 the police office where
he closely questioned concerning his knowledge
Of Hill He stated that he last Hill on the night
Of the 18th Of February, when they TO ride
Fether 10 returning from the Cliff House the horses
buggy, dragging him considerable distance, by
which accident he received the wound in his
face, whiie Hill spralned his ankle badly; that he
tByrnesl returned TO town with the horses leaving Hill
IN charge OF the broken buggy, and returned with
other team and dragged the broken vehcleback
snat B got out OF the buggy OF Bush and
Dupont streets and went 70 his room and he proceeded
70 the stable, since which time he lad not Hill but
had letters from him at sacramento The story which he
toid sealed his DOOM The matter was Immediately inv es
gated and the following facts elicted:-Byrnes and Hill
procured team at Wright Rodens stable on Kearny
Rxee the night oil the 18th Of February for the pur
pose OF riding the Gill House Hill stated that DyTnes
was going To take him girls, while Byrnes
pretended that he wanted 10 some men at the Cln
House business They given pair OF horses called
the PONY Team" Before starting leather hiching
strap was placed in the buggy by the hostler, and
Byrnes cautiously placed In the vehicle heavy monkey
wrench such Is used by teamsers for unscrewng the
wheels Of heavy wagons and trucks In answer 70 the
hosers inquiry TO his object In taking IL he stated
that would be nandy TO in OF an accident"
The night dark and stormy black clouds were drft
Ing the skies and light rain was falling they
started out their ride They wentto the Cliff House,
where HILL aished from the buggy and took drink, but
Byrnea remained IN the vehicle. They stopped only n
moment and then started TO return and the return
TRIP the murder committed. About midnight the
stable keeper aroused by some one Knocking al the
stable door aud upon answering the call he found
Svfnes mounted on one OF the 1oTsss and ihe Qiler
standing He stated that the horses had ran away
and broken the buggy and that he wanted another team
70 return for IT, Another harnessed for him,
and when ready 10 start the hostler prepared
70 accompany him and render assistance; but TO this
proposition Byrnes sirenuousy objected He requested
ehe hoster 20 put lot of hay rope the buggy, and
when about starting asked for shovel, for the purpose
OF digging out the vehicle which he said had mired in
the sand An old dirty shovel given him and he
left He returned with the broken buggy about daylight
and left the stable II Is unnecessary 10 record detail
the various acts Of Byrnes after this sne. The watch
belonging 10 Hill he endcavored TO dispose Of at
tanrant Kearny street. but finally pledged It q
pawnbrUkers lie took Hrs overcoal, which was
covered with blood, TO clothes cleaner, and paste
pm ian Imitation q damondl-the object which ex.
cited his cupdy and 20 possess which he had seeped
his hands IN human hloodhc endeavored 10 dispose Of
st various places under the belief that II a vau.
able diamond but hts efforts were unsuccessful, and
the pm sleeve buttons shirt studs and other articles
belonging 70 Hill were IN his possession when be was
arrested.
Probably no case 10 completely involved in mystery
wac ever a. rapidly and successfully unraveled and
worked " to use Q police phrase-as the case Of
byrnes Tho police, under the direction Of detectives
Ices and Ellis-to whom u due the credit of bringing
The murderer 10 iusticewere unting in their persist
ent efforts But intricate the testimony was, and
complicated the material, the different links n
the great chain OF evidence developed themselves with
rapidly go startling as almost 10 bewilder the detectives
Themselves and ~ forty eight hours after the body Of
Ili had been found one of the most complete Of
.rcumanta evidence IN the history Of crime had been
and verdict rendered charging Byrnes with tue
murder he was examined IN the police court and
held 70 70 tho chrage Tho Grand Jury indicted
hun, and be was tried in the Twelfth District Court
IgE rIuAL 'oF THE srRprREH
Ihe facts atpve related and others equally a. impor-
liant wsre yroyed on the trial IL shown that the
suap Isaud- hills body the hi,ching strap which
was pdl m hS fl buggy, the rope attached 10 Il whs
par ofshsl ppt n the second buggy piece Of harness
sound near tte grave belonged the pony team, the
scwery wW all Identified belonging 10 hill the dirty
shovel which he took bright aud polished With
sand when returned the contradictory stories of the do
fendant himself and his utter inability 10 account for
the possession Of Hls effects together with other
cumsanocs, pointed directly 20 him the murderer
The theory Of the prosecution that Eyrnes conem.
plated the murder beforehand or the purpose Of
qunng Hills.pin which was supposed be valuable
that the ride planned for ihc purpose OF
cauylug out his murderous intent and that
the monkey wrench piarea ~ the buggy for
inGc,ng the fatal blow; that the murder vas commit.
Lsd On the ClG House road, near Lone Mountain the
holy uod to the buggy and dragged g IA place Of
Incnt, aud thai the buggy and harness broken
n expedition that the shovel was used d d gg ng ne
grave 10 when lfl was buried and the cut Ryfucs
face received struggle with his victm. The
general theory thus elaborated was endorsed BY lc Ey
verdict OF guilty.
oF MURDERED MAN
Charles + Hill was twenty-six years Of agc and IA
tive Of New York state, where MS mother resided a. NE
time Of death He what II commonly termed q
"fast young man The pet Of widowed mother, pos.
OF property, aud he had been allowed Ass
from nL-ldAnnh a nnlnral cnneenneLn ~