The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-03-29
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
EXECUTION OF A. B. WILEY.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, on Thursday, the 2lst
instant. The Wyoming Veterans were
detailed for the occasion. He was hanged
at precisely two o'clock and five min
utes. When asked by Sheriff Van Leer
if he had anything to say, he requested
Father Fitzsimmons to say for him that
he was sorry for all that he had done,
not particularly in reference to the pres
ent, the immediate past, or the future,
but for all of his sins that he was thank
full for the favors from the Sheriff and
his officers during his confinement; that
he did not mean to take the life of Alice
M'Elwee; that he forgave all, especially
his prosecutors, and that he had moth
ing more to say. The body was cut
down after remaining suspended for 20
minutes, and was delivered to the un-
dertaker. 1t was conveyed to the Cath
olic cemetery and inferred. Wiley
maintained throughout the execution
the same stoical indifference which had
characterized him during his trial and
confinement.
The prisoner made the following con-
fession prior to his execution:
I am twenty-six years of age, and
was born at Plymouth, in Luzerne coun-
ty, Pa; / followed canal business until
the beginning of the war; had no OPP
portunity for school education or relig-
ious instruction enlisted in the army;
deserted eight times, and was sentenced
to he shot; at Gettysburg I deserted
again then came home; / robbed Rob-
ert Abbotts, who lives on the plains, of
500; 1 then robbed a shoe store at
Blindtown." After mentioning a num-
Der of other robberies he continued:
"On the 14th of April last, went with
two Others to the house of Mr.. Hunger
ford, opened the door by secret latch,
and walked to the bed, but I had no
pistol; told the old man I wanted his
money; I demanded the key of his
trunk; the three with me in the mean
time built fire, and cooked supper
we only made $3.50 on that operation.
(The prisoner here laughed.) After that
we went to Wyoming county, and en-
tered the house of Henry Ellsworth and
opened the door and went in, but only
got s2-oh, yes, and managed to get an
overcoat; went into another house with
pistol; there were three of us; we
went into the bedroom there was
man and his wife there told them to
keep quiet; we only got watch and
chain there. (The prisoner again laugh
ed.) We then went to the house of
Abraham Ryman, his daughter was in
bed; we searched the bureau, but found
nothing and left. (Tbe prisoner then
made a statement about the murder,
saying about this affair:) This girl, five
or six years ago, worked in machine
shop; / went into the army; when 1
returned l found her destitute, and
paid her board and kept her at a place
called Blindtown what she wanted
provided her with until six or eight
months ago she was in the habit of
seeing other men; / was not sparkling
her; / did not care much for her; on
the morning of the shooting l went
there before daylight; opened the back
door and went to sleeps slept there un-
til Miller got up, when he pushed me
and said, you devil, youare again here.'
| then got up and went to Miller's bed;
at eight O'Clock Mary Frace came to the
house and got up; l jumped up with
knife in this hand, which | was play
ing with; I stuck the knife in the table,
and then put it in my pocket; tore
my coat doing so; Mrs. Miller then
offered to mend my coat, in doing so
she found my revolver; | told her to
let it alone | did not want to injure
this woman, M'Elwee my revolver had
only three loads in; pointed it at Miss
Frace in fun; l did the same to Mrs.
M'Elwce; thought the pistol was only
half-cocked; did not intend to murder
her, thinking that the barrel of the
pistol snapped was empty; this is all
know of the affair.