The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-20
MAURICE LANERGAN, THE WIFE MURDERER
COURT Of GENERAL SESSIONS.
Maurice Lancrgan Sentenced to be Executed
on tho Ninth Of August.
Before Recorder Haokett

Maurice Lancrgan Sentenced to be Executed
ON tho Ninth Of August.
Before Recorder Hackett.
mo court crowded yesterday. having been
understood that Maurice Lancrgan, who convicted
murder the first degree would be sentenced to
plate his offence on the soarold After some prelim-
nary business was transacted the Clerk directed Lansrgan
10 30 araigned.
Mr. KISSING ono or the counsel for the prisoner,
moved for trial. the ground Of tho verdict being
against Tho law and against tho evidence arguing that
the Court Of General Sessions had the power to grant
District Attorney Hall replied observing II tho Court
had tho power TO grant tho motion II would not DO likely
80 e Of the
aud also by the Court Of Appeala
Mr. spencer renewed the motsn and Mr.. Hall replied
Counsel for the prisoner asked the court TO decide pre-
Hminarily whether they had right 70 make the motion
for & new trial upon the merits
The Recorder decided o had not that power 70 which
decision the counsel excepted.
IAnergan was then ordered 70 stand mp when the
Judgment should not be pronounced against hlms
Mr. Charles g Spencer said:-Ths defendant has
he ssssrss most trusSfay that his Wife aid not come
to her death, dreoy Indirectly through his instru.
mentay that he feels conscious Of entire innocence in
this matter and that with tho utmost confidence he
awaits hereafter the prompt reversal Of verdict which,
il hs Judgment and thai Of his counsel was totally un.
The Recorder in passing sentence, spoke as foows:
LAxR0AH-On the TIN day Of November years since
you were indicted In this court for an assault snd bat
terv. You convicted OF the offence and tho humane
consideration OF the then presiding Judge prompted him
70 innict upon you slight and nercuI sentence That
have prompted you TO life withcu. reprosch seems not
70 he boon valued and the seed OF your former offence
has rpsnsd into the poisonous fruit Of murder palm
ful duty now develves upon me-. closing one, 90
do propose add the inevitable rsmoe thai you
must endure IN your present situation ~ rcoapitulsng
the acts proved upon ynQr trial and which nust DO
wildly before you You very ably ssaiously and
undons II your behalf which could have been conceived
or urged by oounss The jury atssr fsr and tmpar.
y, % nsys nv, os :: q sn the We e
somfOr honor and % keep In scknes and II health"
The ysrdlos g shs sy brands 70. e Isrisrsr .aa
ods we're recognised Dy the ancisn Is crimes q The
usmoes airooy aad Visited psalshmsoss q shs bare
murder. In sariisr times man who purposeIy and
ths tsmpio Afforded no protection fully oonosr ush
hs jury in the verdict they have rendered. they have
substantially found that yco within 70. hours bstsr:
dead In the very matrimonial bed exhibiting upon her
person Of bruises and Of laceratsd and incssd
deed you looked her In The room. leaving stiffness
Of death, you hastsnsd 70 carouss With boon
psniona In expressing ny oenc.rsnos WITH me YER
cunstances eihibn . nendishnsss seldom paraisied.
Mere brutality towards wife u perjury issif In Wow
demands the sevsrsst penalty known 70 our law Il
mains for the court 70 ssntsuce that justice
should BE- satisfied The rational end Of punish mons II
the prevention Of crima This 10 evidently the end
OF laws and arc only means OF making laws
sfYsctual. The prevention OF crime mar b aimed u
In two ways; by The effect which the punlshments
Intended TO have upon the minds OF Others and BY their
sffect upon the criminal himself LAnsrgau, the sen-
tcnce Of the court H. that you b taken hence 70 the
county prison. there 70 remain until che OH DAY Of
August next and thence 70 tho place OF dssg.
mated BY Law. and on that day, between the hours Of
nine o'clock In the morning and twelve O'Clock ct noon,
DO hanged BY the neck until you be dead; and In
the judicial prayer that has been transmitted from
earliest English civilization may the Almighty and
living God have mercy upon your soul.
HIS Honor exhibited great emotion while addreeslug
the prisoner and nj tho close Of his almost
overcome by the soemnity OF the OCCASION that being
the nrst sentence which he has passed for alleged
capital offence since the commencement Of his ofoia
career.
II may not DO improper TO answer query which those
unfamiliar with the rules OF criminal Law would naturally
make, viz Why did aos the prosecution reous the
tmony Of good character proved By the prsoners The
people could not attack general character By introducing
specific alleged criminal act
The death warrant was Then read, and Lansrgan was
taken in charge BY Sheriff Kelly.