The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-09
JERRY O'BRLEN.

Interview Between the Prisoner and
His ReIatives-His DemeanOr as the
End Approaches.
The preparations for the execution of 0'Brien
were commenced yesterday at the Tombs. In
the afternoon the carpenters began the work
of erecting the gallows, and before evening the
entire structure was completed. 1t consists of
two strong beams firmly braced to the stone
floor OF the yard, distant from each other about
fifteen feet, and joined at the top by heavy
cross-piece extending from one upright beam
to the other. In the middle of the crosspece
rope passes through hole made for its easy
passage, and above the beam over small pull
ley, one OF the ends is connected with heavy
weight which is concealed behind board par
tition, the weight being held about four feet
above the surface of the ground by
guy rope, which is fastened firmly to a
beam on a line with the base of one
of the upright beams, and which, when cut
in twain by the axe of the executioneT, who is
to be stationed behind the partition, will cause
the weight to fall and the body of the wretched
condemned, when attached by the moose around
his neck to the exposed end of the rope, to be
jerked from the ground a distance of four or
more feet. The horrid structure has been
erected on the same spot in the yard that has
been made unhallowed ground by all the execu-
tions that have taken place in the Jail yard for
the past seven years, just opposite the women's
prison, and almost beside the cell occupied by
the condemned criminal. 1t Is the same gallows
from which FrierY, Ferris, and Wagner paid the
penalty of their crimes, the deep incision of the
eXeCuJlOQer'S axe maze at 6dCn execution III LDe
ground-beam being plainly visible.
During the entire afternoon Sheriff Kelly was
besieged by persons, whose morbid curiosity
did no credit to their manhood, who were desi.
rous of seeing the prisoner before the hour fixed
for his execution, or of being appointed special
deputy sherits, according to law, to witness the
execution itself. In no one instance were the
desires OF the sightseers granted, and the Sheriff
has SO far decided not to allow any one to enter
the jail-yard pending the execution except Off
cials and others who, by reason of their public
position or official duties, are under the neces-
sity OF being present Among the applicants
was man named James Dugan. He appeared
before Justice Bowling in the afternoon, and
begged the Justice to commit him for ten days
as drunkard, as he was desirous of being
! execution. He had come fully prepared for the
| occasion, and had concealed under his coat a
! large piece of lookIng-glass with which he in
of the cell in which he desired to be placed. The
Justice complied with the mans request, but
much to his disgust and disappointment, as soon
as he was taken into the Tombs yard he was
placed in the ''Black Maria" !" and sent to Black
wells Island to serve out his term of ten days.
0'Brien was visited during the day by his
mother and sisters, and although their visits
of late have been very frequent, the nearness O.
the final hour when the unfortunate young mar
is to be deprived of his life had the effect o
rendering their interview one OF most painful
and touching character. The grief of the be
reaved mother knew no bounds, and 1t required
all the fortitude of her equally suffering daugh
tiers to induce her to leave the cell of the con
demned before night came on. The prisonel
bore up manfully during the interview, and did
much by his actions and modest advice t
sIrengthen his heart-broken relatives in thi
hour of their supreme grief. Decidedly th
most painful feature of their visit was that tn
sorrowing women in going to and from the Gel
were compelled to pass almost beneath the gal
lows ...
A shudder seemed to creep over them as the,
turned their faces to avoid the horrid sight II
hurrying by. Although while the gallows wa
being erected the echoes of the sounding ham
mers of the carpenters at work reverberatet
throughout the building, and fell painfully OF
the ear of those in the cell adjoining that II
which the condemned is imprisoned, he himsel
showed no signs OF trepidation. His spiritua
advisers and the Sisters of Mercy were in con
slant attendance upon him during the day, AM
were untiring in their exertions TO prepare hin
fully for the terrible ordeal through which he i
| to pass.
The suit in which he is to be attired at tn
| execution, which was sent in to him yesterday
consists Of q pair of white pants, white vest
| and black frock coat. The execution will tax
place promptly at nine o'clock this morning.
| ~ Y Herald