The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-26
Execution Of Alexander II. Wiley.

W1LKEsBAERE, Pa, March 2l.- Alex
ander B. Wiley was executed to-day. The
Wyoming Veterans were detailed for the
the occasion. He was hanged at precisely
2 o'clock and five minutes. 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 present, the immediate past, or the
future, but for all Of his sins; that he was
thankful for all the fayors from the Sheriff
and his officers during his confinement; !;
that he did not mean to take the life of
Alice McElwee; that he forgaye all, especi-
ally his prosecutors, and that he bad moth
ing more to say. The body was cut down
after remaining suspended for 20 minutes
and was delivered to the undertaken. 1t
was conveyed TO the Catholic 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 confess
ion prior to his execution;
am 26 years of age, and was born at
| Plymouth, in this county; followed canal
business until he beginning Of the war; |
had no opportunities for school education or
religious instruction; enlisted in the army
deserted eight times, and was sentenced to
! be shot; at Gettysburg | deserted again
then came home: | robbed Robert Abbots,
who lives on the plains, of 800; then
robbed shoe store at Bindtown After
mentioning a number of other robberies he
continued: On the l4th of April last
went with two Others to the house of Mr..
Hungerforl opened the door ky secret
, latch, and walked to the bed, but | had no
pistol; | told the old man | wanted his
money [ 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 entered the house
of Henry Ellsworth and opened the door
and went ip, but only got $2-oh, yes, and
managed to get an overcoat; went into an
other house with a 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 a watch and
chain there. (The prisoner again 'aughed)
| We then went to the house of Abraham
Ryman; his daughterwas in bed we search
ed the bureau, but found nothing and left.
I (The prisoner then made statement about
the murder, saying about this atfair:) This
girl, five or six years ago, worked IN
machine-shop; | went into the army; when
| returned | found her destitute, and | paid
her board and kept her at 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 mucn
for her; on the morning Of the shooting |
/ h6uG UuCIG DSIOlC udl i4t5HI3 pPNA4N' "Aio
back door and went to sleep; slept there
until Miller got up, when he pushed me
and said, "You devil, YOU are again here; );
| then got up and went into Miiler's bed
at o'clock Mary Frace came to the house
and got up; l jumped up with a knife in
this hand, which | was playing with; /
stuck the knife in the table, and then put
it in my pocket; tore my coat dong 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, McElwee; my revolver had
only three loads in; pointed it at Miss Frace
in fun; | did the same to Mrs. McEIwee i
thought the pistol was only haIfco cked;
did not intend to murder her, thinking that
the barrel of the pistol l snapped was
empty; this is al. | know of the affair.
Duty OF TOWNSHIP AUDITORS 1t
I may not no cranaraIIy known that q oener