North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-03
VOL. 6 NO. 81

VOL. 6 NO. 81
dent Judge, assisted by the Hon. George
P Steele ani Thomas Ceilings, Associate
Judges.
| The attorneys engaged in the trial on
the part of the prisoner were Harry Hskss
and Fl. W. Palmer, Esqrs.
On the part of the Commonwealth, d,
R. Randall. District Attorney, and Chas.
Pike, E>q.
To the charge preferred against HIM in
the bill of Indictment, charging the prison.
er with the urder of Alice NcEIwee, he
plead not guilty.
The following named gentlemen were
empaneled as the jury for the trial Of the
cause
GEO BUCKINGHAM A. J. FINCH.
JOS. F. SHALEs, DAVID ALEswoRrH,
N. WAsHBuRN, JOS LocKHARr.
G. J. LILLIBRiDGE, ANDREW PHILIPS,
Patrick WALKER, P,rRIcK CAwLKY.
WM. HEssLER, M. HANNva.
| Who on the evening OF the 9th of Decem.
b"r rendered the following verdict, viz -
THAT We find the defendant guilty of mur-
der in the first degree as be stands charged
in the Indictment"
! The counsel for the prisoner filed rea-
SONS and moved for a new trial, The prin-
| cipal ground for new trial was an alleged
separation of the jury while they lad the
prisoner in charge. This motion was over.
snled by the Court.
I RESPITE,
| Even after the death warraLt of the
| Governor had heen read to the prisoner,
he continued persistrntly to repulse every
tff,rt of the clergy to consult with aud
counsel him, until the Saturday preceding
the day fixed for his execution. On that
day Father Fitzsimmons. of the Church of
| the Immaculate Conception, Of this place,
| visited hlm aud was sufficiently successful
in softeuing lis obdnratc nature as to feel
constrained to apply to the Executive for a
respite. On the 18th, two days before the
time for his execution. Governor Gcary stay
e1 the execution of the sentence of the
Court and respited the prisoner from the
l5th day Of March until Thursdoy, the
2lSt, during VIII ch time the r. ", Fath-r
was nnremitting in his attention to the
| -piriIual wants OF the doomed criminal.
| THE EXECUTION,
On the morning of the 2lst the gallows
| were erected liz the centre of the Jail ward,
and every preparation had been completed
tor carrying into execution the sentence Of
the Court. As early as nine O'Clock the
streets of the town were perceptibly filling
up, and by noon were thronged by q crowd
Of human beings of every class, attracted
here through morbid curiosity, in the
hope of seeing the wretcned criminal pay
his lass debt to the law The arrange
ments of the Sheliffto prevent any confu-
sinn or disturbance were most admirable.
He had made arequisltion on the Wyom-
ing Veterans, a new military organ zation,
and had appointed An ample force of depu-
ties, all Of whom were under the lmme-
diate command of a Chief Marshal, E B.
Ceilings. Esq. 80 -,
At one O'clock and forty minutes the
gate of the jsl-yard was thrown. open for
the admission Of all who had received per-
mits from the Sheriff. The pressure of
the throng was great but excellent order
was preserved by the military, aud C.pt.
Ellis, Lieut.. Marcy aud other officer. of
The company, were indefatigable in their
"xertions for the preservation of ORDER.
The only trouble was occasianed by an ir
responsible aud low lived rowdy by the
name of DAILY, who at one time ran his
bayonet through the clothing of one citi-
zen, and with characteristic rudeness plac-
ed it against the breast Of number of 9TH
ers, with threats to run them through" If
they did not keep back The Veterans
would save their credit by expelIing such
an overbear:ng rpffian from their ranks
Those entitl'd to admission were soon
Within the enclosure and awaiting with
fearful anxiety the final scene in the legal
tragedy. At precisely ten minutes to two
o'clock the prisoner emerged from the Jail
intothe ward, leaning upon the arms Of
Sheriff Vanleer and Ex Sheriff Stark, and
accompanied hy Father Fitz>immons, his
spiritual adviser, and Father Nagle and
Fennan, the latter of Pittston. His coun-
t,nancr was blanchrd. but he approached
The steps of the scaffold with firm step,
his eyes resting upon a cross which he held
in his hand. He ascendeI the scaffold
without placing either hand upon the bal
nstrade AMI took his position upon the
platform, with his back to the jail and fac,
ing SOUTH On his left stood Father Fig
simmons, and on his right Sheriff Vanleer,-
Fathers Magic and Finnan. and Ex Sheriff
Stark. The religious exercises, which com
meneed at the ioot Of the steps to the scaf
fold. were conducted by Rev Fenn,,r, after
the conclusion of which the Sheriff.. rn.d
to the culprit and asked him ifhe hsd any,
thing to say. He turned to bis spiritual
adviser, and after some conversation in an
undeitonr, Father Fiiz>imm"us. in behalf