The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-01
THE scAFFOLD.

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Execution Of william Donovan at York, Pa,
for the Murder OF n Whole Family-The
Crime-The Trial-The Execution.
Yesterday a noted criminal named william DonO-
van, alias 'Irsh BILL" was hanged at York, Penn
sylvania, for the murder Of three persons On the
evening of Sunday, June IT, 1885, The details of the
crime and the trial are given below
George Squibb, q respectable and lnorensive old
man Of Quaker descent living with his wife and
granddaughter on a small farm situated in quiet
and secluded spot at the foot Of Dares HILL In War
ringtOn township. He had owned 1t for many years,
and by strict economy and industry had succeeded in
accommodating small sum Of money, which he kept
In the house and was In the habit Of loanng out to
his friends and neighbors their necessities required.
He was seventy-One years old at the time OF his
sassnaton his wife was sixtyseven and their little
granddaughter, Emma Jane Seifert, who lived with
them, was between eleven and twelve. Their house,
which was situated about hundred and fifty yards
from public road, was an old, dilapdated build
ing, constructed OF rough logs, was but one story
character and habits Of Its inmates would have
thought for a moment that they were in possession
rooms the ground floor, the one used as kitchen
and sitting room, and the otheras bedchamber. 1t
residing in the neighborhood and who who was was I &C.
quainted with the family was connected with the
The dispute between the head OF the murdered
family and their murderer was OF long standing 1t
appears that about six years ago Donovan, in wan
that died, and Squibb brought suit against him
to recover the price Of the animal. 1t was decided
the money he made threats that he would have re-
venge on Squbb II 1t were twenty years afterwards
It was claimed on the trial that Donovan was an
tll-tempered and desperate character but the evil
dence did not support this claim, showing him to be
simply an eccentric person, inclined at times to in
drink, but, on the whole, considered harmless by
those who knew him best. He was the ostensible
is SAID On
pending against 1t at the time Of the murder, and
that ne was unable to satisfy any Of them It is re-
himself Of the opportunity to gratiy his '' re-
TO sns Settle end his Haes at the %n same ns m
On the evening of Sunday, June II, 1885, about the
co cor to the entered the
house and commenced the bloody work. The crime
was not discovered until about ten O'Clock the fol-
lowing morning, and the Victims both the living and
the dead must have laid where they found dur
ing the whole OF Sunday night up to the hour men
came to the house about ten O'Clock to borrow an
anger, and was the first person who knew anything
Squbb was found lying face downward, upon the
porch, with pool Of coagulated blood around him,
his face being so covered with gore as to render hun
unacceptable. Although nsensible, he was not yet
dead, and fingered until halfpast twelve that night,
more than twentyfour hours after receiving his
wounds: There were fourteen OF these on the right
side Of his head, four OF them having penetrated to
the BRAIN producing the Inconsistencies which con.
tnued to the hour OF his DEATH The fact that these
wounds all the right side OF the head showed
quite conclusvely that they had been inflicted by
lsinanded person and unfortunately for the prs-
The little granddaughter was lying dead in the
Kitchen, with the back part of her head crushed in
showing that the 1end who robbed her Of her innO-
cent life must have accomplished his purpose by
using a heavy hammer or some similar instrument.
was lying state Of insensibility and covered with
blood. She had three wounds on the right side Of
e ns sSa one S % rae n
lowing Wednesday. At the examination before the
Coroner's jury Mrs Squbb was present. and although
perfectly conscious and rational she was unable to
speak, and 1t was necessary to resort to very novel
method in conducting her examination. One Of the
jurymen took her by the hand and requested her.
when he named the person who injured her and muir
dered her husband and grand daughter, to signify
were mentioned to her before Donovan but when the
name or William Donovan was pronounced she
he was the man. She was interrogated In the same
way as to the number Of persons engaged in the out
rage and sgnied by the pressures OF the hand that
on the day Of the murder two suspicious looking
strangers were seen lOtorng In the neighb0rh00d.
1t Is said that Donovan was at Harrisburg the day
| previous, and that he returned home In company
with another man. who Is supposed to have been one
While the Inquest was in PROGRESS Donovan was
arrested and taken before the Coroner, by whom he
was subjected b, to % The sv
racer, was nevertheless sufficiently strong to authO
rize the jury In committing him for trial at the August
1t being the general impression that at least two
persons were engaged in the bloody work, ten differ
ent men arrested and thrown into jail on sus-
pIcion of being concerned in it, But true bills were
found against four persons only at the August term
OF the court viz.:--wiam Donovan, John Boyle,
Edward Boyle and John McGranigan At the No
| vember term Of the court Donovan was tried and
| convicted. He was defended at that time by P. L.
| Wicks, James b. Zeigler and Stas II. Forty. The
| trial lasted ten days and attracted large crowds
every day, showing the interest that was taken In 1t.
The prisoner received his sentence with perfect cool
ness. There was not the slightest change upon his
| countenance and not a word escaped his lips.
motion was made for new trial. The court re-
served ts decision until after the other prisoners
were tried.
! At the January term the remalnng prisoners were
acquitted upon the three separate indictments found
against them. John Boyle, who Is the father OF
EDWARD Boyle was tried and acquitted upon but
and acquitted upon the remaining two indictments
In the next there was merely formal verdict Of
acquittal given, the commonwealth having aban-
doned further prosecution. During the trial Of John
Boyle In April there evidence developed that In
duced the court to grant new trial to Donovan.
Donovan was tried second time at special
| court appointed to try his case on the 2st of last
October. The prosecution was conducted by John
w. Blttinger District Attorney, George w. McElroy
and II. X. Fisher, and the prisoner was defended by
| p. H. Wickes, James b. Zeigler and Levi Maish The
trial began on Monday the 2ist OF October, and was
concluded on Tuesday, the 5th Of November occupy
| ing two weeks and one day. All these cases were
tried before Robert j. Fisher the president Judge
tous Judges OF the State. The second trial elected
the greatest interest," the court being filed with peo
pie every day. The Jury retired at half-past one
O'Clock on Tuesday afternoon and returned at about
| halfpast five the same day with the verdict. The
prisoner received the solemn words pronouncng his
/ fate apparently without an emotion.
The evidence against Donovan was very v0lumf-
nous, and only the most important points can be
given here. There were twelve distinct threats
proved against him, all made I'm period Of six years
anterior to the murder. They were superinduced by
the COW difficulty spoken OF above. They proved q
long settled hate In the mind of the prisoner against
the murdered man, the element necessary to commit
such deed. In one Of them he said that "as sure
the sun rises In the east and sets In the west and
/ water runs down hill he would have revenge on
George Squibb.n In others he said he would have
1 revenge old General Squibb, that he had sold
/ the bread and meat from hts children. He nearly
4 ,hoao tho ovprceaion