New-York tribune., 1868-01-03
THE GALLONS.
fE EXECUTION OF THOMAS WELSH.


traeeabe TO the effects Of evil associations, mingled with
a natural vicious tendency Welsh was an iiterate
youth aud had followed the canal for living from early
childhood lie had received training from his parents
aud the moral germs OF his nature quickly choked
by the atmosphere OF crime and awessness peculiarly
incident 10 the life of boatman Short and thickset III
stature, he drew pugilistc inspiration from his com
panons, and was invariably applauded by them when
successful in rOugh-and-tumble fights barroom knock
downs, or tow-path melees He could neither read
wnte, but he early learned to take his
beer and whisky with the Tecklessness OF
true canaller" and doubtlessly labored under
the impression quite universal among his associates that
one distinguishing characteristic OF perfect man was
the ability to drink certain quantity OF rum without
losing his equilibrium. Welsh no exception to the
canals in the Summer aud coay yards and docks IN
the Wiuter Although Thns had scarcely touched him
ntoxicat0n and. though he worked hard Igt ana day.
his highest ideas Of recreation were based IA tne ue
bauchery accompanying a drunken spree lie never
attended school though living IN state blessed
schools To a certain extent, society was responsible Tor
his actions. The good that was in him was chOked with
OyergrOwth OF evil and its development was checked
by the relative position which lie held in life. His evil
passions stimulated by evil associations He was
naturally energetic aud smart When but u years old nc
hired boat on the Morris ana Essex Canal installed
beautiful but dss0ute aud unfortunate girl therein as MS
mistress aHd worked hard making cOnsiderahe money
aud spending IL in low groggeres earned. Dur
ing his trial, his pamOuT Kate Conner, testimony
against the prisoner with evident reluctance Bad as se
was she loved him. and in utter despair at his inpend
ing fate She drowned her Sorrows fits Of intOxicaton,
aud would the streets for hours wailing ana moan
ing passing night after night in StatOnhOuSes where,
dreaming spells of sOmnOlency, she would speak OF
herself as the real criminal and IN plteous tones, Samor
for the pardon of "COdger' Welsh Al Iength she was
committed TO tile County Jail as common Nagrant.
When released She visited her home IN Jersey Guy Dat
found encouragement or sympathy III her efforts 10
lead puIer life. Every avenue seemed closed IN u,ler
despair she Ihaiy maue aplH"on 70 i tnG hni5
DeSeechlng him 10 again commit Der 20 pllsV ullue
within its gloomy walls TO ind temporary resting place.
Her request granted 1t is said that though much
degraded, she retains some germ OF gO9u ap3ul nci anu
II kindly treated might he soon reformed as she is SICK at
iegence than the average in the lower classes
of life, aud is truthful in her statements.
State Prison for highway robbery ON his release he re-
suned his occupation on the canal ON lne eyenlHg ol
the 4h of July at the solicitation Of Bernard farIey
..suree and rounded IL of with murder Tie prisoners
statement differs materially from the evidence gwen at
,he trial. Ia which u appeared that tho n9daeaeG o % az
Chatham and Malrel-sts. TOrmey demonstrated with
the men for their rudnss at which lhey n1t pounySu
upon him aud dragged him to the ground Mhle & IN III tns
situation they be-; and kicked him about the head III
most unneredul manner ana Meisn; InaS The oIu %,de
pocket knife stabbed MN III te % aoV ,d dd 1 tIv n
penetrated the liver. from which the DlOOd hoWe1 Freely
IOrmeys cries of murder and help were heau Dy po-
hceman, who lifted him from the gutter ana placed n
the sidewalk. The lOcelhn Wel III SeaIeh oi dsfat
aIcr and when he returned the murdered man had eN-
pred In voice devoid OF emotion the condemned man
made statement to reporter OF his early lie ana e
10 OF age on Ja 1897 vas asleep all day until
osA n ,ae evening" Fany alG ihp L cam came & 10 "S h. n0s %
he wac down until noring; tod hm was gong eoTA to
,he h and see there ANYTHING 20 ng on 80 ne ana %
me up street further and had compile @ glasses Of
beer; be asked ne would go ap BtIeR.st u ne Noa ZEE %
great deal b started for home pear Cha'ha@t we et
og WaHent Wesl nen states that fsIFel spISS an
sppobrs ehrs the aud tie after ae "k uE on about 81
The he w 10 me end used ou language; he then caught bold f
- "a me ion and licked me- Farrey then tumbed the
both OF us; Fary got him and got tbrn '
both top vas holeng to hun to let me up M ss % n
up then pulled out uy knife and struck hH as thought
n 's leg 80. % as & be " on AZ @ In & o t' five % 1s n1e % as4 en @
loq et ne sad H aI !Sl ior ~ ht Fv % tFp 81 ws5 spl
ysn looking ha did not nnd NY hat son started
o. Sidewalk ioenng watch then Fary ny house
% s m % m Vs. man 1ns dead at the corner Of warren
Ans remembered We ns gov alh som 'e ,, ~ ~ ~ iii
nv sister TO pat assr then threw the sink We
sIsp sf me would 20 10 jersey CITY horse We
te Kept drinking The ~ 1s "a foa, % % 81 Ss & s. @ 1 os %
soxb to cad advised lsNyers TO plead not guilty
Proposed making statement, informed that could have no'h
The trial of Welsh and Farrely began oct 10. The
jury remained ont a hour ana then w. l verI
pied the supreme Court of the state for new trial
On review Of the evidence in the lower Court this was
granted 10 Iarrely elt refused 70 Nelsh Iulcy % mn
vcaded guilty 10 ughteT,which plea was accepted
tbereupon sentenced to ten years hard labor in the
State Prison. Welshs doom was sealed ON Nov is
Jquory as the day OF execution The doomed boy heard
tie sentence with but little emotion and hope o re
peve sprang mp within his breast His friends applied
10 the Court Of Pardon for remission OF the sentcce
but to avail Had the application been indofsed oy
%onId have obtained a least a reprevc The Judge,
however thought that such action OF his part would be
Inconsistent with his duty, and he courteousiy but himy
The days nsy by and hope disappeared from the poor
boys heart His face white and palid and oSea-
E0uay indcfuabe look OF terror sat IN his eyes the
GOOD Father Dalton and the Sisters of Charity visited
linn daily and erdeayOred TO warm his heart with words
of comfort and religious sOace, yet seemingly with nut
He felt that he deserved no more severe punishment
than Farrelly had received. "Why should be hanged,
and Farrely get OFF with state Prison Tor 10 years. lie
began the light. and he ended 10 with kicking Tormey
after had stabbed him. was under ana IoImey was
top OF me, pounding me; Iareiy was on 'op Oi nm
pounding him, instead Of taking him on from me- felt
FOR my knife ana stabbed ml9 Dnt diu hoS nean 10 k
him" This was has cOntinnal reply TO inquiries ana
stil the days flew by. His brother visited him. and re-
called the puny happiness OF childhood hours his sister
miserable father always sober occasionally appeared
hearing naudny Inquired Of the Sheriff If he could have
''poor TOMS body after he hung" These painful
priest the soothing words of the sofspeakng Sisters
And s he was apparently III ,o h 9 MS oDe Laoe
occasionally slmmered In the distance, but despair
dneers were blotting few heeng hours Of hs
istence The merry chime Of bells and the peang OF
muskety announced the advent or the new year The boy
had given up the last faint spark OF hope ana listened
eagerly to the words OF his faithful spiritual adviser
ktill innate stGbbornness OF feeng wOu1 eIhDt IL
self and while protesting willingness TO die. he could
not fObear bitter complaint ON The relative POSITIONS OF
himself and lis confederate rarely Inc snort soDDng
NevYear's day passed at last But one night more TO
vei During the day his brother and sister visited MN
for the tine the former remaining IN DIS cell uhth
morning The good father and the white faced Sisters
unrcnittng in their KIND attentions lhe
fhnng Warden furnished the poor boy with delcacies
from his table, but they were returned untaSted
lie asked goblet OF milk punch and 1t was furnished
Drinking il with great apparent satisfaction he spoke
few kinds his sObbg sister, and then continued
his religious deyOtOns. The door OF the cell was again
thrown open and his mother aud father paid him Their
last VISIT. They remained with hm until 10 p ~ After
embracing and kissing her boy for the last time the sorrow
stricken mother tainted and was carried out Of the prison
In obedience 10 his request his sister Kate, whose evil
enee was OF the strong links the chain OF crcum
stsntal evidence against him, remained In the cell for
few moments. short, affecting conversation ensued
during which the prisoner gave the fearful girl some good
ndgce and the Interview clOsod with "A cOnvulsiye
IL I'm ...hI LII