The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-14

| u
| lowed O'Farrel and Father Dwyer, then came the
sherins ana, last OF all, the two hangmen one OF
al Sne Ss ss Ssns LONG aa
| O'Farrel walked along with firm steady,
even STEP his chest thrown out, his head erect his
whole demeanor that OF soldier about to be put 10
death for some petty nfraction Of military discipline
rather than that OF murderer and a feon. He was
were polished, his linen spoflessly clean, and his
necktie neatly and carefully arranged TO snow tne
Of gentiemaniy morals K was noticed by those who
saw his body after 1t was cut GOWN .nas sr ms
nails had been carefully cleaned I'M, h he s can
| trived to hold a crucidx before him, as he
marched slowly and steadily along and his lips were
| constantly moving as he murmured the responses
to the scarcely audible words Of the priest Arrived
at the steps OF the scanold (Which was temporary
structure of black painted beams he Enelt down for
| a few seconds BY the side OF Father Dwyer and
offered up what was probably his last prayer upon
quickly up the steps, shaking or Indignantly the
| pronered arm OF the aged hangman, who seemed to
fom he advanced at once to the drop and looking
| above he seemed TO notice where the rope was
70 Station 10 Ssn
| away the crucnx, shook hands with him. and,
uttering a last benedictOn, left the platform. The
hangman then adjusted the rope, and O'Farrell after
looking at the people below for moment, raised his
face. which was perfectly calm and resigned in its
however the cap was drawn over his head, the in
firm and aged hangman touched the bolt with his
foot, and O'Farrell fell through the drop. When the
rebound but it was evident that the unfortunate
man had been instantly killed, the rope having
shifted around to the back OF Ae neck, and the con-
nectOn between the spine and head being conse-
quenty severed by the shock. Death must have been
both immediate and painless.
The lifeless body was allowed to hang for about
twenty minutes, nearly all the spectators present
Ing nearly all the time, ana gazing silently at the
dangling corpse that swayed TO and fro as the wind
caught It. A physician then examined the body and
having declared it to be nanimate was at once cut
down and lowered into the rough box filled with
OF coffin. The body was lowered down by jerks
into this receptacle and while all the spectatorS
crowded eagerly round the cap was taken or and
the features OF the dead man disclosed to view His
face, although disco,ored and purple with suffused
blood, bore peaceful and almost happy express
sion. What was singular still, the eyes
were closed and the mouth scarcely open, the jaw
having become rigid before the muscles had relaxed.
The veins of the neck OF greatly swollen,
and the rope in passing rapidly round had slightly
abraded the right side OF the neck. The deceased
seemed taller than in life hs real height was five
feet ten inches), and the coffin being somewhat too
short the corpse had to be slightly huddled together
to make it tit into it.. An inquest was held shortly
afterwards and the usual verdict returned The body
subsequently buried in the prison yard, though
at first 1t was runored that the sisters Of OFarren
had applied for his remains and intended to inter
them In the Catholic cemetery at Melbourne.
The calm and steady manner in which the unfor-
In regard to his sanity. Some look upon the cOmpO-
sure In his last moments as conclusive proof Of his
this very circumstance clearly SHOWS that oFsrre
while he was man Of great resolution and courage,
was also perfectly conscious OF and prepared Tor the
consequences OF his action.
few days after the execution the following state.
ment, the last he made on earth, was given to the
public, though not with the consent Of the govern
ment:-
"Being now about to appear before my Creator
feel it my duty to give expression my heartfelt sor
row for the grieyoIs crime have committed. From
the very bottom OF my heart do grieve for what
have done. have hitherto said that was one OF
done It, had not the slightest foundation for such
o statement. l was never connected with any man
hnIu nf man Vhn hoh fnr fhnfr nlNi0
taking Of the life OF the Duke of Edinburg Never
in any other than an indirect manner connected
with that organization In Ireland and elsewhere which
is known by the name OF the Fenan organization.
wish moreover distinctly to assert that there not
of the object had in view when medtated on and,
through the merciful providence Of Cod failed In
carrying into effect the death OF the Duke Of Edin
burg. have written to the printers Of two Irish
periodicals address to the people Of ireland, and
certain was OF the death OF the Duke Of Ednburg
that stated therein that which believed would be
| the fact; and think have more than implied that
| was but one Of an organization to carry the
into effect. need but say that The truth Of the latter
portion rests upon slighter foundation than the
| former; In fact that, unless from mere hearsay.
association in New south Wales. From continually
thinking and talking OF what may still be allowed
10 eS a s on 6e sbee and Wa e
under the influence OF those feelings that attempted
to perpetrate the deed for which am most jusy
| The original Of this document was delivered by
O'Farrell, few days before his execution, to the
| that 1t should be made public The government,
| however, who have quarrel at the present time
with the Catholics on the educational question, have
all along endeavOred to make political capital out Of
O'Farrells attempt upon the life OF the Prince 1t
has been ndustriously circulated that while the
Catholic priesthood openly made show OF denOunc-
ing Feniansm they secretly encouraged and rostered
It, 1t Is probable that OFarrell, made aware OF this
fact by his priest made the above statement In the
hope Of clearing his faith from the odium he has un
consciously brought upon It, II he had not been pru
dent enough, however, to have made certain or its
w n 4 a
Father Dwyer there is little doubt that would have
been suppressed for considerable period. Mr..
Parker, when asked to publish the statement fatly
refused, and another member. Mr.. Macleay, to whom
the second copy had been entrusted for the purpose
then made 1t public. Great doubts are still enter
tanned whether 1t contains the whole truth by large
number OF people, who regard 1t as written by OFar-
and at the same time doing an act OF justice to the
religious communion OF which he was member.
than Tor ANYTHING else. These doubts WIN probably
however, frutless as was their attempt to discover
the accomplices whom O'Farrell protested to
have in league with him, by Offering bride OF f100o
head their apprehension, have again attempted
to unearth the Fenan Brotherhood, by offering re-
ward Of ESQ for the apprehension and conviction Of
certain persons ''whO, 1t Is believed are accus-
toned to meet together within the boundaries Of
her most gracious Maesty's colony Of New South
Wales for certain seditious and Illegal purposes"
Departure Of Prince AIfrcd-Tbe Feuian Ex-
citement-Prorosation Of the New South
Wales Parliament-The Business Of the Past
session-seneral Dulness Of Trade-PrO.
posed Expectation of Fresh Meat to Eng
Iand-Austrnlian Kcrosenc-HOrrible Muir.
der by a Police Magistrate-Failure Of the
Wheat Crop in south Australia.
SYDNEY, April 30, 1858.
On the 9Th inst Prince Alfred set sail in the Gala
tea for England after visit to Australia which has
lasted several months, and which has cost the colo
MES about $4,000 Of public money, independent
OF the sums which have been expended by private
citizens for transpsrences, triumphal arches, ilu-
| limitations, millinery and wasted time. He has I'M
doubtedy been received with all the appearances of
enthusiastic loyalty. and up to the last the people
| persevered manfully to keep up TINS state
| Of feeling. II Is doubtful though from the
many murmurs loud and deep which have been
made lately by taxpayers about the expensiveness OF