Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-02
THE GALLOWS.
Execution of O'Farrel, the Assailant
Sydney, N s. W. tApril SOl, Correspondence of the

Execution of O'Farrell, the Assailant
OfPrince Alfred-His Last Statement.
Sydney, N s. W. april 30l, Correspondence of the
New York HERALD
The last stroke ofnine has scarcely struck
when O'FaITel, the reverend father in at
tendence upon him, the sheriffs and hang
men (of whom there weretwo) slowly emer-
ged from the circular stone tower, in which
the men condemned to death are confined,
and walked in procession across the prison
yard, being separated from the spectators
by wooden barrier Two jailors went
first, then followed 0Farrell and Father
Dwyer, then the sheriffs, and last the two
hangmen, one of whom was q man of
extreme age, with long, white, ,unkempt hair,
and his body bent with age. 0'FaTell
walked along with a firm, steady, even
step, his chest thrown out, his head erect,
his whole demeanor that of soldier about
to be put to death for some petty infraction
of military discipline, rather than that of a
murderer and felon. He was dressed in
suit of some grey. material, his boots
were polished, his linen spotlessly clean,
and his neck-tie neatly and carefully ar
ranged. To show the attention he had
paid to these minor niceties of gentlemanly
morals, it was noticed by those who sawhis
body after it was cut down, that his nails
had been carefully cleaned His arms were
pinioned above the elbows, buthe contrived
to hold crucifx before him, as he march,
ed slowly and steadily along, and
his lips were constantly moving, as
he murmured the responses to the
scarcely audible words of the priest. Ar
rived at the steps of th7 scahold (Which
was temporary structure of black painted
beams) he knelt down for few seconds by
the side of Father Dwyer, and offered up
what was probably his last prayer upon
earth. Preceded by the priest, he ran
lightly and quickly up the steps, shaking
off Indignantly the profered arm of the
aged hangman, who seemed to imagine
that he was faltering. Arrived on the
platform, he advanced at once to the drop,
and looking above he seemed to notice
where the rope was attached and to calcu-
tate the proper spot upon which to station
himself The priest then took away the
crucifx, shook hands with him, and utter
ing last benediction, left the platform
The hsngman 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 aspect, and seemed again to pray. In
an instant, however, the cap was drawn
over his head, the infrm ndaged hangman
touched the bolt with his foot, and 0Far-
rell fell through the drop. When the body
reached the end of the rope there was a
silent rebound, and it was evident that the
unfortunate man had been instantly killed,
the rope having shifted around to the back
of the neck, and the connection between
the spine and the head being consequently
severed by the shock. Death must have
been both immediate and painless.
A few days ago, after the execution, the
following statement, the last made OIL
earth, was given to the public though mo-
with the consent OF the government
"Being now about to appear before my
Creator, feel it my duty to give expression
to my heartfelt sorrow for the grievoul
crime have committed. From the very
bottom of my heart do / grieve for what
have done. 1 have hitherto said that wal
one Of many who were prepared to do thu
deed had not done it. / had not thu
slightest foundation for such a statement
was never connected with any man O
body of men who had for their object tn,
taking of the life of the duke of Edinburg
Never was in any other than an indirec
manner connected with that organization
in Ireland and elsewhere which is know
by the name of the Fenian organi
zation. / wish moreover distinctl,
to assert that there was no
a human being in existence VIII
had the slightest idea Of the object 1 ha,
in view when 1 meditated on and, througl
the merciful providence of God, failed il
carrying into effect, the death of the Duk
of Edinburgh. / had written to the prin
ters Of two Irish periodicals an address t,
the people Of Ireland, and so certain was
of the death of the duke of Edinburgh tina
stated therein that which l believed woul,
be the fact and / think have more thai
implied that was but one of the oreani
zation to carry the same into effect.
need but say that the truth of the latte