The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-11
4 DEATH SENTENCE.
Sentence Of a Woman In Buffalo for Murder
An Affecting Scene.
From the Buffalo Courier, Nov.

From the Buffalo Courier, Nov. OF
The announcement that Judge Masten would pro-
bounce The sentence Of death upon Kate Johnson,
fne murderess OF Bridget McDermot, on Saturday
caused the court room to be nlled with people, *
Ten O'Clock the Judge entered ana assumed his seat
qnd few moments afterward Kate Johnson was
Drought In. She was decently dressed but her
tenance showed the traces OF O Sleepless night AS
phe sat within the bar, while some routine business
was being transacted, her features in constant
side to side If in quest Of friendly face from
Enich she could CLEAN hope. sac was evidently in
4he did so. courtesyed to The court and took few
mseps forward Judge Masten addressed her in
.Catliarlne Johnson, You have been indicted, tried
and convicted OF the wilful murder OF Bridget Nc
Deinot, in this city, the 18th day OF July last.
Have you any thing to say why the Judgment OF the
saw should not be passed upon your
The poor creature then commenced an incoherent
saa spSoS IN 80 low yoe anu nsr
60 catch all she SAID Its substance that she had
killed Bridget McDermot but that she was so much
under the lnfuence OF liquor that she did not re-
member the commission OF the deed. She was out
o. her senses. She spoke OF her children, OF whom
iuded to Nellie shcehan. the witch OF the
trated, and charged that she was the cause OF the
murder, because she had furnished the liquor.
she alluded TO tine woman OF whose house she had
obtained the axe, charging the responsibility OF tue
CRIME upon her because she dil nor axe the weaVOn
from her, ard made inooaercnt mention OF some
other woman, from whom an axe had been taken
under slpsiiar circumstances AZ thus point she
broke do sobbing pteously, but recovered partial
command 81 herself in q few moments, and went on
In a rambling appeal to all present she SAID there
were several old men on the jury VINO might
meet their Maker before she did and they wouid
then know what she had suffered. she Implored
compassion, saving that she had worked for many
respec. able people, mentioning Dr. Rochester, Mr..
FILLMORE ana others, aud they would all testify 10 her
GOOD character. In the course OF her remarks she
slluded TO the posslo iy OF her never Coming out
OF prison. which showed that she did not expect the
extreme sentence OF the law.
tf.x. rka hGi. nd
lows
partial trial. The witnesses YOU desired Ia your de-
Yanre were suhpnnacd by tie people and attended.
You were defended by counsel vino presented 20 the
consideration oil The Court ana Jury every matter OF
law ana OF fact thar could be urged n your defence.
You were tried by an lnteigeat, eonsclentlous ana
nunaEe jury, VINO. after careful and deliberate
consideration or the case, declared upon their oais
ana conscience You are guilty o. me hign crime
charged against you. The evidence forced the be-
lief ui your guilt upon the minas Of al who took
Tarf in your tra II was not, could not be denied
Shat the homicide was committed 3, you; but 1t was
slrl-aI that you had no design Or intent to Kill You
aud ING deceased were at The house OF Nelly Shee-
nan whov. you three drank lislor and became con-
adaraolv Intoxicated a diiicgiy sprang Up be-
tween you ana them. You iiit the house OF Seily
Shechar y state Of such lis excrealent anu pas.
your. ,Dniu. back. You went % Inc house az o
negnbor and got an axe, declrtd at the time that
yot intended o. do harm VITA 4. You returned to
fhe lot:sc OF Nelly Seehan ari With the axe br oke
IN tnc window and then tic door o, cha house and
bridget McDeri,ot on ner knees on the door and
you str1c. her blow after blow with the blade o. the
axe upon Ter head anu meek, inGictug nine serious
wounds, - which five were mortal, aad you let her
q corrse. When your excitement bad Of least par
ITALY Sc sized. but while your hands ana face and
1prlieris were yet stained with tie fresh blood Of
EcrF vic.sn you are said TO have expressed regret
tba, y0r mi not also Killed Nelly Sheehan. am
not a,i, see now the jury, upon the evidence
could rs that you did net intend the natural
oOnseantlcc OF these numerous an1 violent blows
tnariDj WIN q deadly weapon uD3n vital part.
The cTir,i II whch vol 6anh con ictei 4 an aboln
nahc aal hciaons one Ia the sight OF Gud ald man.
Its pe8al.g !. death. do nos alludc 10 the circuul
stances a. your case and % the character Of your
crime 10 a'lict or reproach you. pity you IN your
dcpoti4it condition and ia tue indebtedness that
must ~isw tle aw vi Judgment or the law which
che court y about % proaoancc. From the tribunal
before h..h yoG now stand yol can receive MOTH x
bat ir<firu. Int you are soon - appear before the
Alml' - sui.e Of AL, whose mercy Il Infinite and
via c@a s'qc yoa peace. SOAK OF the nature
OF yeuT crime auu represent its dismal
s,arrc., ia ! realization OF ins coalition In which
you stand .,ore N0l aa tour. ~ with deep coL-
Srii cu aud uac gncd repentance to III your trust
An LINN and lcrventy to pftE 20 HIN icr mercy and
forgiveness. gnd re viii iit you up aud give yoi
pea.e. f.t sentence 81 the luw waich the Court
now pfOnuunces IS tANt s0u. llh4rlnc Johnson, he
taipD lits to tue laii irDu whence you came, G1d
Snal on tae 18th day OF December next. between ;c
hours ~ ten tn tie forenoon tj three IN the after
noon. v,u te .asen ~ the place &c execution and
hanged u tae mex unI wa shIu he dead. And
MAY God Almighty have mercy on your soul"
AS tho list wor were SPOKEN sbe trembling wn-
ma SCENE TO realize he. doom aud burst into q
pasica weeping, the sounl OF her sobs Glliug the
cour, ruSiu - she was lea away.