The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-24
Execution of Prince Alfred. Asa, ant.


O'Farrell, the man WHO shot and wounded
Prince Alfred Of England, at Sydney, New South
Wales, was executed on the 2lst Of April. We
gather the following particulars from Sydney
letter to the New York Herald:
On the morning of the 2lst, the day fixed for
the execution, 0'Farrell rose at six O'Clock his
usual hour, breakfasted, and then employed him
self IN attending to the ministrstions OF Father
Dryer.
The execution, after the custom of New South
Wales. which in this respect differs from the prac
tice of the old country, was nearly private, aud
took place in the courtyard of Darlnghurst jail
The last stroke Of nine had scarcely struck when
0'FarTell, thesreyeTend father In attendance upon
him, the sherifs and hangmen, (Of whom there
were two,) slowly emerged from the circular stone
tower, in which men condemned to death are con-
fined, and walked in procession across the prison
yard, being separated from the spectators by
wooden barrier. Two jailoTs went first, then fol-
lowed 0'Farrel and Father Dryer, then came
the sherihs, and last of all the two hangmen, one
of whom was a man of extreme age, with long,
white unkempt hair, and his body bent with age.
O'Farrel walked along with firm, steady, even
sep, his chest thrown out his lead erect, his
whole demeanOr that of a soldier about to be put
TO death Tor some petty uiraction of military dis
cipline, rather than that of a murderer and a
felon. He dressed in a suit of some gray
material, his boots were polished, his linen spot
lessly clean, and his necktie neatly and carefully
arranged. To show the attention which he had
paid TO these minor nicetes of gentlem AMY
morals it was noticed by those who saw his body
sitter il was cut down that his nails had been care
fully cleaned. His arms we're pinioned above the
elbows, but he cOniriyed to hold a cruclhx before
b m. as he marched slowly and steadily along, and
b lips were constantly moving as ne murmured
the responses TO the scarcely audible words of the
priest. Arrived at the steps of the scaold which
was a 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 of Indignantly the pTonered 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 calculate the proper spot upon
which to station himself. The priest then took
away the crucihx, shock hands with him, and,
utleriDg LAST benedction, left the platform.
The hangman then adjusted the rope, and
O'Fauell, after looking at the people below for a
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 ever his head, the nfirm and aged
hangmsn touched the bolt with his foot. aud
OFsrTell fell through the drop. When the body
reached the end OF the rope there was slight re-
bound, but il 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 head being
consequently severed by the shock. Death must
have been both immediate aud painless.
lew days after the execution the following
statement, the last he made ON earth, was given
to the public, though not with the consent OF the
government:
Being now about to appear before my Creator,
l. feel il my duty to give expression to my heart
felt sorrow for the grlevOus crime | have commit
ted. From the very bottom Of my heart do
grieve for what | have done. | have hitherto
said that was one of many who were prepared
to do the deed had not done it. | had not the
slightest foundation for such statement. ! was
never connected with any man or any body of
men who had for their OBJECT the taking of the
LIE OF the duke of Edinburgh. Never was /. in
any other than an indirect manner connected
with that organization in Ireland and elsewhere
which is known by the name of the enan or
gaDiZatOn. l wish moreover distinctly to assert
that there was not a human being in existence
v ho had the slightest idea of the object | had in
view whe q | meditated on, and through the mer.
ciful providence of God failed in carrying into
effect the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. |
have written 10 the printers Of two Irish periodi-
Gals an address to the people Of Ireland and so
certain was | of the death OF the Duke Of Edin-
burgh 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 out say that
The truth of the latter portion rests upon slghter
foundation than the former; in fact that, unless
from mere hearsay, | had no foundation for saying
there was a FeDlan association in New South
Wsles. From continually thinking and talking of
what may still be allowed to Call the wrongs of
Ireland. / became excited and filed with enthu-
siasm on the subject, and il was while under the
influence Of those feelings that | attempted to
perpetrate the deed for which | am most Justly
called upon to suffer. H. j. O'FAKRELL."