Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-02-13
Last Act Of the McGec Ira yeIu.
THE EXECUTION OF wUELAN.
Scenes and Incidents.

AT twelve minutes past eleven o'clock
Thursday morning, Patrick James
Whelan cXpiat, q the terrible crime of
murder upon The scatiold. 1t was
matter of surprise that an execution
which had commanded universal in,e-
rest throughout should have created so
little visible stir in Ottawa. The aims
brought no unusual number CT passen-
gers, the hotels gave little sign of being
crowded to any extent, nor did the night
witness any great number of arrivals
from the country parts.
The morning broke darkly and
seemed, with its binding snow storm
to promise very little chance for the
spectators to witness the terrible penalty
which an outraged law had imposed on
the criminal. Even Mt 10 O'Clock the APP
proaches to the jail ware uncrowded and
only along Stewart Street did any con-
siderable crowd seem to he collected, on
an open field somewhat to the south of
the scaffolu, although there has been
evidence of that morbid curiosity, which
at every execution draws so many thou
sands together. Members of the press,
county officials, end prominent MEM
bers of the medical and legal professions
found an entrance by the iailor's door.
Oh the side directly opposite to tLat OH
which the scaftold is erected.
A delay'of fully half an hour followed,
during which time large proportion of
the privileged ones chatted q d laughed
together with rs much apparent uncon-
Germ as if some amusing performance
were in progress. But few showed any
appreciation of the solemn preparations
that fellow being was making, but n
few yards away, to meet his God.
At last heavily barred door grated
on its hinges, AID the jaiior (Mr. A.
Powell) announced that all arrange
ments had been completed for the en-
trance of those holding tickets.
Through gloomy corridors lined with
cells-past doors barred and bolted, we
passed till a sudden turn brought us to a
small landing, an open door from which
leads directly upon the platform.
A glance over the adjacent streets
and open lots shows that the hundreds
of spectators seen lingering abo1t few
minutes before have been augmented to
thousands. Nos,ir or excitement fanny
kind is visible, although several who
passed among the throng nform us that
the levity exhibited found its counter
part in coarse form, for without and
about us were preparations solemn
enough, God knows, to impress the
most callOus the trap door being closed
at our feet with the clank that threw
back the bolts fitted in the platform, to
the left, and making one, By very
glimpse of them, shudder to think that
in a few moments the horrid clank
would announce that the law had
avenged itself.
Firmly imbedded in the stone roof
above was a strong iron pulley, through
which was passed hempen rope, per-
haps an inch in thickness, ha ing one
end knotted firmly about the balustrade
of the stairs that led to the next floor,
anu the other lying ready with the
hangman's moose worked in it.
From the corridor on le left of the
passage came sounds of spiritual conso-
lation that was being administered to the
convict by the Rev. Mr.. O'Connor, and
Fathers Collins and Tabarat.
The tread of rapid footsteps mingled
with the solemn invOcations of the rev.
erend cOnfessor, indicated that Whelan
was relieving what must have been an
awful suspense by moving from end to
ell d o. his corridor
The responses were heard even with
out, uttered in firm, loud voice, fol-
lowing up On the words Of the priest:
"God have mercy upon me God have
mercy upon my soul"
The room on the opposite side of the
passage was occupied by the hangman,
whose utter indifference to the duty be-
fore him was manifested by his now
murmuring tune and whistling the air
of some popular melody.
The contrast-the absolute heartless-
ness that he gave proof of, was absolute
ly painful. At five minutes to eleven
the jailor threw open the door leading
to Whelan's corridor. AT this moment
the murderer was in the act of turning
towards the opposite end of the passage;
he made half start and sudden stop
from his walk the writer CHANGED at
the cell door, and was struck with the
intense horror of the fixed stare that
Whelan's face assumed on his first
glimpse of the outside preparations. He
was dressed with scrupulous care in g
black suit, with hair carefully brushed
and whiskers and mustache grown some.
what larger since the time of the trial
and face perfectly livid with anxiety
When Whelan had performed the last
offices of his religion, the hangmar
then suddenly entered and gave short
quick glance. Whelan gave no sign O.
noticing his arrival, stronger proof OF
the firmness that he was about to cX-
hibit could not have been given than
the manner he thus unconcernedly re.
ceived this man, hideously masked az
he was, and wearing large red night
cap.
The name Of this Jack Ketch has beer
carefully concealed. Nothing is known
save that he is of this Province, but the
celebrity and GOODNESS with which hi
performed all his duties showed him to
have had previous experience.
Whelan, before, submitting himself
to the hands of the executioners SHOOK
hands with the Sheriff. Deputy Sheriff
DR.. Sweetland, the turkeys and others
"Do you freely forgive them for any
ness received" asked Rev. Fathe
O'Conner. The prisoner replied in {
loud. firm voice that he did.
During the trying ordeal of beinl