The New York herald., 1869-12-08
NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY,

| were III lue court house. AlluOIIl tucy unu nt
agency III his attempt to escape, the incident was
me ancnoy one ior them, as their cup OF misery wa
tul TO overnowing.
SECOND AITEMrr TO COMMIT SUICIDE
Fields was stu resolved upon taking his own life
ana a2aln set about deyisng plan to accomplish
It, Everything, 1t was supposed, had been careull
removed from his cell; put on looking about N
discovered towel. Inat night the 30tn OF August
1859, Just after MS attempt 10 run away he took tn
towel aud, wrapping IL tightly about his neck
attempted to straagle himself A gasping noise OF
his part attracted the attention OF the keeper wDt
third tine he was disappointed The Dreaded scaf
fold must be faced. Eternity could only be reacleG
Ia q legitimate and legal way.
END OF THE TRIAL.
The end OF the trial was reached August 81, 1862
After listening 70 careful aud elaborate charge
from the judge the jury retired, aud after an o.
sence OF about tour hours returned with verdict Of
guilty Of murder IN the Irst degree.
During the delivery OF the verdict he listened with
stolcl Indifference, scarcely moving muscle OF his
face. lie was then removed TO Jai to await his SEN
tence.
ON the Attn OF September ne was brought before
the Court 10 receive It, Ills Honor, Judge Gamble,
asked him /! lie mad anything 10 say. lie made q
rambling speech, denying tnat he committed the
murder Intentionally. Tue Judge then, In very
solemn and Impressive manner, pronounced sentence
OF aeatl upon him. During It's delivery he seemed
20 be YisiOy Affected, and responded with hearty
"amenn TO lhe invocation OF the Judge for mercy on
his soul lie then took leave Of the Court his couI-
sci and few friends, when he was remanded back
10 lall 70 await tile lnai day.
Inc death warrant, dxing the time for the execu-
ton on the 7ta Of DECEMBER 1862 was received rom
Governor GearY and read TO him on the 9Th OF no
vember. After the reading he was Informed by the
Sheriff that there was no nope OF repreve pardon,
and Aas he should set ABOUT preparing Tor eIernlty
lie received the news calmly and resigaediy. AS lls
spiritual adviser he chose tue Rev. Dr.. Paret an
Eplscopallan clergyman, who devoted unrelntting
attention 10 hln, visiting his cell almost every day
lie gelt his tlne in religious dcyoIions and pro-
Iessed TO having made his peace with God and
hoped Tor divine grace.
THE EXECUTION.
John Fields was executed to-day. lie spent al
most tue entire night walking has cell and praying.
Doctors raret and StecK, Episcopalian ministers,
were with MIN and conducted the religious exercises
up 10 five minutes 10 twelve O'Clock. When the
Snerif entered the cell and informed him that he
was ready Ia execute the law fIelds expressed his
readiness TO follow him. He was COOL calm and
collected.
At one O'Clock the procession started for the scat
fold. At four minutes past one the scaffod was
reached anu assembled. The criminal was seated
and the death warrant was read to him by the Sher-
Ill. sspirltuQ advisers then resumed the exer-
cises. He occasionally responded. When the word
amen was pronounced the Sherin touched the drop
and Fields Was usnered into eternity at eight min
Fle.ds never struggled or moved a muscle, his
neck being broken by the fail AT twenty-five min
utes past two the BODY was cut down and placed IN
the colin. HIS tongue protruied from the mouth
anu little blood oozed thereirom. He never de-
MED mis- guilt
Dr. Paret, Fields chief spiritual adviser, furnishes
the following statement OF the condition OF the
crlmlaai:-
REoroRY OF CHRIST CHURCH.,
To THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE NEW YORK HEEALD:-
In answer request Information
believe has given me his entire confidence
acknowledged The Killing OF Matthews pleading only thai Il
vas done in the sudden rage Of furious and without
greatness OF his crime In the sight od has given himself
sGoash a has seemed to e dse aa ene psn
isa 9G s 10 as 1s as n' q "a p
number OF spectators had climbed on the ail
waits Just as the criminal reached scaiTold, when
the Sheriu ordered them 10 be driven away. Fields
ann nd crtr nnf ndtFtan
them, Doctor Read psalin.n These are the
only words ne spoke audibly on the scatiod. His
body was buried rnI5 evening III the Ola cemetery.
Execution of Y. II. IEoclSinbcrry at BciIcr--
Particulars of the Crime--Coufessi0n of tic
aurdercr-Sceues Attending the Execution.
PiTrsBuRG. Dec. 7, 1862
Zachary Taylor Hockinperry, the murderer OF Miss
Annie McCandless OF Butler, Pennsylvania, suffered
the extreme penalty Of the law to-day by hanging
and Is now before mlghtier tribunal than any be
fore which he was taken on Garth. Inc history 0
the crime is told IN the following
CONFESSION or HooKIgBERRY.
On the 3lsr of last March was twenty-one years
Old; my fatner and mother are dead; my mother
dsl When was quite young ana my fataer has beel
dead for over eight years; when was thirteen year;
old went TO live with George McCandess, who il
married TO half sister OF ny mother; lived with
him about five years and afterwards went 10 WORK
for Daniel Graham and worked for him about two
years ana haL. Some time ago | wrote down on
paper the chief circumstances OF my life and the
suit they brought about and was printed in the
papers There sre few other circumstances whlon
a1 a9a .no nov speak About 8, wish a.! to be Known
speak about them VIII state wneh ! went 10 work
Tor MIR. Graham. MT, NcQondless aad Two oan.S ..,-
ters at home The oldest being Nancy
Ann. some time before 1 LETT Mr.. McCand.
some chance and disGgure her face In some
way. That thought and wish has caused great
deal OF trouble IN different ways. of whicn / am
sorry for. what put the thought III my head |
cannot positively say but as think about the past
1t IS now my belief tnat before left McCandles5s
read IN o book called the "History Of the World,
about q woman or girl VINO some persons for some
Design dlshsured her face. When 1 got this
thought l had no wish for to marry Annie,
nor there were no persons paying any attention
TO her. Thc motive is indistinct aud confused
in my mind, but 1t Is my belief that thought
at any time. From the time got this thought II
was IN my mind nearly al the time, and at last be-
red TO another person, and think told her SO, or
at least she understood so but never asked her to
marry me, nor made any proposals 10 her, anything
marry any onen II I could only have been certain
OF that it woald have saved great deal OF trouble
AS Ii was my wish for to disfgure her II caused 4
great deal OF trouble by The circumstance which i
caused. These circumstances some time ago care.
lully wrote down ON paper and was printed, which
need not speak about now in particular.
HE ArrEMrTs 10 ROB A STORE IN Butler.
About the first OF November, 1865, went away
from MCIdHu.tss anu tau WOuI try and get GONE
place and learn trade; when eftI went to but
ler about the middle Of the night tried Tor TO ge,
INTO Mr. DunoyG store; went TO the front door and
tried for to get out panel but did not succeed ther
went TO door that went into the CELLAR It was no,
very strong and got IL open and went 10 a pair o
stars and went up 20 q door which went INTO INC
storeroon; the door was fastened with 4
bolt | had nothing with me but n pocgetknffe can
Ole and some matches. lit the candle. anrwltu the
knife cut by the bolt ana burned IL come with the
candle TIL IL came open. then went the store
room was not In very long till some one came tc
the front door, and. thought, unlocked the door
then thought some one knew there was come onf
m the store. then went out the way got in and
thence to the main street. When got on the man
street the person az the door told TO stop I did
not. lie then ran after me, and / ran down tue
street and went 70 get over gate, but as ran anC
got on the gate II fe down aud icli over. The man
whoever he was did not follow any further
lie TAKES TO THE HlGH ROAD, BUT Is NOT sue
CEsSFuL.
then went on towards Franklin intended Il
get into work there. Got there the next evening
but did not get any work there. intended ther
FOR To Try aud get some place and learn trade.