The New York herald., 1869-12-01
IN The SHADOW OF THE sCAFFOLD.

owen IAands the Friucipal In tne nEoohiSH
Gas Works Tragedy-The CuIprit's Explnna-
tion and Statement Regarding His Crime.
On Friday, December II. between the hours OF
eight A. NJ ana two p NJ, owen Hand VIII be
hanged by the neck until he is dead at the Kings
county Jail in Brooklyn. The penalty, under the orr
gnal sentence would have been carried into effect on
Friday next, "a instant, had not Governor Hoffman
granted respite OF two weeks to the prisoner.
Hand was tried at the September term Of the Court
OF Oyer and Terminer In Brooklyn, before
Judge Gilbert ana Justices Hoyt and Voorhees,.
for the murder or James Donney, fellow
workman, at the South Brooklyn Gas Works
on the 9th OF August last, and sentenced
IN accordance with the verdict OF the Jury. The
circumstances OF the murder, the trial and convic-
tion, are still fresh IN the public mind and need not
be recapltulated; but as the opinion Is freely ex-
pressed by many that under the peculiar circum-
stances 1t would be wrong 10 innict the extreme
penalty of the law upon him, and that the Governor
should be petitioned to extend executive clemency
the HERALD yesterday detailed reporter to visit the
condemned man and hear what he had to say.
Having obtained permit to visit the jail from the
Under Sheriff OF Kings County, the reporter pre-
ceeded to the jail and was at once conducted through
o long corridor, at the fnrtnest end OF which the
condemned man was standing In company with his
wife and two Of his children. Several VISITORS
mostly friends. .of Hand, were standing about and
occasionally speaking few words OF consolation to
the grief stricken woman The wrctchcd men IN
their cells crowded TO the gratings on the announce
ment being made that a reporter OF the HERALD had
arrived and listened atentyey to the conversation
that ensued. Several prisoners, however, who were
beyond earsnot. laughed and joked unconcernedy.
Hand looked up with eager interest when the re-
porter made known the object OF his visit.
CT will ba parry al nd n
answer any question you may wish to ask when l
am satisfied that you are what you represent your
self to be. Don't be offended. SO many persons
have come here as reporters OF the HERALD, VINO
were not really sent and had no authority. that
am suspicious or strangers. You have your creden-
tlals, suppose ?''
REpoRTER-Certainly. Here is my card and also
my written instructions.
HAND-Quite correct sir; and now as you wish
to have my sad story for the readers Of HERALD we
will begin at the beginning. You know am con-
demned to die for killing James Donnelly on the
6tn OF August last, at the South Brooklyn
Gas Works. l don't deny that killed Donnelly.
What would be the user But was fully justified.
whom shall soon stand. Wnen the row occurred
between US ne was ordered to leave by the foreman,
and thought he would do so; but no, he went ana
sat down by the water pail in the corner and waited
for me- knowing that could not stand long without
drink. The heat is fearful there. especially dur
ing the summer months. As he expected had to
20 TO the pail IN half an hour or thereabout to get
water. When | got in reach OF Donnelly ne
sprang up ana s strdcn me tnree OF erS loqr e9Ws
able bodied man. The blood poured down my face,
ana was blind with pain and rage. for as he struck
now. rll kill YOU" struggled, but 1t was no use
he wouldn't let me go. Then ! drew the knife and
n ana NV wea hsaa aI ana ne w Sea
up and acknowledged what had done. What kept
him sitting at the pail, then waiting Tor me.
came you to carry deadly weapon about your per-
HASp-I am glad you asked me that, for on the
trial 1t was maze to appear that carried the knife
for the purpose OF killing Donnelly. Now, what |
say to YOU Is true and don't say II, mnd you for
the purpose OF exciting sympathy. am not AFRAID
to meet my God and nave no nope OF repreive. l
drew the knife in sef.delence Tins IS how l came
rSmmaging IN an old chest in the shop
and found old knife The nail on one
O. my IL had into e an ns aaa as
work. thought I'd sharpen 1t had cut the nail
away. ground It very sharp at the point and pared
the nan to the quick. When ! had finished some
body said 1T is time to go to work." and IN my
haste slipped the knife into the side pocke. OF my
pants, where 1t remained until i useu IL defending
myself from Donney the next day.
REPoRTER-There seems to have been standing
quarrel between Donnelly and you. How did that
HAND-some time before was working an extra
shit, and Donnelly Claimed that ! gave him the
self dying man, but say before God did not
give him bad COAL and now believe that II there was
any difference = was N INNS ms iaVor o ,rls saa 70 MN ~
not do such thing" Workmen viii talk to one
another that way, sir, sometimes. He only
We worked together for two years, aud during
that time fiartered him and did my best TO allay his
anger. lie was very domineerIng and Thought that
ttlo men had no rights TO be respected. FIVE years
ago no man in the works dare lift his hand agalns.
me, but got ruptured in the establishment and my
al-sr hrsata NOT IN WI MOI lngg
ana lie thought that had no remedy but to leave
the works. He asked the foreman to discharge me
good cs en- enough and nd was s'N no use use as work. M
man. he SAID that II did not leave he
would XIII me. He told all the men on that day
my home again. ana for days before that, Sir, he
used to follow me about and call me .son Of
-,n "0d thief,n ana such names Delieve that
he intended to XIII me when / was attacked at the
jail. All this s Gods truth as hope for forgive.
ness and a life hereafter.
REPORTER-From your statement your crime was
justifable homicide. suppose, therefore, that you
not quite sallstled with the manner in which the
HAND-satisted no, indeed. cir. Twas sold on
that trial most shamefuy. My counsel made
no defence whatever, and took what was sworn
to against me for granted. l want the world
to understand this, that he might have cleared
me- but that he was neither able nor willing to do So
The two best witnesses had ne would not let on the
stand. He told q man here named Robert Berry,
who Is now in The state Prison. one
day. while me hs WAS hGanT "a pr,va,e SayS .s@s sCn
mm, but that for Hand he could do
nothing. But he took my mOney-SlO0-and
robbed my wife and children. There tney are, sir;
look at them; without shilling IN the world and
nothing to depend on but ithe mercy Of God. But l
forgive HIM and all others from the bottom OF my
heart hope for forgiveness for the manifold SINS
OF my past life.
REpoRrER-Have you any hope of pardonq
HAND-None Whatever, SIR here. When die l
hope God VIII pardon whatever sins nave COM
mitted on earth, but don't look for pardon here.
saw that was doomed when the trial was in pro-
greGs. | am now ready TO die; but my wife and
children-don'J talk to me OF pardon, sir, II You
please.
REPORrER-Do you belong to any benevolent
society II you DO they VIII probably take care OF
your helpless family.
HAND--No, don't belong to any society sir, now.
l was in the order OF Ancient Iiibcrnians, and
also belonged to the Quarrymens SOCIETY," but am
not now asmembcr OF either nor have been for q
considerable time. hope nothing from them and
ask no mercy or charity for myself. l am doomed
TO die Ny eldest boy is fourteen years DID, the next
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