The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-15
THE SCAFFOLD.
E,ecution of WheIen. the Murderer OF
D,Arcy MCGEE, at Ottawa, Canada
Cause of the Crime-The Trial and Con
Statement Of the Prisoner.

D,Arcy MCGEE, at Ottawa, Canada
Cause of the Crime-The Trial and Con :
viction-Statement Of the Prisoner.
A dispatch dated Ottawa, Canada, February
II, gives the following account Of the execution
OF James Whelan, for the assassination Of the
Hon. Thomas Darcy McGee:
THE CAUSE OF THE CRIME.
An Irishman by BIRTH and of very respecta-
BILE parentage. Thomas Darcy MCGEE at an
early age emigrated to the United States, and
for some time pursued the profession OF
journalist in Boston. After the lapse, OF
few wears he returned to ireland, be-
came attached 10 the Dublin Nation,
hrt being in some way connected with the
revolutionary outbreak OF 1848, was compelled
IA leave his native land and seek refuge in the
limited States. He remained in New York for
awhile. and then removed to Montreal, where
he ever after resided. In Canada MIR. McGee
attaiued high position in political lie, ana
from beng warm republican became an ardent
royalist. When the Fenian movement com:
msnced he severely denounced and used oil Of
his influence against it. The position be took
on this question made him unpopular with the
masses Of his countrymen in the United States
and Canada, and he was either expelled or
forced to resign his membership OF the St. Pa
tricks Society Of Montreal. AS later develop
ments prove, soon after he announced his op-
position to the Fenians, o plot was formed to
assass!nate him.
THE MURDER.
At half.past two O'clock on the morning OF
the 7th of April last, Mr.. MCGEE LEFT tho Par
lament buildings at Ottawa on his return home
to his lodgings, on Sparks,street; There mac
been o night session. Of Parliament, and he had
delivered very able and eloquent speech on
the subject OF the attitude OF Nova Scotla TO.
ward the Dominion. A number OF persons left
tbn buildings at about the same time he did,
among them o lad named William Trotter, one
of the pages OF the House OF Commons, and a
son Of Mir. McGee's landlady. Just before
leaving the Parliament grounds the report OF
nistol was heard, and on the lad arri1-
inc near his mothers house, he found
the murdered man lying on the sidewalk.
He Immediately gave the alarm, and on
persons reaching the scene MIR. MCGEE breathed
a few tunes and then expired. Soon alter
Whean was arrested. He was subsequently
tried and convicted. Every effort was made to
have the sentence miLigated, but without
avail. Whan the unhappy man ascertalned
thai there as no hope he turned his attention
To religion. Catholic priests and Sisters OF
Mercy we're constantly with him, administer
ing those religious consultations which are 30
valued by persons of his faith. His behavior
was uniformly quiet and good.
TIE EvENTFUL MonNINa-A LARGE CROWD IN
ATTENDANCE.
The day was mild and sunshiny, the sky
blue and cleal. At on early hour there was
small appearance of "a crowd, but by nine .peo-
pie began driving in from the country, and @ oe.
fore ten, suddenly, as il by mIgic, tully ten
Thousand were gathered. An unusually large
proportion were boys and women. At the par
ior windows of tho few respectable hous es
which dot the open country behind the jail
overlooking the scaffold were gathered many
ladies of high standing. Police and soldiers
pressed back the crowd from the walls, but
could not keep them clear. Inside the court
were two companies OF troops, with fixed
bayonets and loaded rifles.
TIE PRISONERS LAST HOURS ON EARTH.
Whelan passed bad night. About seven
o'clock his courage deserted him and he burst
into an agony of tears, crying that God had
forsaken him, and that ne must die for another
MANS crime. The Rev. Gathers O'Connor and
Tabaret, who, with the Sisters OF Mercy, were
unremitting in their attendance, tried to cheer
him with the consultations OF religion, and ht
partook Of the holy sacrament. ,AfterWards ht
fell into O troubled sleep, occasionally crouch
ing into the cell corner and crying for the
watchers to save HIM. He had bidden fare
well to his wife affectionntely in the evening
At six o'clock this morning he awakened, hat
q cup of coffee, some toast and eggs, and passet
two hours in prayer, occasionally varied by I
wild burst Of weeping, the priests meanwhile
exhortine hin, to courage. He dressed care
fully in black, neatly brushed, with polished
boots and green lie. In religious exercises
the time passed until quarter past ten, whel
the executioner arrived and inspected the pre-
parations. Whelan in his corridor, surrounded
by the priests and nuns, feu on his knees ant
ferventy recited prayers after Father O'Con
n1r.
THE OFFICIALS AND ExECUTIoNER.
The corridor doors were opened and th'
sheriff announced that the hour for the execu
ton had arrived. All heads we're barred, ant
some OF the spectators within the prison were
deadly faint aul sick. Tho sheriff was dressed
in black, with cooked hat and sword; tn
ialI governor in black The executioner wa'
clad in blue Jacket and pantaloons, with
stripcd red and white cap. His cape wal
closely swathed with black Grape. He was
young, 1.-the and active. His hands and feel
and features, so faf as distlng lishable through
the Grape, we're delicate as those OF woman
and woman many take this eXecutioner II
have boon.
ARRIVAL OF The PRIsoNER-H1s SPEECH.
Whelan walked hrmly. atnouSn nus mou1l
twitched nervously, and the fingers OF his pin
ioned hands stroye to gripe each other hard
Father O'Connor prayed aloud, and VIII Ian re
spondcd mechanically, i'll voice that wa
trembling and husky: "Christ have mercy upol
MS" His eyes and cheeks were swollen, bu
his face otherwise palid. He advanced to tn
drop and took his place firmly. lie said:
"hy Friends and nsn-l ad
dress fow words. 10 you upon this solemn oc
casion. hope you viii pardon this my offence
This ls my hope-that you will forgive me.
ask 1t from the bottom Of my heart i'll this sol
cnn bour, aid from oil whom | have lnjuro
by word, act or doed, ask forgiveness for th
same. God save Ireland God save my soul
TIE EXECUTION.
Tho executioner drew down the cap over hi
ewes and placed tho moose round his neck, ant
with his white, dry lips still uttering pra yer
when least expected, the drop fell and Whel al
was launched into eternity. He fell six feet
His feet kicked together once. His bod
vbrated for less than o NJ mute and he 81
dead. The drop fell ~ nine minutes pa 81
eleven o'clock precisely. The crowd dispers et
most quietly.
egALL ARTICLES SOLD FROM TIL
establishment of WM. S. CORWIN CO., No. 27
z ug.street, between Wentworth and Beaufain, ar
of the FIRST QUALITY. They sell no goods but wh1
can be warranted as PURE AND GENUINE. This