The New York herald., 1870-02-24
JACK. REYNOLDS DOOMED.
Sentence OF Death-Hanging Not "Played
Out'--The Sth Of April tho Day Of
Notwithstanding Of the Spec
tators-Meade, the Matricide.

JuHLce mas NJ ieuglH aWukcucu ifVui hor uioWsJ
slumoers. 'Jack' Reynolds, charged with the mnr-
der OF william Townsend, was weighed In the scales
and found wanting. and he IS TO be hanged by tho
neck on the sth OF April. 1t Is expected that the
executoner during the approaching spring will be
kept busily employed, as the friendless miscreant
upon whom the sentence OF death was yesterday
passed Is not the only one around whose neck tne
fatal rope is to be adjusted. Others 1t Is presumed.
VIII follow in rapid succession, 30 that 1t will oe
unnecessary to remove The scaffold from winch
Reynolds Is TO swing until oil the murdercrs az
present on the list are wiped out or existence.
Densely packed as on the two proceeding days tho
Court OF oyer and Terminer was yesterday morning
cranmed to the doors. All the entrances were
crowded by curious throng but US the sentence OF
"Jack was anticipated the congregation did
not indulge In any speculation, but considerable
interest was nevertheless manifested by all present
The prisoner, unm0ved and stolid but not by any
means resolute looking, entered the court shortly
after ten O'Clock, accompanied by the prison
officials. But little remained to he done. The
drama was coming to close, and as in most plays.
the denouement was anticipated. The penniIess
outcast was the object OF universal attention.
Immediately on Judge lngraham taking his aeas
on the bench,
The District Attorney moved for Judgment
The Clerk or the Court then asked the prisoner
why the sentence of the Court should not be passed
upon him.
The prisoner stood up ana In = low tone Of voice
said he knew nothing about the matter.
Mr.. Howe-He says he does not know how she
case went.
Judge lngraham then proceeded to pass sentence
and spoke follows:-JOhn Reynolds, you
have been found guilty of the crime OF murder.
The evidence shows you had no excuse for it. You
first went into place and took KNIFE, concealed
| ;t lont fhat Inif
cealed until you 1ound William Townsend IN his
own house, among his own children. no one else be-
ing present. What your motive In entering the
house was We do not know, but there is some sus-
pcion that 1t was with . view and for the purpose
OF committing wrong and improper acts. You havo
been tried by jury OF very intelligent men, who
have gwen your case thorough examination. They
have listened attentivey to the testimony and have
agreed that you are guilty With that verdict the
one on your part was entirely unprov0ked, and
there Is nothing to excuse or justify It, SO lar as wa
have had any proof before us.
Prsoner-Well, Judge l don't know anything
| about the matter.
| conduct shows you did know what you were doing
ana were aware OF the act YOU committed. You
may nave oee eXGea py auoe & oa tnas aoes aars nos
you committed this act; but II man who is allowed
to indulge in drink ana tnen kills his fellow man be
| excused on account OF drink, persons who commit
such acts Will never be punished, for they might
seek the same excuse Tas lay does na no. excuse
upon you the sentence Of Che law II is not the
sentence Of the court nne aw tha maKss s
OF another. Now, advise you before pronouncing
thar sentence TO lay aside any hope that you may
| offence, as well as great number Of offences OF
similar kind perpetrated continually in this city.
calls for the execution Of the law not only In your
case but in other cases, and tnat the offenders bo
convicted as you have been. Instead OF looking for
Wn he e lOs the as w
be fixed for the execution OF your sentence you will
be executed and you VIII pass from this world nto
| another Meanwhile you have opportunity ar
! forded you prepare for that event. 1t not toe
| late for you 10 make that preparation. i al
| wise you, therefore. to lay aside the hope
getting pardoned and seek for that preparation
which is necessary before the time comes for your
execution. The sentence OF the court Is, thaI you
be carried hence TO the prison from which you have
been brougnt that you he Kept there In close GUS
YOU be hanged by The neck until you are dead, be.
tween eight O'Clock IN the morning and two O'Clock
in the afternoon. May God have mercy ON your
! soul. (SensatlOn IN cOurt.)
| The prisoner tnen resumed his seat, apparently
| unanected by the dread sentence which had jusa
been passed.
| The clerk then read the formal sentence or tho
Court the prisoner resumed his and listened
| to the dreadful words with apparent unconcern.
THB MEAD MATRICIDE.
At the conclusion Of this proceeding District At
torney Garvin said that in the OF Michael Mead
charged with homicide, he had taken great pains
ascertain what there was in this case. He undes-
stood the prisoner was willing TO plead guilty OF
mansaughter IN the ond degree, and ne was in.
clined to accept that plea
The prisoner man about forty years old present.
ing the appearance OF who had been greatly
dicted TO drinking, stood up. and In reply to the
clerk SAID ne was twenty.one years IN New York
| city, and was only eighteen months here when no
| sent Tor his mother to make home for herr since
then ne had never done her injury, although she
was o hard drinking woman; she was several times
IN jail. and he succeeded III getting her OFF, he had
| no recollection OF having committed the crime, ana
be was now ashamed to stand before the court. The
| prisoner wept bitterly.
Judge Ingraham said the prisoner was charged
with one OF the most heinous crimes known tho
law. He had killed his mother on account OF rum
first knocked her down and then brutally kicked
her IN that helpless condition. Such an act mad
excuse on the part OF the son who owed much to
the mother The prisoner would have time to reflect
on the enormity OF his crime, for which he could
never make amends. There was nothing IN tae
papers presented by tho prosecution TO
act and he would therefore impose the full pen-
atty OF the law, which was that the prisoner be
fined ia tue State's Prison at Sing Sing at hard labor
or the period Of seven years. Meade was then
nandcured side by side with Reynolds, and botn
were conducted 10 the T0ombs, followed by an i'm
mense crowd.
A BURGLAR ON THE WING.