The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-02
4 HIDEOUS DEED.
An Improved Mode OF Decapitation-
How Hanging is Performed In the
British Dominions.
TO the outrae

Dublin Correspondence OF London Tlmes.]
Andrew Carr, the discharged soldier Of the
Ihirty-severth Regiment who was convicted,
upon his own confession, of the murder OF a
woman in Bull lane, was executed yesterday
morning in Richmond, Brldeweu. 1t was the
frat occasion on which the sentence OF capltal
punishment has been carried out within the
walls OF Dublin prison, and If the pubic were
allowed to decide the matter IN the present
state OF feeling. it would be The last execution
in this city. By some extraordinary m!smaI-
seemept the sentence Of the law was literally
not Carried ont, for the wretched man was not
hung By the neck until be died, but was put 10
deatI By more speedy though oarbarous
process. he was disposed OF, IN fact, JUST as
wounded pigeon IN battue is put out OF pain.
only hat the neck of the poor bird is wrung Oh
instsntaneously by the iogers OF an exoert
executioner, and Carr's bead was torn OF by
n rome. II is novel mode OF dispatch
ing criminals, combining the revolving CIR
cumstances OF decapitation and hanging.
such a way again, the transition will be
easy TO the adoption OF the Suillotlne.
Sinoa his sentence Carr has m enfested gre.t
penltence, He seemed quite resigned to his
fate. and expressed no desire to be respited,
although some benevolent persons we're using
oil their influence to obtain remission OF the
capital punishment, and the jury had recon-
for doing go. After the receipt OF the answer
to the memorial in his behalf, he was informed
of the result by the gov amor OF the jail, and
heard the intelligence with composure, obserV-
ing that the sentence Was just. DE was very
diligent in his attention to the ministrations OF
the Roman Catholic chaplain, the Rev. MIR.
Anthony, who zealously and kindly remained
with him to the last and since Saturday Was
assisted By the Very Rev. Monsignor .deagher.
he retired to rest st II o'clock on Wednesday
night, and at 4:39 O'Clock aross and resumed
his devotions. He expressed to his solicitor his
grateful sense OF the kind treatment he had re-
ceived from Captain Boyd, the governor, aud
the other officers OF the prison. He declined
to take sny breakfast. At 7:45 O'Clock be was
led from the gallery OF the chapel up flight
OF stone steps to the place Of execution. The
scaff3ld was erected outside one Of the wln
dows, on the third story, at height OF about
80 feet, overlooking long tagged yard at the
back OF the hospital. BE betrayed no sympto m
offinching confronted with the execution
er, who wore black mask. He submitted calm
Il to the usual preparations; ascended the steps
with firm tread, and stood on the platform
az erect as il dressed up" for review. The
split of the soldier never torsook him. About
dozen persons were present when he issued
forth, attended by the clergyman, aod took his
place upon the Platform, having been given
over to the charge OF the sub-sherlf. He bade
over his face, and the spectators awaited the
fatal signal N terrible suspense. 1t was but
for moment. The bolt was drawn, the wretch
81 man fell, and then horrid spectacle wa 9
witnessed. drop Of fourteen feet had been
arranged, in Difference to the opinion &c q lear
ned professor, who prescribed this length as
necessary in order to produce lnstantan eous
death by dislocating the neck. The truth Of the
theory was indeed established, and the expert
mept proved successful beyond expectation.
The body fell to the full extent OF the rope, and
then with sudden snap the head was wrench
ed eff and 6une distance OF several feet to
one side Of the yard, while the trunk dropped
to the other side, ghastly mass with the nerves
tsi:cilg conyulsively from the violence OF
the shock. The fragments o. humanity were
quickly gathered up and placed IN coffin TO
await the inquest, which was held at IL o'clock.
CAPTAIN BOYD deposed that he became aware OF
what had happened by the sudden recoll OF the
rope and hearing the sound OF the body falling
into the yard. Every preciution had been taken
to execute the sentence as humanely as posi-
ble The rope was sound. and the whole appe-
ratus in perfect order. The height OF The dror
had been fully discussed, and many considered
fourteen feet too great fall-an opinion ID
which be concurred himse (, believing eight
feet enough; but the surgeon OF the prison,
being anxious to lessen the suferines OF the
convict, thought that length necessary to pro-
QUCe lnEtaQtau6OuB Qehlu LIZ auuPu1SS ulu-
chin, tie prison officer, deposed that all the
parts we're divided completely across and the
Vertebre fractured, which alone would cause
immediate death. he could not account for
tie decapitaticn on ordinary principles. for the
fall was less in proportion than thai of Klkelly,
the last executed prisoner in k'lmaiphan jail.
Some Of the force of the fall is usually expend-
ed in Tightening the moose, but he feared that
in the present case the moose was tightened
beforehand The Rev. Mr.. Anthony stated that
before the prisoner went on the drop be heard
him complain that the rope vas choking him
before the tima. Other witnesses bore testi-
mony 10 the humane conduct of the officials.
The Jury found that the deca pitation was The
result of accident, for which the prison ofici-
als were not to blame, and that Carr was duly
executed. He was list. lib. in weight. A
comrade who served with him in India, and
was also prisoner, was among those who viz
tel him in prison and showed much concern
1t his fate. About $50 people assembled in the
6eGs. and sorle on the roofs OF houses from
which view Of the prison could be obtained,
IN hope OF Witnessing the execution. but the
hosting Of b'ak flag was the only sig Of
death which they could see.
SOUTHERN LIFE, MENPHIs.-We have not
abored in vain. Our remonstrances have at
ength produced gratifying effect on the IN
Surance companies OF the South. They are a.