The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-06

EXPIA TION N.
Execution Of John Real for the Murder
Of Police Officer Smedick.
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LAST MOMENTS OF THE CONDEMNED
Two Years Waiting for the
Final Verdict.
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The Murder, the Trial and the
Doom.
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A Disgraceful and a Bungling
Execution.
The Black Cap Not Drawn Over
the Face.

Of pollce onicer John Smedick. After two years.
hard struggle his part and on that OF his friends
10 evade the terrible punishment OF his crime the
inevitable fate OF the murderer overlook him at last,
and in the bright sunlight OF a summer morning,
beneath the shadow OF the deadly instrument OF JUS
uce his soul went before the final Court OF Appeals,
where no qubbie OK chcanery OF human law ever
finds place.
THE MURDER.
On the night OF tile 23d OF July, 1893, about half
past ten O'Clock two men met on First avenue, near
Thlrty-second street-one policeman on his beat
ana the other man OF desperate character, whose
naturally resolute mind hal been long, through dis
sipaton, turned INTO a turbulent channel the outlet
OF which Is crime and the gallows They were i'm
placable foes. and had met before under circum-
stances which should have taught them to avoid
each other. The officer had charged the other
twice In court with having attempted to kin him,
and twice, through some bubble OF the law, the
prisoner was permitted to 90 on his way rejoicing
Mayor Hall, then District Attorney, was fully i'm
pressed with the dangerous character OF the rela.
tons between the parties for Immediately before
leaving the city, while one OF the cases in question
In allegiance he left Instructions with his assist
ant not 10 Yet the prisoner out at large at all hazards
His fears were verified few days later. The officer
and his enemy, then at large through the friendly
assistance OF a convenient bondsman, met for the
place, and officer smedick lay on the sidewalk dead,
shot In the head and breast and his murderer John
Real, after attempting TO kin oflcer Nee, who
pursued him, was lodged In prison, whence he
emerged only to undergo the extreme penalty OF
ihe law.
THE TRIAL.
was remarkable principally for the celebrity with
which The proceedings were conducted. Real was
arragned before the Court OF oyer and Terminer,
and at eleven O'Clock that night the jury brought
IN a verdict Of "Gulty, with a recommendation to
mercy" He was sentenced to be executed on the
"a 0fApril following, but almost on the very brink
OF the grave he respited for time by stay Of
proceedings from the Supreme Court. But The hopes
with (which this respite imbued him soon proved
delusive for both the Supreme Court and the Court
Of Appeals, on q careful examination Of the case,
decided adversely to the expectanr criminal. AS
last plank appeals were made to Governor Hoffman
by the counsel and friends Of the prisoner and every
argument that could be brought to bear in the
andavlts, entreates, tears and religionwas tried,
but the Governor remained frm-the law should
axe Its course
BANKS OF THE DARK RIVER.
As the last hope vanished from the mind OF the
unhappy man and he was told on Thursday that he
was beyond the aid Of earthly succor his habitual
6rmness gave him calmness and resignation. He
chung then 10 reigion as the only consolation which
would temper the bitterness OF his awful fate and
prepare bis soul for the journey into the valley OF the
shadow OF DEATH Not even the dread scafiOld which
threw its shadow across his path as he walked up
and down the prison yard with his spiritual ADVISER
Fat her Duranquet, had any terror for him. His poor
father and neartbroken sisters were with him to the
last and he had to summon to his aid all his courage
ana resolution to keep up before them Those
also around him, smoothing the path which he was
compelled tread and robblng the dread future Of
hall its oy their gentle and Christian-llke
Offices Through the long weary hours OF the sum
mer day his last earth, the condemned conducted
himself as one who fully realized his position and
was prepared to meet II. His appearance was
changed there was that Understandable look upon his
face which one never on those who have no
thought beyond this world. All the hard, caous
lines which characterize the countenances Of per-
of his class disappeared; the eyes were bathed
in the light OF religion and sublunary thoughts were
10 all appearances banished from his mind. He
seemed to have forgotten entirely the vendetta
which was FOR SO long in existence between
HIM and his victim, and Of which yesterday
tragedy was the finale When night came and the
pale moon threw her 1ickering rays athwart TIN
dreary courty OF the prison, the bOatman and
ex-car drlver-for Real had served In both occupa-
li0ns--waked for short time with The good Father
Duranquet whose simple faith and earnest devotion
buOyed up the heart Of the condemned and made
hiIR look beyond the bleak prison In which he was
confined purer and better life above The absurd
rnmOrs OF an attempt at rescue which were set
afoat by some INSCRIPTIONS BOnemlans reached his
ears, aud for moment excited his heartfelt indig
nation. The night wore on; the last sad parting
with those to whom ties of blood endeared him took
fhn ptln Of
broken at intervals by the ncoherent remonstrances
OF some drunken wretch confined for the night in
the bleak prison. and the lighted lamps strange
and phantasmagOrical figures the stone court
yard. The condemned now only felt the dis
grace which the manner Of his death should
bring Oh his memory and on those beloved
ones who seemed the only link which could bind
him TO life. AT length nature became exhausted
after the tremendous strain that defeated hopes,
blasted lie and tortured mind caused, and before
the hour Of midnight the condemned sought the
rep0se Of his couch for the last time. Few would
have imagined his last resting place be the cell Of
amurderer The gentle hands Of the good sisters,
ny the aid Of flowers, books and pictures, trans
formed it into shrine, and in 1t John Real slept un-
conscious for Inc time that the sands OF his life were
fast pouring out.
Real retired to bed at haif-past ten O'Clock on
Thursday night, and owing, doubtless to the great
relaxation slept soundly. II was his last sleep on
earth, poor fellow, for he was soon TO sleep that
sleep that knows no waking. He arose at haif-past
i've with full consciousness and appreciation OF his
coming doom. He preserved q calm and pious de-
lDeanor, and dressed himself with that taste and
careiulness that have marked ms apparel since his
advent In the Tombs. Braggart he was not, nor did
he all the morning attempt 10 assume an appearance
foreign TO ms thoughts Mild, unpretending and
comparatively composed, Real showed sincerely
mat now hope being abandoned, he was resigned
10 his fate. He prayed earnestly, and hunbly i'm
pl0red for mercy from the Supreme Judge from
whom there ~ no appeal Having completed his
toilet the condemned man knelt down before the
cruc11x In his cell. Those who Witnessed his dev0-
tons state that Ills prayers were fervent and his
view, thoroughly realized his awful position. Shortly
after six O'Clock she Rev. Father Duranquct arrived,
aud accompanied Wy the deputy warden, Mr: Finlay,
al once proceeded 10 the cage In which keaI was
eonnneu Towards ieven O'Clock Real was visited
Dy Sherldan WHO is NV under sentence Of deatn,