The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-09
YESTERDAYS EXECUTION
A HORRIBLE JUDICIAL TRAGEDY IN
THE CITY PRISON YARD

THE CITY PRISON YARD.
A Bungiins Hansman's werk-TweIvs MIN
utes Of Hideous suHerfng-Reyneids Dies
Penitcnt Yet Not Like Coward.
At precisely twenty-five minutes past o'clock
yesterday morning, Sylvester Bresn alias Jack
Reynolds was judic!ally stranxed to death within
the walls OF the Tombs City Prison. He faced his
terrible fate with ,toic forttude, yet died with all
the meekness Of q sincere repeptant.
MS LAST SroHr ON EARTH
was passed mainly In receiving the consultations OF
religion. Shortly after O'Clock he begged his
keepers to take him into the prison yard that he
could look upon the stars for the last time. This
simple request was denied. Poor Jack, inside his
gloomy cell, did not know that the sky above
the cramped and stony yard then cloud ed over,
aud that permission or no. the stars had twinkled
for him the last time long ago.
PERFECTLY RESIGNED.
He took the denial OF his request submssively,
yet sadly, and nve minutes later knelt down and
joined in prayer with the Rev Father DAILY until $50
O'Clock. They then arose, and Reynolds in reply
to question, said that he perfectly resigned"
At O'Clock bota knelt down again and prayed for
mercy until 930, at which hour, with satisfaction
beaming on his countenance, Jack went quietly to
bed, and slept peacefully without once awakening
throughout the entire night. The feverish time
dragged slowly by, aud at each hour the watchman
rnng watch.clock which startled every one but Rey.
nods into momentsry wakefulness.
Shortly after 4 o'clock,
THE FIRST GRAY STREAMS or DAWN
crawl led eleepily through tho narrow porthole
which served as window for his cell. and, DOUBT.
less under It's influence Reynolds tossed himself un
easily on his hard straw pallet and twice heaved
heavy Sigh, but did not wake. Al o'clock the genial
face Of Mr.. Mark Finley, Deputy Warden, peered in
with nm unwonted sadness on It. no saw the con.
demned mans sleeping Inconsistencies at glance.
and oin to disturb 1t, lie quietly withdrew. For
more than half an hour he silently busted about
doing nothing, but at last at 6S5 o'clock precisely,
seeing that Reynolds would not be likely to awake
himsolf he stepped lightly In and touched him on
the arm. GOOD morning, Reynolds" said Fioley.
Good morning, sir" replied Rey ynolds. "You
slept well all nightt" asked Mr.. Finley "Yes. sir |
went to bed early. What time Is ~" "Irs half
past FIVE. Come, get up now, like good fellow, and
put on this suit of clothes that Sheriff O'Brien
bought for you" said MIR. Finley at the same time
holding pp a sack Goa, and pair OF pantaloons OF
nolds jumped lightly out Of bed, and taking no the
clothes which hai been laid down, glanced At them,
and turned 10 Mr.. Finley, saving MIR. Finley.
IN RATHER WEAR MT OLD CLOTHES"
"oh nonsense, my poor fellow" said Mr. Finley ;
"rut these on Without another word REYNOLDS
performed his iast toilet and the good d-hearted
Deputy NHrden went on To awake John Real.
HIGH MASS CELEBRATED.
~ ak O'Clock REYNOLDS and Real were escorted TO
the chapel OF the prison and heard High Mass the
celchrant being the Rev. Father Day. Both men,
Ps s siS the % sSSdd Sd ,si'rs & Miss JoDs. and Sis,
the most revoreit fervor, and its c;ose Reynolds
and Real devouty received the holy Communion
Afer they had gone out Real bade Reynolds a last
and sympathetic farewell and lie h.d hardly gone
when Mcfarland appeared and also bid tie
demned farewell.
THE LAST INTERVIEW WITH HIS COUNSEL.
/ Al . O'Clock Mr.. Howe, and his partner, MIR,
Abe Hummell, were admitted by Father DAILY, the
only other occupant besides the condemned man.
The door was then closed, and tho ollo wing con-
fsiHsr haiy~mr. Howe. thank you for Your
efforts In behaf Of thi. poor man Reynolds thanks
| you everybody thanks you.
Mr. Howe-How 30 you 'ee Reynolds
Reynolds-I feel well and happy. MIR. Howe, thank
you. TN thoroughly prepared to die.
c'Ile was not j ck REYNOLDS" said Mr. Howe. In
conversation with TnE Sun reporter afterwards 4;
lie was
THOROUGHLY CHANGED NAN
Where he got such language can't tell but 1t was
1clutiful; leauiIlnllD
Father Daiy-Nes thoroughly prcpared Caking
Reynolds by the Srm) See how quiet ne H.. lie
has made his peace with God, and he is about to
offer up his life in atonement for all the sins he has
Mr.. Eore-Fa'her, thank you for bringing my
POOR friend into that ontiton. God will rev ard
you for is Jack, have YOU any message. any com,
| muncation. eau de.lyeri Can do anything Tor
| youf
| REYNOLDS who mad stood with his grateful eyes
fixed on the lround, raised them to Mr.. Howe
face, while gentle smile crept his cuuntenauce
said Mr.. Howe afe-wIrd. " not the vacant sinister
nasty smile, winch had been accustomed to'O, ana
| you!" God bless you'' answered MIR. II we. as,
| overcome by his emotions. he el5oweI his wa, out
| through the crowd OF tenu;' sheriff..
THg snEMFF's BODY GUARD.
In the mean time many ia,hionably dressed clean.
| shaven deputies, with shiny high hats aud gold
mounted slaves Of offce in their hano., assembled
| in the new Court louse. and 1t hap,st o'clock,
in double Nle ard headed by the Sterln dressed in
Llack, with back kids on, they passed out through
| the east entrance. and marched at quick pa.e up
Centre street Crowds Of morbid curiosity seek ers
| and accidental Vsssers by gazed on them as they
moved along. ard several persons stole into their
r.nks in the vain hope Of thereby gaining a Tres
entrance into the place OF execution They entered
| ne 1pmbs.
| BEFORE THE scArroLD.
| A long row OF policemen, under the command O.
Cnutan Jourdan aud sergeant Kennedy hemmed in
the favored crowd who had gained admittance some
| facing the left wall OF the prison. or Prison for
about forty iee, and others with their backs 10 the
| Boys Prison." opposite. The citizens present
numbered about l5O, and were generally respectable
| looking and well dressed
| A low hum OF conversation arose from every side,
careless smiles rppled over many visagcs and every
conversation at ali edifJ ing. We heard questions As
to "Who he was going to leave his old clothes to -
| bAndnage, however. seemed 10 be INDUCED in more
| for the purpose OF relieving
| TIE VISIBLE STRAIN OF EIPEcrAScr
| han from any baser motive. Every little inc Ident
was seized upon eagerly and talked about. and many
| an involuntary glance fell the iron door of the
| male prison. Manv looked at their watches much
oitener than they would under other circumstances
| A pair OF pigeons, Tor instance which suddenly
tapped themselves over the gallows and Alghted one
on each side OF tho yard eagerly watched and
| their appearance commented upon.
THE TOLL or BELL
at 91s o'clock gave food for much interesting con.
versation.
Then policemen appeared, leading a blear.eyed,
curly-h haired libel a woman, wretchedly aud
sloyenly atired in brown calico, and walking under
| the gallows she disappeared In the door OF the
| Woinan's Prison. Then came another a red
haired woman, with black cloak ard black vel.
vet bonnet and yellow ribbons; and then az old wO
man in calico and u black hood; then
YOUNG GIRL " BLACK,
| with black jockey hist; and another woman In A.
| red cloak and bare headed and another IN brown
dress with a red velvet hat and another carrying
| an infant with a black cloak aud white cloud on
| her heud All passed under the gaews ana disap.
| peared behind the same door
| SUDDENLY TUE STRAINS or HASD-oRGAN OUTSIDE,
| brake tho solemn silence Its unseasonablcnoss
caused smile to ripple over the faces Of tie spec
| tators This was 9i5 O'Clock. Three minutes later
I -