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

Tho Execusien 81 Jcha Real.
The hanging Of John Real at the Tombs yes
terday was not an act of popular vengeance.
IL was not a concession to furious demands in
consequence of general alarm on account OF
recent murders, especially the murder of Mr..
Nathan, that somebody should be hanged
Nor was it concession to the interests Of po-
litical partisanship. 1t was simply solemn
recognition of the sanctity OF human life and
OF the supremacy of law, while, as dreadful
warning to the dangerous classes, it struck
terror into the breasts of the most hardened
criminals, it brought relief and an unwontcd
sense OF security to the homes of all law
abiding citizens. The iirmness of Governor
Hoffman in resisting all appeals whatever in
behalf Of convicted murderer, whose crime
was aggravated by the fact that his victim was
sworn preserver of the public peace, cannot
be too highly commended.
1t Is to be regretted that one painful Incl
dent of the execution should have happened
BY some grievous oversight the black cap was
not properly adjusted before the drop was cut,
and the CHASTITY face, the half-closed eyelids,
the dim, rolling eyes and the protruding tongue
offered shocking spectacle. This would
have been still more revolving had not Real
died quickly and with but few commissions. It
is doubtful moreover, whether his neck was
broken, and the English drop would therefore
seem to he still entitled to precedence over
the Am. ricau alleged improvements upon it.
Humanity requires that in taking life justly
forfeited the ministers of justice should strip
from tho last scene on the scaffold all super
huOus horrors.
The most revolving feature ia the case Of
Real is the false, cold-blooded and venomous
electoneering document which certain parties
have concocted, causing 1t, signed with his
name, TO be published as his farewell appeal
to the public. This wretched special plea for
the murderer bungingly omits all expressions
of regret for his crime. IL sheds not single
lnsinuations against the motives of the Judge
who sentenced him to death, against those of
the Governor who declined to Interfere with
the course Of justice. and against those of the
entire community which has refused to
exchange it's disgust for sympathy and has
waited patiently two long years to SEQ him
overtaken by punishment Several of its as
sertions are as false as they ara impudent.
Thus Governor Hoffman is misrepresented as
offering the Nathan MURDER and Judge Bar
nard the Rogers murder as excuses" for
the death OF the murderer of officer Smedick;
aud Real Is made to say that Mayor Hall
''sat on the bench with Judge Barnard, and the
trial was rushed through without allowing me
time to defend myself" The internal evidence
of the document shows conclusively that it
could not have been written by Real, who
was an illiterate man. II is charitable to sup
pose that, agitated by the anxieties Of his last
day ON earth, he may have been forced to
adfx his signature to it, without being con-
scOus that base men were aiming to use his
death as political capital and to parade before
the world as purporting to be his own dying
statement what is actually political campaign
document Illuminated to array Irish Catboll-
cism against Tsmmany. As such it is an insult
to adherents to the Catholic faith Its attempt
to elevate Real, ut the expense Of Tammany
Hall, to the dignity Of a political martyr
would he ridiculous il 1t were not infamous
In fine. this "appeal" cannot fail to produce
an effect directly opposite to that intended by
its authors, and good men Of all parties will
unite In condemning ii as an outrage on
decency and common sense. They will like
wise agree in regarding the execution of Real
as having demonstrated that our courts and
our Executive are not to be Overawed by poll
tcians.