The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-31
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Sentence Of William n. McyeVins for tE6
Murder OF Edward Hines.
Judge Bedford's Address to the
Condemned.
The Execution to Take Place on tho
l4th Of July Next

Yesterday the court room OF the General Sessions
! was filed TO its utmost capacity by members OF the
| BAR jurors ana citizens generally who were drawn
thther by the announcement that Judge Bedford
would pronounce the Judgment OF the law upon
william II. McNevfns, VINO was convicted OF murder
In the first degree IN shooting Edward Hines the
27th OF November last. Shortly before eleven o'clock
the City Judge took mis- seat upon the bench Sheriff
Brennan occupied seat on the bench.
Judge Garvin and Mr. Sullivan represented the
people. The stiffness OF deata pervaded the court
ROOM and nothing occurred to mar the soemnity or
the scene. The condemned man was placed at the
bar, occupied seat beside his counsel. He was
well dressed and his appearance Detokened nothing
OF the rowdy; on the contrary, he seemed to mani
fest modest demeanor.
MOVING FOR SENTENCE.
Assistant District Attorney Sullivan rose and
said-If your Honor please. Thursday last In the
case OF the people against william ii. McNevlns
verdict was rendered by the jury OF guilty OF MUIR
der In the first degree against the accused. IL Is
now my duty TO renew the motion / then made for
Judgment and sentence upon the prisoner.
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL.
Prisoners counsel moved for new trial upon tho
merits, and also upon the ground OF an rreguarlty
in his Honor's charge to the jury, which ne Nhe
counseD constrained to say one OF the fair
est, kindes and impart al that could be given,
and which, bnt for the errors which 1t was the duty
OF counsel TO present, would have been perfect the
prisoners claimed that the jury should have
been informed that they could upon the indictments
render verdict OF any OF the different grades OF
manslaughter, while the Judge instructed them that
they must either convict OF murder In the nrst de-
gree mansau9hter In the third degree or acqlk
The Judge denied the notion I
Tie Clerk then said William II. McNevins, You
Will remember that you were arragned upon GER
| tain indictment for murder In the first degree OF
| Edward hines, upon which indictment you pleaded
not guilty and put yourself upon the country for
| tria which country hath found you guilty. whas
! have you now to say why Judgment OF death should
not be pronounced against you according TO awf
McNevns responded, ~ did 1t In self-defence."
SENTENCE.
Judge Bedford then proceeded to pass Judgment.
lie said:-
William H McNevlns you were indicted, tried and
convicted of the murder OF Edward Hines. Your
trial lasted four days. You were indeed, ably de-
iended honorably prosecuted, and, as ! think, on
the evidence. righteousy convicted: You availed
give evidence In their own behalf, and you. regret
TO say like all other prisoners who have testified IN
this court ROOM with rare exceptions, swore to too
much, thereby tainting as It were your story with
suspicion the great question which presented IL
| found against you. Nothing now remains but for
| the Court to mete out the penalty prescribed by
| statute for
YOUR GREAT CRIME AGAINST THE LAWS OF GOD
| AND MAN.
| fearful thought and melancholy reflections. May ts
prove stern lesson; may It speak in thunder tones
| walking the same dangerous road over which you
have traveed-a road which, sooner or later, leads
| the traveller on TO degradation, misery, c0nhnemene
""AA' '-' OR ns DEATH Uros THE scArFoID.
Let these young remember your fate, ana
henceorth shun this disastrous and ruinous course
they would the very langs OF the malignant viper.
tence. which am compelled to do under my ofi1-
cial oath, and thereby fix day for the expiaon Of
to be sincerely hoped. at the time, Will prove
future protection for an outraged society, desire,
God. DO NOT, during the few days which Will inter-
vene remain callous and Indifferent. DO not be
confidently believe that the appellate courts win
THE VERDICT RENDERED IN YOUR CASE,
| and then It Will necessarily follow that you mnss
forfeit your LIE violated laws of your country.
snS 70 With s
| OF that holy religion In Which 1t was your good
cell you shall be visited by the KIND priest and the
good sisters whose very presence WIN create for
WIN offer up many an earnest prayer In your be-
AN ALL-w1sE AND MERcIFUL GOD.
contrlts heart. In one word, join with them
or ferveat pets, and '' then it V seems to 'pi me-
that you VIII enjoy In all their Usefulness
your religion beautifully holds forth TO the erringI
| but truly penitent man.
Listen now, 10 the judgment OF tne Court WHICH
is--That you, William H. McNevins for the murder|
and felony whereof YOU stand convicted. De taken
hence TO the place from whence you came, there 10
| be safely kept and detained, and on the
| FOURTEENTH DAY OF JULY. 1871,
you be hanged by tho neck until you dead, anal
| may God have mercy on your soul.
The prisoner during the delivery OF the foregoing
remained firm, but with intense interest depicted on
every feature OF his face After the conclusion OF
the sentence the prisoner sat down ana remained -
| firm as ut the first.
| The prisoner was soon after removed and the
crowd dispersed
STAY OF PROCEEDINGS GRANTED.
Immediately after the sentence was pronounced
| upon McNevins his counsel applied TO Judge In
stay Of proceedings upon the Judgment. the mo