The New York herald., 1871-06-17
Twice Convicted and Twice Sentenccd--o
Justice at Last.
A DOUBLE MURDER EXPIATEN
~>~~>>-~<~~~~~~>~~>>~~>~~-
Execution Of Ferguson for the
Murder Of Jonathan Lunger
and Wife.
The Crime COnfcssed-Stolid Indifference Of
The Culprit
Scenes at tbs Ecafold-Ferguson Pre-.
pared to Meet His God.

ITHACA, N. Y, June 10, 1871.
pcasantcr, brighter or more sunshiny day than
ia this The town has never known, though 1t is the
first Tune it has ever had galloys up in twenty
years. All the forenoon the streets were thronged
with ladies' anl their bcaux promenading ana some
OLD inhabitants nave sad that 1t is only once In
decade OF years sucn turnout can be seen On in
curing the cause the answer invariably was that Q
circus was coming TO the town that day, and that
FERGUSON WAS TO BE HANGED.
About noontimc the promenader5 wended their
way towards the Park, near which stands the
prison in which Ferguson has been confined 80
long and in which the death penalty to be car
ried out according to law. At half-past twelve
O'Clock there was motley crowd gathered arOurd.
among them oelng some OF the fairest girls
in Ithaca and some OF the very plain
est all shaded from the heat OF the
sun bv an admiXure OF original styles
of wagons, country CARTS canopied with huge
umbrellas, and Numerous other nondescript
vehicles. The circus people must have found out
that another sensation had priority, and wisely
resolved TO tent without the city but there was not
much sympathy for Mike Ferguson, the murderer OF
Jonathan Lunger and his wife, among the assem-,
blage. The
STORY OF TIE MURDERER's CRIME
WAS told for the one hundredth time, the greater
number OF narrators giving the Old version, while
guson's supposed recent confession; for Ferguson
has admitted that he killed the Lungers, husband
and wife, but says he killed the woman first. Tue
facts connected with the occurrence are few
that they may oc here briefly repeated. On the
night OF the 2lSs or March, 1870, Ferguson entered
the cabin Of jonathan Lunger5 on The banks OF
Lake cayusa, in winch Mrs. Lunger was at the
time alone and having had previous quarrel with
Lunger's vile. raised an axe which he had brought
With aim on purpose and with u
FEW BLOWS KILLED HER.
OF his wife, but Ferguson attacked him also and
Killed MIN with a blow OF the weapon. lie then
SET FIRE TO THE HOUSE.
threatening the murdered couples child, Hannah.
with Instant death If she made an outcry. HIS next
movement was to take the chld with HIM across the
lake In an Old skin, ior the purpose OF spending the
night on the opposite side; but wnile passing over
OF the enid. Next morning having slept
the night before IN haystack, ). he took
distance OF about twenty miles from Lake Cayuga;
but before evening set in the tavern keeper sus-
left. He tnen rampled his way along 70 his mo-
ther's house, on tue edge or pennsylvania, about
SIX miles from Corning But wine Ferguson was
there osposing OF himself tue Inhabitants OF Ithaca
were in state OF the Widest excitement, caused
by the discovery Of the double murder:
IN tue March OF 1879 and neighbor OF
the LuDgers, who was guiding his children safely
oy the lake. on hnolng Lunaer's nut IN ruins and
then seeing the barred scattered remains OF The
murdered two, at once gave the alarm, and the re-
suit was an immediate pursnt OF Ferguson, the
anxiety OF the people being Increased by the story
OF the cuiid Hannah, who arrived the evening
by the swartnwoods. Next day Ferguson was
arrested at his motlers mouse, with
sna aHen IN with MS n rom w1.Sn h9nger s has
A coroners inquest was ut once held over the ashes
testimony M Ferguson was remanded and stood mis-
trial Tor murder Ia the first degree III August 1870
when ne was convicted and sentenced to be hanged
on the 5th OF the following November. stay OF
proceedings, however, was procured In some way or
other, and new trial was held, and on the 1st Of
lpc Earsvt nfnh andS
fenced TO the death penalty. Since then he has
given up all hope Of escaping from the gallows.
HIS DEMEANOR IN JAIL
has been rather OF indifference to his fate than
such as might be expected from criminal whose
the slender thread OF his not having been accounta-
BILE for what he did. Little Of interest attaches TO
ms ms prison ne beyond .ne acI snat IS he
world he manifested some little more attention
to devotional exercises For several days past the
KEY, Dr. Strong and the Rev. Mr.. Warren have been
unceasing IN their attentions 10 him. SO impressed
had nc become yesterday with the solemnity OF his
position that he became quite nervous and refused
TO eat any thing. and last ught lie never thought Of
retiring, Icing wraIped up m the consideration Of
what was TODAY before him. This morning, though
at drst he steadily refused 10 eat anything,
he was subsequently prevailed upon to partake Of
forenoon and early In the afternoon his sisters
and either one Of the ciergyinen were with him all
the time, and 1t was his own especial request tnat
no others snoud he permitted TO disturb him. Ho
EVERY rnuD OF TIE HAMMER
used In fastening together the rude plank galows,
and this maze him down-nearted The galows con-
sisted OF Two erect posts with cross beam and o
small side shed Tor the weight.
PREPARING F0g THE GRAVE
Shortly after noon sheriff Root came into the jail
awaiting the last act. aud invited any OF who
chose to go up to the cell ana JOIN In the prayer
about to be said for the departing soul All at once
complied, and heard some very appropriate re-
marks from the clergymen, one OF whom read, as he
told us, the prisoners Iavorite Psalm-the Msererc.
Prayers lasted about fifteen minutes and then all
retired but The officers who were 10 compose the
MARCHED TO THE scAFFOLD.
Soon the measured tread OF the procession
reached the jail yard, ana a stiffness OF death mo-
mentarily fell upon the spectators. All eyes were
TO ~ Sere onv lew stps between
the door and the, scanold. First came Sheriff ROOT
and Sheriff Martin Of Bnghamton, then Rev. Dr.
Strong and the Rev. Dr. Warren, next the prisoner,
supported by under sferlff Fish. OF Ithaca, followed
by Sheriff Campbell, OF Rochester, and ex-Sherin
Brown and sheriff Benton, q Cortland. The prls-
oner walked steady TO the scaIod, his face bearing
more Of the miserable about II than indicating any
other internal feeling That, however, he lost when
he took his seat upon the chair
UNDER THE MOOSE.
As II half in terror and half In curiosity his eyes, Tor
the first moment or two while here, turned involun.
tarily towards the moose near his head and AS the
under sheriff moved near him. AZ this time he was vas
end not muscie OF his face changed;
not twitch was discernible in his face or hands.
He was calm, thoughtful and deeply attentive.
Then the death warrant was read, and alter this,
winch was document OF no mean length, the Rev.
Dr. strong rose and said he had few words TO say
In the name OF the prisoner Ferguson, through
him, desired 10 say that ne accepted the Judgment
passed upon him, as eminenty deserved and IN aC-
cordance with the supreme law OF the Almighty.
The prisoner
HAD NO PEAR OF DEATH,
for he trusted In the mercy OF Him who ever forgave
those who trusted In the saving efficacy OF Chrlsts
change Tor the better the Almighty had wrought
In The soul OF the doomed man. ne was
desired To say that Ferguson, now on the
threshold OF eternity, mad commissioned him
especially TO thank Sheriff Root Tor all MS
Kindnesses while the prisoner had bee been under under his
charge, and all others from whom Fergtson
had received Kindness. Ferguson was going to
meet bis God without u feeling OF III VIII TOWARDS
ony human being. The reverend gentleman thyn
addressed the dying man IN most pathetic strain.
Tine over the moose was adjusted, and the signal
given at len minutes TO one O'CLOCK aud Ferguson
was - -
when the body was up six minutes the pulse beat
ninely-six; seven minutes ninety eight; eight and
half minutes, sixty; nine minutes, Iorty-cight ten
minutes forty-four; ten ana half minutes no pul.