The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-02-07
A Boy Murderer.
EXECUTION OF CYRUS pICKARD AT
LONDON, CANADA.

Cyrus Picknrd was hanged at Lon.
don, Ont, on the 2sth of December, .
for tho murder Of Duncan McVetnei.
his employer. Owing TO the nervous
ness of the executioner the knot s'ipp-
cd directly nnder his chin, and after
the drop fell the rope with which Ills
arms were tied b,nke. His struggles /
were fearful for several minutes, until
life became extinct.
THE CRIME.
Duncan McVennel, the murdered
man, was well tn-dn farmer, residing
near st. Mary's. In the summer "f
1870 he engaged pickard for year rs
farm laborer. Ever. thing went "h
smoothly until tlre latter end Of March,
1871, when Pickard suddenly left him
without giving any notice ar assigning
any reason. After about three weeks
absence he returned and demanded his
wages. Mr.. McVennel refused t"pay
| him, on the g.0und that he had failed
to fulfill his agreement. The next day
! pickald returned and again demanded
IA settlement. Mr.. McVennel, VIII"
was engaged in narrowing at the time
gave him his choice of returning t" his
work or waiting until The end ut his
year for the money. Some sharp
words passed between them. when, rs
/ McVennei was turning round t" re-
sumo his work, Pickard drew pistol
and sho: him. Pickard was ut once
arrested, and npon his own confession,
was committed to the jail to await his
trial. His counsel adopted the plea oi
Temporary insanity, and upon this
erou d succeeded in having the trial
postponed until the fall assizes. The
result OF the trial was what every one
Iexpecteti-Pickard was found guilty
and sentenced to he hanged. Endeav-
cys were made u have this sentence
committed, aud an extensively signed
petition was presented to the Exern-
tive for this purpose. The only effect
Of this, however, was to produce an
announcement from the Secretary ct
State that the Governor General had
decided to allow the law to take its
course.
THE ROY MuRDEEERs LIFE.
Cryus Pickard was boru in Missouri.
on September 30, 1851, so that he was
but little over 90 years of age. His
family consists of his father, fnu,
brothers. aud three sisters. all at the
present time residing in Mac"uib com
ty. His mother de.t when lie wasonly
' eight years of age. In the fall of 1866
his family removed to the other side
He ACCOMPANIED them, bnt only re-.
manned a couple of years before he r..
y with various persons in Missouri nnf
London townships before he was en-
> ploytd by MsVennel. 1t was dnlin:
this time that he became acquainted
with tbs xaaGS Si,l %4am he; u Sa ~
, calamity. The acquaintance rapid,
,, ripened into intimacy. and on bis sid,
at least into II passion still stronger
They kept company together until /;
r few weeks before the murder. when. -.
Z he expressed it, she suddenly ..weu,
f back on him" This seems to hay,
2 affected him deeply. He became rest.
, less and low spirited, and after few
days LETT his enplo, nlcut and went to
tue house of his cousin. Here he AT.
tracted general attention by the alsen;
, minded, aimless manner in which he
conducted himself. The pis,ol had
been in his POSSESSION for n cou,,l. .t
. years. On the Goth of April, the la,
! OF the murder, lie put it in his pne k.t
He did this without any intention %,
& engaging in II quarrel, but merely f,oo,
the force of habit, jnst as he had taken
1t with him on hundreds Of other p,,.
vlous occasions.