The New York herald., 1872-12-07
Execution of Barney Wood for
the Murder of Samuel
M. Cheeseman.
History Of the Story Of the Deed, the
Trial and Customary Quibbling.
LAST SCENE OF ALL.
Grim Judicial Cognizance Q
Morbid Sightseers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Q, 1872
Barney Wood was hanged here to-day for the
murder OF gentleman named Samuel M. Cheese
man, in this city, on the 1lth OF August last, by
shooting him with gun. The murderer was a man
OF about iorty years years OF age, tall ana muscu-
lar, OF ford complexion, with red hair and mus
tache, nnprepossessing in appearance and with the
reputation OF desperate when Influenced by
drink, as was often the CASE He has left wife and
three children, one OF them a young woman ana
was employed as night watchman and stable keeper
on the Independent Ice Company's premises The
murdered man was about the same age as the
prisoner, an ice packer at Kennebcc, Me-, and q
stranger in Washington, where he had come about
week before his death, with his brother, who was
also his partner in business purchase the busi-
ness and property of the Ice company just named
He had wife and six children who were spend.
Ing the Summer months in Orange county, New
York, and were unable to reach his bedside before
his death, which occurred about twenty six hours
after his wounds were received.
THE TESTIMONY ON THE TRIAL.
From the testimony given on the trial it appeared
that the Messrs. Cheeseman, having concluded the
purchase OF the Independent Ice Company's busl-
ness, were about to discharge Wood from his place
on account OF the dislike of the drivers TO him. and
his late employers had so Informed him on the
afternoon of the homicide. Upon hearing OF this
intention Wood, VINO had been drinking, became
much excited and gave utterance TO certain inco-
herent threats, OF which no notice was taken at
the time. About nine O'Clock that nigh:
Mr.. Cheeseman sent the horse and car
riage which he had been using through
the day to the companys stables in charge
OF a colored man, with directions to Wood to have
them housed and cared for. Wood refused to ad.
init the horse and carriage and compelled the
driver to take them back, directing him also to
deliver an insulting message to Cheeseman Upon
this the two brothers, who were stopping at the
Metropolitan Hotel, got into the carriage and went
themselves to the stable, calling sharply out TO
Wood to come and take the horse and carriage ana
put them away. Wood was at the upper window
OF his house, just back Of the stable and answered.
"ls that you, Mr.. Cheeseman ~
The brother James replied "Yes," when a gun
was Immediately discharged from the window,
lodging thirty duck shot In the leg, thigh and abdo
men or Samuel Cheeseman, who had Just a)Irhted
TaE posr-MonTEM EXAMINATION,
were found to be fatal. The victim was al once
replaced in the carriage. driven to the hotel
placed in bed and surgical aid summoned. Fatal
SYMPTOMS ms. soon oS showed themselves, when tele
made to keep him alive by stimuants until their
arrival From the moment he was shot until
shortly before his death he remained speechless
and unconscious but when hope OF his rallyng
had almost fed he opened his eyes fnuuired for
family had been teegraphed for, and, receiving an
affirmative answer, went OF into q stupor ana
shortly after into death His wife arrived eighteen
dead body was painful scene to the witnesses.
NEWS or TIE SHOOTING
OF Mr.. Cheeseman reached the nearest police sta
ton shortly alter its occurrence, and the ieuten
ant in charge, accompanied by two detectives
who was Well known by person and reputatlon to
the police iorce. On nearing the stable the Lieu
tenant, who was in advance, was hailed by Wood
and, OH giving his name. was also fired at but
jumping aside as he heard the Click OF the lock-
ESCAPED the shot and fel: only the blast of the
ers was Immediately 1T the desperado's head and
the prisoner was secured. His trial began on the
n IN the aa task Of part G e
without delay.
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION
being direct and conclusive, and that lor the de-
fence intended TO prove that the shooting was
without the malice and intent charged; that the
accused was suffering from one OF the fits to which
he was subject when he was drinking heavily, and
was accustomed to act strangely at such times,
and that, under ordinary circumstances, his char
acter and conduct were good. 1t was shown, that
for three years during the war, he was in charge
OF the ward containing the most violent and excl
table patients at the government insane asylum
and gave great satisfaction TO the superintendent
The deliberation OF the jury was brief and
VERDICT OF GUILTY
as indicted was rendered. The convict's wife, who
was present, uttered scream, rushed to her hus-
trial was demanded on the ground that evidence
existed that one OF the jury was preudiced before
the trial, and that the verdict was contrary to the
evidence; but the Court In general Term dismissed
the motion after the reading OF careful opinion.
The next step was to appeal to the President for
o Communication OF the sentence, the wife and the
counsel OF the condemned uniting in the applica-
tion, and several hundred reputable citizens well
as seven OF the twelve jurors being induced to
sign the appeal. The papers were referred through
the Attorney General to the District Attorney, who
promptly returned an unfavorabe report, declaring
IN pr m III
the prisoner was both legally and morally respon-
sbie. The Attorney General returned the papers
to the President with decided negative, saying,
substantially, that there was -
NO REASON FOR CLEMENCY
except In tho surering and sorrow enfailed, as Is
the usual case, on the innocent family OF the mur
derer, and that In view of tile tendency of the
time to take human life upon the most frivolous
occasions 1t seems TO be q necessary safeguard for
society that tie death penalty should follow
swiftly and certainly the footsteps of murder. The
brother OF the murdered man protested against
the current report that he had interceded for
Wood, and reminded the Washington community
that there was another stricken family not to be
forgotten still mourning the sudden and unpro-
vokcd death OF their protector ana pr0vider. Alter
the failure OF the plea for communication the pris-
Oncr grew more serious, though for time he
is hopc,n and professed to believe himself un-
Justly condemned. His wife. wOman-like, never
rested IRON her efforts and opportunities with
everybody who might Influencing. even In the re-
motest degree, ner husbands fate; but while all
pitied none were willing to incur tile responsibility
OF deiylng the Attorney Generals Official
WARNING AGAINST MISTAKEN LENIENCY.
They all felt that the crime was In fact without
palliative feature, ana the criminal without merit
STILL on saturday, November 20, the President, be-
Iieving that the prisoner was not prepared for
death and willing To spare the populace the pain
OF public execution on the eve Of Thanksgiving
Day, rcspted the prisoner FOR ten days, an event
momcnt, the conviction that It was al! the mercy
be had LO expect JbCDce onward Sic 'alpsjy, tLI