National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-07
THE PENALTY PAID.
BARNEY WOOD EXECUTED
Description of the Terrible Drama-Inci-
dents About the Jail Yard-An Immense
ThronE Of Visitors - His Courageous

Throng OF VISITORS - His courageous
Observation-Disclosures Of Innocence.
Yesterday being the time set apart for the exc
cution Of Barney Wood, there was much more
than the usual stir in and about the jail and even
at an early hour an unlnitiated person could
have dlscerned that there was something Of more
than ordinary interest TO occur. BY eight O'Clock
a gang Of persons began to assemble in the neigh !
borhood OF the gate leading to the front entrance,
aud ia number was augmented as the day wore
on, until at eleven O'Clock II hal grown so great
that It was almost impossible TO keep II In order.
TIE FOLiCE ARRANGEMENT,
As In other cases, 1t had been decides, that no !
one should he admitted unless armed with a
ticket Of admission, and In order that the outer
Raurtl should not he crowded by the "mOb' on |
GERS were stationed at the gate, and each person
required to show his ticket before entering, As
the crowd grew more dense detail Of Officers |
were placed outside TO keep the sidewalk clear,
which they did by opening passage, and rs each
person passed up toward the gate he was set
upon by his friends and acquaintance with a
request 10 try and get them In, a request which
was useless, as ut that hour the warden had de-
Cided that under no circumstances would he Issue
any more permits.
IN THE YARD,
CTUwding the walk AMI packed like behring's ~
far as the jail door were the lucky ones Who by
the aid Of tickets, hal passed the outer guard,
and who were clamOring and ohafilng with the
oftlcer on duty at the inner for not admitting
them so that they might crowd the rooms and
corridors OF the building and Interfere with the
Oflcials. But neither cOaXing nor threats were Of
avail, and they were compelled to remain sntsldC
until the arrangements for the execution had
been completed.
there seemed to he feeling Of depression per-
meatlnR those who had been admitted. The
warden and guards each wore a solemn look and
acted In nervous, peculiar manner, which they
vainly tried TO conceal. u seemed natural that
the terrible drama 10 which the decree Of the
law and their sworn duty compelled them TO
take part should make them feel the RESPONSE
6ility But there is this about Z that no prisoner
who has ever been confined within the jail, either
for great or minor crimes who has acted In ac-
COrlance with the established rules, can com
plain In the least Of the treatment they have re-
Ceivcd, as II has ever been the Intention Of the
officials TO do all In their power to amellorate
the condition Of prisoners, especially In cases
such as that Of Barney Wood.
IN THE wARDENS OFFICE
sat Gen. CrOCker. quietly attending to the many
calls made upon him by both his subOullnatcs
aud outside parties In his mouth, an insepara-
HE companion, was his well-knOwn pipe, and In
his hand the familiar cane. About the room
were seated the veteran physician to the jail
Dr. Young, and few medical gentlemen whom
he had invited to he present; and In addition,
there were several representatives Of the press
Of the city. The sublued air In which the con-
ycrsatnns were carried ON showed that the
gathering, accustomed as they were to scenes Of
the kind, felt the all-peVading awe which men
usually feel when standing at the threshold of
death.
arose about O'Clock, after an uneasy slumber Of
three hours, and spent from that hour to
O'Clock in company with the guards and making
preparations for his DEATH one Of his requests
being that capt TOrTens, Capt, Coleman, Capt.
Croker and Mr.. woodward, Of the jail guard,
heavy leg-lTons were sfemoved, at which he ex-
pressed great relief. lie seemed to be In COM
paratively good spirits.
PROTEST OF INNOCENCE.
In a conversation with a representative Of the
star at this time the following passages occur;
"Haye you anything to say In addition to what
After a pause, Wood replied "well: dunno,
another pause,l but certain man Il the cause
Ot all my troubles. lie treated me seven times
that day. lie never did such q thing before,
and after getting me In trouble he came here to
see me twice and shook hands through the bars,
saving that he would stand by me and do what
he could for me; mat | should have the best Of
counsel, aud then he went away"
Rep. al have hearl that you stated that you
were asked to IRE the builings."
Wood. "NO; never was told TO tlO II; hut
heard party say that he would have IL done.
was got Into this trouble so that | would not he
able to tell. There are three or four others who
know as much as | do about II. and sooner or
| later It will come out"
/ Rep. "Well, have you anything more to say ?"
Wood 81 never fred but one shot that night
AMI that was when GessfOrl came. GCsstOrl
told me that came near shooting him, and had
only ammunition for one load. There was moth
ing In It but powder.
THE SHOT THAT KILLED CHEEsEMAN
did not come from the window but from the side
Rep. "why, who do you think nrcd III"
Wood. "Sonc one knows, and that may come
out yet
Rep. "Thc evidence was that you were at the
window when the Chcesemans came down"
Wool. "DO you think had II In my heart to
Kill Mr.. Chcesemhn, man through whom OK
peCted TO make my living and whom had never
seen before that day7 feel sure that did not
IRE but the once that night. | forgive every
body. l shall die an innocent man; had no
malice against Cheeseman. But III die happy
for am innocent Of any generalization or malice"
About this time he called for the clothes In
which he was TO be buried, and proceeded to
dress himself with care, exhibiting at the time
signs OF considerable nervousness, which he
vainy tried to repress The suit was Of black
cloth, and on his neck he wore a blue neck tie
This completed, he sat down to await the coming
Of his wife. who arrived at about half-past eight
fora
FISAL INTERVIEW
with her husband. She was accompanied by her
daughter AMI Mr. shea, and although the inter
view was affecting In the extreme, each bore up
wei. Subsequently his brOthCr-in-law and few
friends called on him aud remained for few
moments. AZ about half-past nine Rev. Father
Wlget arrived, anil after spending some time
with him Wood expressed a desire to visit the
other prisoners, request which was granted,
and IN company with Captain Coleman he made
tour Of
THE DIFFERENT CELLS
AZ which he babe good bye to the inmates To
Hllly Cornell, serving a term for assault he said!
billy, your time will he out next month, aud |
hope that you will be a good hoy" Cornell re-
pUeu' - VIII, MT. WOOd.' O'Bnen AMI john
son, convicted Of murder, were last night re-
moved to the dungeon cells on the second floor.
Wood said to O'Bren: "iOOd bye; hope that
we will meet in Heaven" and O'Brien replied, 81
nope so, and hope that you are prepared" john
son spoke 1rst to Wood on the approach Of the
latter, saying: "Mr. Wood, cool morning, sir :"
Wood answered, "GoOd morning" johnson
san, 81 nope you have made your peace with
God Wood replied, 81 hope that we will
meet In Heaven" Both men were somewhat
affected, but Wood bore up much better than
have hnpn a ~ In hn
room he was left with Rev. Father Wget, and
about 10 O'Clock Rev. Father MCDevitt, Of St.
Matthews, and Father Mesplie, missionary
priest, arrived, and shortly after they admin
lstered TO him the sacrament Of the Church.
AROUND THE sCAPFOLD.
About 1880 O'Clock the doors were opened and
the crowd, To the number Of about 900, admitted
TO the north yard, where they were arranged
around the scarold by the strong detail Of police
couple OF Officers had been stationed on the
extreme north wall for the purpose Of preventing
the crowd Of boys from climbing into the trees
duty which they performed to the satisfaction OF
all. The tops and upper windows Of the G-streot
houses were crowded with people, many being
ladies', who held Opera-glasses In their hands. 4
man, It Is said, realized fully t5Ohy charging an
admission fee to parties who were DESTROYS OF
witnessing the execution.
HEADING THE WARRANT.
At precisely noon Warden CrOCkeT and a few
OF the guards, accompanied by the representa-
tiyes Of the city press, proceeded ~ the room in
which the doomed man was still with his re-
llglOns friends. When the party entered he was
HthhNlHEI hH'l tue NdIfltn hNNhltttlt anu, AFTER
shaking hands with him, said: "Mr. Wood, the
laws In force In the District Of Columbia devOlye
upon me the unpleasant duty OF carrying out the
sentence Of the law as expressed In the dOCu-
nient now read The warrant was then read.
Wood, during the reading, by the alyiCa Of
Father McDeyitt, continued TO pray, hut II was
evident that he was lahOring under great excite
nent, as his face neTyOusly twitChe1, his hands
moved uneRsily, and his body swayod 10 AMI fro,
nut he was supported by Fathers Mesplie and
McDeytt, anil managed to stand during the
reading.
Gen. CrOcker then informed him that hH re-
quests expressed to capt. TOrTens would all he
complied with, To which he replied, thank goa.
the clergy then resumed the prayers, AMI one
Of the guards nluUned his hands. This over the
PROCESSION TO DEATH
was formed aud slowly proceeded down the
stone steps into the jail yard-Gen. Croker In
the advance, Father MCDeyitt clad In his surplice
next then two guards, then the prisoner sup
ported on either side by Fathers Wiget and
Mespe, and last two more guards. Father
McDeyltt was sUlemnly reCitinR the lltany for
the dying, the response being made by the other
clergy and the prisoner. As they entered the III
closure the sight Of the sCaifOld seemel TO
a