Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-26
MCELHANEY IN BOSTON.

MCELHANEY IN BOSTON.
James McElhaney of Cambridge, who
murdered his wife last August, was hung
at tie Suffolk Jail in Boston, at II minutes
past IL. Friday, and in 20 minutes lie was
pronounced extinct There were about 4OO
spectators present, and all preserved re-
spectful silence aud dec0rum that was almost
painful. during the execution OF the law.
The condemned made no remarks upon the
scaffold, but. before leaving his cell, he IN
dulged in religious devotiOns in company
with Rev. Mr., Upham, his spiritu il adviser,
and Father Cook, the chaplain at the jan
lie walked firmly to the scafold. and be-
hayed with extraordinary fortitude Ills
will bequeaths all his property, about S6.O0O,
to his only child. The religious services
prev ious to the execution were held IN the
parlor Of the sheriff. apartments McElha-
ney was attended, as through the night. by
Rev Messrs. Upham, Ray, Father Cook aud
Mr. Scott. The exercises were opened by
singing the hymn, " Jesus, lover OF my
soul, after which appropriate selections oil
Scripture were read, and Rev. Mr.. Upham
| lei in prayer, invoking especial favor and
| forgiveness Tor the one who was so soon to
be beyond the reach Of prayer The CON-
munion service was then held, the reverend
gentlemen and the condemned man partak-
| ing. The HYMN " just 2 am - was then
sung, the whole assembly joining, and
prayer was again offered, after which a
| benedicton was given, and the company re-
! tired to the rotunda, leaving the prisoner
alone for the last few moments with the
clergyman. Through the entire exercises
the prisoner was evidently much. affected,
tears attesting to the sincerity with which
he Joined in the devotons. He was dressed
| in black and. although showing emotion.
bore himself with remarkable composure
under the circumstances, shaking bands
with several gentlemen whom he recognized.
After the body Tell through the drop, the
muscular c0ntractions lasted about six
minutes, when all was still. \ few minutes
| later the physicians alter an examination,
pronounced McElhaney dead.
McElhaney's body was delivered to bis
friends in the AFTERNOON, who removed it to
Fast Cambridge. Ii IS stated, on the author
lty OF one OF McEihaueys spiritual advisers,
that the members OF his wies family refused
to allow rim to see his little HID named
Nellie Emma, who is only two years old. \
letter. bearing an ott-repeated request to see
! his child, was sent by Sheriff Clark to the
family, but without effect.
! From a list OF PREVIOUS executions, record
ed IN the Boston Journal in conuection with
the account of Nee hancy's death. we make
the following notes:
The last execution which occur, ed in
Suffolk county. and the only one which ever
| took place In the Charles street jail, wa.
that of james Mckee, which took place on
the 25th Of June, 1853 Mckee was serving
a sentence Of twenty years IN the State Poison
for the murder of his wife, and became offend
Ell for some reason at Deputy Warden Galen
c. Walker and stabbed him while on his way
to the chapel for religious services, Sunday
morning. lie had two trials and died on the
same gallows where McElhaney was hung.
He was unrepentant and morOse to the last,
refusing the sacrament and all the cJnsola-
tions of religion.
rhe last execution in the State was of Silas
and Charles L. James in the rotunda of the
Jail at Worcester, Sept. 25, 1868, for the
murder of Mr. Clark in room in a public
building on Main street. Clark was a
gambler and had befriended both men,
especially Silas, better known as " General
They murdered him for robbery, and obtain
ed his watch and jewelry and large sum OF
money.
The last execution in the vicinity of Boston
was that of Green, Postmaster at Maiden
for the murder of young Converse, who was
employed in the Maiden Bank. The murder
was committed in the afternoon and was for
the robbery of the bank, Green securing a
large amount of money. The execution took
place in the Jail yard in East Cambridge
April l3, 1866.
The other execution in Boston, most fresh
in the memory of people living in Boston, was
that of Professor John W. Webster for the
murder of DR.. Parkman at the Massachusetts
Medical College on North Grove street. The
execution took place in the yard of the ole
Jail on Leverett street, August 80, 1850.
The last public execution in Boston tool
place April IS, 1922, on the grounds OF
Boston Neck 1t was that of Samuel Green
for the murder of Billy Williams, an officer
in the State Prison