South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-02-21
The Gallows in New York.
IH6 0dIIOWS III N6W 4 OK.
JOHN GAFFNEY'S EXECUTION.
His Inst Day ON Earth.
TO HIS WIFE AND CHI DREN


BUFFALO, Feb. l4,-JoHN GAFySEY,
Who to-day suffered the extreme penalty
Of the law, was born 10 this city in 1914,
and is % years old. AT the early age Of
IL he married the proprietoress Of house
of ill-fsme, by whom be had two children.
Within year after his FIRST wife's death
he married second time. Since bis con-
victiou every effort has been made to have
his sentence COMMITTED to i'm rriscnment fer
life. All efforts in this direction being
fruiilcss, be as las. resort simulated in.
sanity, and thereby managed 10 prolong
his existence for one week. The verdict
Of the jury on Tuesday, that be vas feign-
ing insanity, smoihered his last ray Of
hope, and at noon to-day the last scene 10
the life of john Gaffoey will be enacted.
Since the verdict of the jury has been
communicated TO him, he hos thrown of
bis feigned insanity, and been very quiet
and passive aud has bad frequent consul
tatioDs with Father Malay, his spiritual
adviser. The thorough deprsvi.y of the
man and the horrible biasphemy be con,in-
ually muttered during his feigned insani.
~ has left him without q sympatbizer or
friend. On Thursday afternoon the con.
demued man had an ,ffactiDs interview
with his wife aud two children. He made
bis wife promise to abandon gay dress, go
to church and live q christian life. From
bis boy he exacted a promise never to drink
liquor or play cards, never to swear OF to
break she Sabbath day. Gsffuey in ad.
dressing the boy said: eff you will do as
ask, you will never be brought to where
your poor papa now is. From the little
girl he exacted similar promises. He slept
we'll during portion of yesterday afternoon
and eat hearty supper. GAFFNEY retired
after an early supper last night but awoke
at o'clock this morning, after passing a
very restless night. Janitor HARRIS visited
him between one and two o. clock this morn
ing when he complained that his fate was
very hard for so Young a man. AT eight
o'clock he partook of a slight breakfast
consisting of eggs, tea and toast. At niue
o clock his weeping wife and two children,
with few of his relatives, were taken to
bis cell to bid their last farewell His cof-
flu was brought 10 at seven o'clock. It is
an elegant silver mounted rosewood casket,
and has a neat silver plate bearing the in
scription ''Died, February il, 1873,
JOHN GAFFNEY, aged % years II also
has the inscription Of II. H. S." Care
was taken that the execution should be as
private as possible. Sheriff CLEVELAND
took his position at the lever which he was
to spring, apd the rest of the party ascend
ed the platform. GAFFNEY, dressed in
black gown, with the fatal noose hanging
around his neck, mounted the gallows' plat
form with n steady step and took his posi-.
ton directly in front of the trap The I'M
der-sheritf then read the death warrant,
after which GAFFNEY stepped forward TO
speak. The priest tried TO dissuade him,
but he said [ must spesk and tell these
gents the truth. lie finally disengaged
himselfnnd came forward, saying shall
speak. In clear voice he told the cir.
cumstaDces of his crime, how bis brother
in-law who was sober at the time, banded
him revolver, and be 10 The frenzy Of
drink did the act that brought him to this
disgraceful end. He acknowledged feign.
ing insanity, and said be would do any.
thing to proloDg bis life, even though il
was spent in n dungeon where be would
have the comfort Of seeing his family. He
asked forgiveness Of all those he bad in-
jurcd. The priest then offered up the
payers for the dead. His arms and lir:ib s
were pinioned, the black cap drawn over
his head The knot was adjusted, add the
signal given, and at ] / SO A. NJ. the shtr.
if pressed the lcaver, the bolt shot back,
letting the drop fall and the body Of joins
GAFPNEY fell six feet. lie swagged back
and forth for some time, the muscles Of
his hands twitchiUg. Twenty minutes
later bis heart bad ceased to beat. His
BODY was cut down half an hour later and