The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-26
II H E SAND OIL U B.
Application for Clemency from the
Eastern States.
THE JURY PETITION IN VAIN.
Privacy in Carrying Out the Dread SEM
tence of the Law.

from Governor Booth, who Is at Bonner Lake. but
he could not be reached. Russell made no state
ment, was selrpossessed, and diet without violent
struggle.
The crime for which Russell suffered the last
penalty Of the law was perpetrated IN San
Francisco on the I'd or August, 1879. The
antecedents OF the condemned man were
bad and his associations OF the worst descrip-
ton. On the evening of the day in question
he visited the liquor saloon Of william J. Cady,
where Cruvty, known as "Shorthaired JIMMY
was at the time drinking. The latter was engaged
in disturbance and harsh words passed between
the two, who were well acquainted with each other.
Crotty drew pistol, which was taken away from
him by Cady, who drove him out Of the house.
Russell. who was requested to go away, remained;
but, after the lapse OF few minutes, he took his
departure. He was then unarmed. About an hour
afterwards
CROTTY RETURNED TO THE SALOON,
and was talking with man named Ficker when
Russell, at nine O'Clock, came In and caught him
by the left arm, and, as Crotty turned his head.
instantly shot him in the face with Colts revolver
which he procured during his absence. Crotty
fell, MORALLY wounded. Russell stepped back q
ew PAGES, then turned and walked out.
NOT A SYLLABLE WAS UTTERED
by either party before or after the bloody
work was DONE Crotty soon after expired,
aud Russell was lodged in jail. An indictment for
murder in the first degree was found against him,
and, after many postponements, the trial COM
menced in the Fifteenth District Court, san Fran
cisco, on the 9th O January last. The prosecution
insisted it was cold-Dlooded, cowardly and cruel
assassination. Russell testified IN his own behalf,
and GAINED he acted in seli-deience. On his ex-
animation in cnle he stated that he left the So
loon where the homicide subsequently TOOK place
about SIX in the evening ana returned three hours
later. He also detailed what ne dld ana now ne
between
time that he lett aau when he returned, but no ref
erence was made To the time or aiacsf
MANNER OF PROCURING THE PISTOL
with which Crotty was deprived OF life. He was
asked where he got the pistol, and the answer was
out on the examination In chief inc Court over
I ruled the objection and the pr soner stated that
ended the 14th OF January by the jury rendering
verdict OF guilty, as charged. Russell received
the announcement without visible emotion, ana
walked out Of court
He was sentenced 70 be hanged July %. About
cepted, IN which he declared his intention to COM
| init suicide. Strict watch was established over
him, which continued up to the time Of his execu-
| tlon During the last week or ten days his nerves
| gave way and he was so much Frustrated that he
| was hardly able to converse with his friends.
| Strenuous efforts were made to secure c0mmuta-
| ton OF the death sentence to imprisonment for
lie. A number Oh benevolent ladies interested
themselves in his behalf. 4hey obtained the sigma
] lures to q petition to Governor Boob invoking
clemency o. zoo members OF one society piedged'
| ALL THE JURY WHO CONVICTED APPEALED FOR
MERCY
| New York, Brooklyn and other parts OF the United
States, imploriug mitigation OF the penalty; but
cents OF Russell, as stated, were bad. He was
| tried for burglary in 1876 and q memento OF nls
| Francisco. A sand club, a diabolicai instrument,
Chief with tag attached bearing an inscription.
THE MURDERous WEAPON
! was taken from Charles A. RUSSELL While the
of his sentence it was removed and put OF sight
lor the objection had been constantly offered that
the possession OF a sand club stamped him as de.
PRAYED maiefactor. well deserving to suffer death
by the halter. Russell stated that the first knowl-
| was produced against him in Court seven years
ago. 1t appeared that the club was found in boat
| belonging to some OF his companions IN crime.
Russell sOlemnlv protested that he never had the
club and never saw IL until 1t was exhibited at his
trial for burglary, but the police were convinced to-
the contrary.
was originally made by filing an eelskin with flne
sand TINS formed very pliaDe and deadly weapon.
blow could be struck with 1t which would easily
break bone without leaving the slightest mark
on the skin. 1t is only WITHIN few years that the
sand club has been In use or at least known to the
police authorities IN the United States Attention,
was first called to the curious weapon in New York.
-A rI-- SEVERAL BODIES OF MURDERED MEN
were found at different times, the post-mortem
examinations OF which showed deaths by external
violence, but no marks could be found on the out
side Of the body. burglar was finally captured
with q sand club in his possession made out of an
eeskin stuffed with sand: Being closely questioned
HE DROPS issEssrBLK M
and soon dies from congestion Of the brain. Often
times the skull suffers no injury from the stroke,
and II the person struck RECEIVERS state OF sensI-
mauan iSocy man STRUCK in the Ss
body VIII be knocked down BY the peculiar force of
the blow and feel no immediate results nom It, In
tify under the line OF the blow ana rot down to the
bone. Heller, the celebrated pianist, IL supposed
to have met his death in Mexico from stroke Of
this diabolical weapon-the sand CLUB Notwith-
standing the petition for mercy was signed py
every member of the jury who found Russell guilty
OF the murder Of Crotty. it had no effect.
Differing rom almost every. other city In the
Francisco takes place within the walls of the
County Jail. This building Is located on Broadway
street, In the centre of the Chinese quarter 1t is
gloomy In appearance and OF contracted dimen-
sions 1t Is not well capable OF Defence for sur
rendered promptly TO the Vigilance Committee
plated his offence was used on the 14th OF May,
1873, when John Devlne, 1.-The Chicken,n suffered
occasion previous that 1t was brought into requ-
sltion was to hang Chung Wong, Chnaman The
scanold was lald across the Ratings OF the upper
permitting the body to drop to the lower corridor,
within about three feet OF the floor. The rope
allowed fall OF six1eet.
T u THE GALLONS BEAM sr
was extended above under the skyights, the ends,
resting In the ventiating apertures on each side.
On the west size OF the scafiod an iron red ran
up, to which was attached a cord secured to q
ring IN one OF the cell doors, the slipping Of which
drew the body by weight and allowed the TRAP to
fall. An immense crowd assembled on the streets
IN front OF the jail to observe even the grim walls
within which the dread scene OF violent death was
being enacted rt sat
RUssELL's HISTORY.
Russell, q short time before his execution made
the following statement:--My brother and were
printers at Holman g. Gray's, New YORK, working
ut the case; my brother was afterwards news
paper reporter At length / had to give up work.
Ing on account OF my health. had always enjoyed
good health until That time. A peculiar feeling Of
drowsness and nausea used TO come over me. I
was advised by q doctor TO give 1t up and to get
outdoor employment MY brother was here in
San Francisco, but mt the time came here found
he had left. HIS name Is Philip Russell made
inquiries for him at the Typographical Union, but
could get no tidings OF him. My relatives are liv-
ing in New YORK, but have received no nforma-
ton from them; II they knew anything about nc