National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-01
THE DAY BEFORE DEATH.
THE BALTIMORE MURDERERs.


olson and Ills Famiiy-Hoiiohun Alone
waiting the Dread scntcncc--Rer,url-
able Compo.urc Exhibited by Be,h-A
sketch OF the Crimc-Arrc.t, Trial AVID
Conviction.
The grey dawn penetrated the aperturcs o.
the walls Of the portentous Baltimore jail yes
terday morning, and Its s,reaky light foun'
none awake but the silent, watchful guards on
duty, and to At least one most unpleasan
watch, as TO his custody had been committed
the persons Of Nicholson and Hollohan, con
yicted OF the murder OF Mrs. Lampley, aud sen
fenced to explate the crime to-day upon TIT
gallows. The bright sunlight followed the grey
against the prison walls the condemned men
awoke from a profound slumber, their last but
one on earth.
What their feelings were none can tell
Whether nature, In happy mood, had voucn-
safed them refreshing slumber, undisturoed ny
horrid dreams, or whether through the long
night sleep had been robbed Of is sweetness ny
the ghost OF the aged murdered victim, with her
accusing looks, must be q sealed book to all tho
outside world. Human Judges had sat as arbiters
In the case; human law had awarded its de-
cree, and bowling to the mandate they could not
avoid, both men had sought during prison life
trial at that higher court before which human
Judges and criminals must oil appear and
answer, and from their conduct they must have
felt satisfied that they would be lenlently dealt
with.
THE LAST DAY.
The public demand TO know Just such things,
and In order that their taste might be gratined
reporter Of the REPUBLICAN visited Baltimore
yesterday for the purpose OF ascertaining the
latent phases In the lives Of the two men. on
G..I ~, will
peremptory refusal OF admission. The nature
Of his business was fully explained without
effect. and with the further information that re-
porters were particularly excluded. Soon, how
ever, he found friends ct court, who could open
even tho Iron doors OF q prison, and he Accord
ingly passed through the guarded portals Of the
yard and walked into the main corridor OF the
prison, where the guards on duty were assem-
bled. A solemn stiffness seemed to per.
wade the entire place. Attendants and pris-
oners alike wore q subdued, funercal air,
which the soon-to-be-enacted tragedy engen-
dered. lie was kindly met, but the cause Of
sadness was soon apparent. To the left, In the
parlor Of the prison, was q most mournful
group-Nlcholson was taking leave Of his fam
lily; and as the low sob Of q heart-broken wife
and the shrek Of q sister broke the Stiffness one
with any degree OF humanity could readily un-
dsrstand the quiet. That fearful, prayerful
group, not at nil responsible for the sin for
which they were compelled to suffer, are entitled
TO the sympathy Of ALL The central figures were
aged, father ard mother next came the
stricken wife with her two babes the elder only
I'VE years OF age; then brothers and sisters,
with their families; then the spiritual adviser,
Rev. Mr. Wilson, OF the NJ. p. Church, and, lastly,
the prisoner.
With . kindly heart which did him credit, the
warden had decided that the children should not
enter the confines Of the prison proper, and for
THIS LAST ADIEU
the parlor was placed at their disposal, the guard
OF course being present. hymn was sung, 4
From the dep,S no Of III" Inc heaTt Of eaeS singer
echoed through the prison. Then the con-
demned man prayed-prayed for himself and for
babes, brothers and sisters, and the whole hn.
man family; prayer which, II IL could reach
those VINO, like him, were liable to temptation,
would save many an erring sinner from the CON-
mission OF crime, and mayhaps save both lives
and souls. The most affecting scene Of this act
of the drama was the condemned man asking his
IN response to The command the little one, on
Blended knees, with uplifted eyes, poured forth
that most familiar Of all prayers TO the throne OF
sscended to on high. Slight presents to loved
ones were made, and then came the nnal good
bye. Over that scene, far too sacred for the
prylng eyes OF cold, judging mortais, the veil Is
dropped, and with the loved ones he Is left mo-
ment, only to be torn by the ruthless arm OF the
law aud Iemapded 70 ms ecu; linen me stricken
cast one last look around, and bid adieu forever
to the-to them-dead.
While this was going on,
POOR HOtIOHAN,
or happy Hollohan, remains In his cell. without
relatives or kindred, comparatively alone, except
awaits the coming doom. Death had kindly
robbed him OF his wife before his deep disgrace
and crime, and as death must come he cares not
how soon the dread sentence Ia enforced. lie,
like his colleague, has been the recipient OF con-
slant religious attention, and both speak with
confident certainty born OF conviction, that
after the trials Of this world they shall be adj
mitted to q haven Of rest. How or why they
feel so cannot be ascertained, but they must
think and feel convinced that the earthly pun
ishment meted out nbsolves them from the
wrath to come, and ITS them for the companion
ship Of angels. In the afternoon an unlocked
tGs even. no Ss ba mn ~ se ys ,o1 f s
years, and who had come, at this late hour, out
of a seeming sense of duty. The interview was
Of short duration, and both seemed more at ease
when II was concluded.
f..4 TIE EXECUTION
by law 10 under control OF Sheriff Kane, and he
has ordered the gallows to be erected In a small
Goartyafd a. ,ns notth eGrner OF The building
portion of the bodies OF the men to be seen from
the high grounds surrounding, and the nooses
is OF an improved pattern, the fail viii be seven
feet, and the rope was thoroughly tested last
night.
line Jaw unpOhtb the uuty OF tue execution
upon the sheTin. and Mr.. Kane does not propose
TO shirk the responsibility, as Is done In most
cases, feeling that his oath OF once requires II
Of n 70 ssr5y out VIII ne +.
simple, and the work prompt. There will be no
platform services Of religion, except prayer ST. |
Messrs. Doll, Norris, Wilson, and Williams, and |
the condemned men. The sacrament Of the |
Lords supper will be administered 10 Nicholson |
and Hollohan In one OF the cells at a. m, and
fhRfe will he singing the OFOCeRAlOu mONpa
TO the scaffOld, nor Will there be any singing at
the platform. After the few minutes spent In
silent prayer, according to present arrange
ments, the caps viii be adjusted and the execu-
ton consummated by the sheriff.
Tue ARRANGEMENT.
The sentence requires that the execution shall
take place before p. m, but II Is probable that,
In accordance with the usual custom, 1t will
take place about noon. About one hundred and
nifty policemen, under command OF Marshal Grey
and Deputy Marshal Frey, will be IN attendance.
As this Ia the only execution In the city since
The quartette-Gambrill, Crops, Corrie and ~.
10 witness II, but, with the exception OF the Of
1cials and the representatives Of the press.no
tickets OF admission will be granted.
PROPOSED STATEMENT, l
IL was reported yesterday by reliable authority '
hat Nicholson had prepared statement TO be O
'iyen to the press, in which he rejects severely
Pon Chei De.es'y ,ss H,1 nf e aa Freyn
ertain admissions with promise OF immunity,
nd then using them against him rs his youn. y
lry nlmlHhlOu-u nc Is hhlu 70 fuO4t DOSE "a
lyely deny II Is further said that his spiritual 81
dyisers are strenuously opposing such a publI- r.
alton, and advising him to go to his grave lie
Without malice TO any left behind.
RESUME OF THE CASE. OF
The murder OF Mrs. LAmpley, for which the n
wo men are to-day to suffer, occurred on the u
light OF the "a Of January, ISIS, some time he 81
ore o O'Clock, and was first discovered by her :.
John Lampley, who on going home q
ound the door locked, and after, with the as u
istance Of some neighbors, forcing the door, =
aw his mother lying dead on the floor. The !,
tory OF the terrible discovery was told In the y
,nsriedn the next day as follows: y
"a most deliberate and cold-blooded murder "
vas committed last night In the eastern section ~
4 This city. Mr.. John Mercer Lampley, resld- u
No AT 100 Mulliken street, left his residence =,
Tith his married daughter, Mrs. John English, :,
or Fords opera-house. leaving his wife In good u
ealth. n,
ONE, and being unable TO gain admittance ~
itbef by the front or back way, forced his way ~
ito he house by the aid of some OF his neigh ~
ors A terrible sight met his gaze. His aged &c
lother lay dead on the floor OF the par0r, but ",
Ilthout any marks OF violence. An alarm was a,
once raised, and the neghbors nocked In, but ~ ~
the return Of the family u was found thai the ~
Ouse had been robbed OF 81 900 In bank notes ~ ~
nd $3.50 In gold. The rings were taken from D.
Br fingers, and her Jackets were turned inside
Mrs Lampley wore q valuable pair of car.