The New York herald., 1873-09-25
Hanging Of James COnnOr, at Liverpool,
for the Murder Of Gaffney.
TERRIBLE SCENE.
Eight Minutes for Conversation After the
First Execution.
CALCRAFT DISTRESSED"

James COnnOr, VINO was convicted at the last
Liverpool Asszes oil the murder OF James Ganney,
IN Mill street. Toxteth park. in this town. on the
night OF the nth ult.. was executed yesterday
morning within the precincts OF Kirkdale Jail.
THE crRcu-srAScEs OF THE MURDER
are simple and ca.ily told they contain only the
sad story OF the wasted life OF young man, whose
untimely end, IL IL To be feared, Is traceable to
drink and debauchery.
Previous to the night on which the murder was
committed, Connor had been on the "spree" for
some days On Monday, the llth ult., he was at
the Cambridge Music Hall, Mill street, where he
remained until the close OF the performance, when
he lett the building. While in the hall he observed
woman named Mary Ellen Shears, the vile OF
ship steward, and asked her to have some drink.
but she refused and as the audience left the build
ing he followed her at a few yards distance. At
the junction of Jackson street and Mill street he
accused her OF having stolen some money from him.
She denied the accusation and remarked
he was mistaken, whereupon-without provoca-
tion, 1t was said--he struck her twice with his
hand, which caused her to fall and call for the
police. Observing this, Gafiney and companion
named Metcalf, who were on the opposite side Of
the street, crossed over to COnnor and Mrs. Shears
to assist her. Gaffney asked Connor why he struck
her; Connor made no reply, but took from his
pocket clasp knife opened 1t, and plunged it into
Ganney's neck He was about to give him blow
with his hand, but Metcaf to prevent his doing
further injury, knocked HIM to the ground with his
fist. Connor Immediately got up again. however,
and, picking up the knife, struck Metcalf with 1t,
but fortunately the weapon only cut his clothes
and did not wound him. Then he walked away,
but after he had gone some distance he was caught
time Gafney bed pronlsely, and as soon as assist
ance could be procured he was removed to the
Southern Hospital, where he
DIED THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
1t was found that the wound was such as would
be caused by the knife found In the possession Of
C0nnOr, and that 1t had penetrated the spine.
TERRIBLE SCENE ON THE sCAFFOLD.
The execution OF the condemned mau was fixed
to take place at eight O'Clock yesterday morning.
There was some doubt as to who was to be the exc
cutiOner, 1t being said that Calcrait had retired
from business" and that some one else would per.
to be the truth, or rather there seemed proba-
blity OF there being no executioner at all, for
Calcraft, who had been engaged, did not arrive at
the jail until late hour on Sunday night.
COnnor retired to rest at the usual prison hour
on Sunday night. According to the testimony of
those who had charge Of him he slept soundly. He
rose at about hafpast five yesterday morning,
and at six O'Clock was attended by the Rev. Father
oman
the condemned man partook OF hearty breakfast
and then again engaged in prayer with the Rev.
At quarter to eight O'Clock the bell OF tho prison
church commenced to toll. The condemned
the small room under the chapel, which he has
used in the day time He submitted to the
Th SS the Sa
procession was formed, headed by the Chief Warder
Richard Hesop. the prisoner following with Father
BOnte and Calcraft, the executlOner, on each side
OF him. Then followed Turnkey John Bradley and
Warder William McEwen and the under sherifr,
Mr.. Deacon, and the Governor OF the jail, Captain
Gibbs. The condemned man walked with a firm
step TO the scaold, and evidently paid no heed to
the service which was being read % IN an Impressive
opposite to where the representatives OF the press
were COnnOr cast his eyes towards them. In an
tvaa a fhn mt n hn fYn1
He
MOUNTED THE STEPS BRAvELY,
walked straight on to the drop under the cross
beam, cast his eyes above at the fatal moose and
then looked straight in 'front.' smiled pleasantly
and nodded to two warders VINO were standing q
short distance OF. His GOODNESS never for q mo
ment seemed to f0rsake him, and there was o bra
vado about the whole AFFAIR which gave an addi-
tiOnal horror TO the proceedings, the condemned
man being apparently the least moved OF those
present Calcraft drew the white cap over his
face, placed strap round MS legs, pa nim iare-
rope. and In another moment the drop fell. Un-
fortunately
and the strands OF the broken end flew in the air.
The condemned criminal fell on to a second plat
form, which was fitted two or three feet lower than
the treacherous trap-dOOr upon which he had
stood. He remained in an upright position, except
that, being plnioned, he fell to the edge OF the
tended upon the unfortunate man, but a pair OF
steps had to be procured before he could be got out
OF his position and placed on to the upper part OF
the scaffod. The poor man uttered exclamatlOns
Of pain, and on being got to the upper platform OF
the scafrod, the white cap was drawn above his
eyes and lie was placed on chair. ,
CALCRAFT WAS MUCH DISTRESSED
at the accident, and. as he moved about the scaf-
trembled and was apparently. greatly agitated.
The warders were also unnerved by what had hap
pened. After the first exclamation OF pain the con-
demned man said to the warder who was assisting
him from the lower platform, "What do you call
thlss do you call this murderf' and afterwards he
said, "You should let me on after this; this Ii
euOuQh.v
THE POOR FELLOWS NECK
was plainly visible, at one part there appearing to
be q cut, from which blood was slightly issuing.
While Connor was seated on the chair and prepa-
rations were going on to make sure Of his death at
the next attempt, Father BOnte engaged his atten-
tion by reading the prayers to him, STOPPING to
him and directing his attention to the book The
prisoner at FIRST did not heed the priest remark
wards looked at the book and responded once or
twice, "Lord have mercy upon me-" fresh rope
having been brought the condemned man viewed
it with the utmost concern and remarked,
~ STOOD 1T LIKE BRICK THE FIRST TIME"
Observing that the execntoaer was so,f ready ne
drop, and his arms being only plnioned at the
elbow stopped his head so that he might reach the
whhe cap with his hands, pulled the cap over his
face himself and then assisted Cacrat In placing
the rope round his neck. This being accomplished.
Cacraft once more drew the bolt the door fell,
the prisoner seemed lifeess Tor q second or two,
and then few fearful struggles OF the body and
lower limbs told how much he suffered. lie was q
1.-the well-but man, and he appeared to die hard.
The flrst time the drop fell It was two minutes past
eight o'clock the second time the bolt was drawn
IL was ten minutes past eight, so that 1t took just
eight minutes Tor the second preparation. With
respect to the breaking OF the rope, no fault Is
ascribable to the officials OF the jail; neither does
1t appear that the executioner was 10 Dlamo. For
q number oil years
has been in the habit OF bringing his own ropes,
although they were at one time supplied at the
Jail. Cacraft on being asked as to the rope,
said he could have staked his life upon it,
and at first denied that the rope itself
broke, but SEATED that it was the moose which
became unfastened. All doubt as to the rope
breaking was, however, set at rest, as afterwards
the loop at the end oil the moose was picked
up by one of the warders that being the part
which had broken of. 1t was said by some that
the rope possibly broke on account OF q too great
length OF drop being given to the condemned man.
That, however, 1t was explained, could not be so,
inasmuch as the fall was only eight inches. 1t was
cOntended that 1t could not also be said that Con-
nor was heavy man and that the executioner
mad not made allowance for his weight Although
tall and well built, his frame was somewhat sllgnt,
but he possessed well-developed limbs and muscles,
When weighed In prison his weight was Only ~
stone ID.
rur arcoyn nope