New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19
THE GALLONS IN SYRACUSE.
EXECUTION OF HENRY FRALICH.

3
SYRACUSE. y. Y. April 1s.-Henry Fralich
! executed to-day at li:2l o'clock. During Thursday
night he slept some sovon hours, akng at 3 o'clock
| in the morning aud retained firm attitude to the
last The gallows the same used at the execu-
| tion of Ecker in Montgomery County, about year
ago. Fralich walked firmly TO the gallows be-
tween two deputy sheriffs. He was very
pale but calm and collected. After re-
hglous services by the Rev. Mr.. 0berlander,
Fraleh made a speech of about three minutes in
length in a strong and steady voice protesting his
innocence of any intent 10 kill Shafer, charging
that he had not fair trial and that certain personal
enemies had been very yindictive. He then said.
"In the name of God Almighty am ready" The
black cap was placed upon his head. He said. Let
il dropl" and at the signal by the Sheriff the drop
fell. His neck was not broken and be died by
strangulation, but struggled very little. In III
minutes the physicians pronounced him dead This
execution has greatly intensified the feeling against
capital punishment in this community. The follow
ing is the history of this case:
on the 10Th day Of November 1910, q negro by the
name Of Freeman hung In the jail yard Of Ouondaga
County, for the mdrder OF woman in the town Of
LysaDder. under circumstances OF peculiar atroeity.
Tins the FIRST and. until to-day, the only execution
which has occurred in this county. To-day Henry
Fralch suffered the penalty OF the law for the
murder Philip 5hafer IN the City Of Syracuse. the
evening Of the Sd Of August last. The crime
mtted in the saloon OF John c. KarolG lager-beer
the German district OF the city. At O'Clock
the evening In question Henry Frsch German labout
so years OF age. who the of the rebellion
and since the janitor OF the Lederkranz Hail.
Syracuse 20 the hall TO remove stove On his
way the hall with carman he met Philip shafer.
mason residing LocKst Being friends, Shafer
invited Frach 10 treat which the latter declined TO
do. saying that the carman's business.
E~u1foH
completing his work at hall started 90 home and,
when near his house which vas but a little way from
Karolfs saloon. was met by Julia Drumm, notorious
prostitute told him Shaer had said that she
julia and FraChs wife were other mems prostitutes
Fralich went 10 his house. Julia Drumm following him;
and had interview with his wife, who corroborated
the statement of the girl Drumm and added that sbaer
had SAID Your young ones bastards and every
OF your BOYS have got other fathers" This 10
aroused Frach 20 perfect frenzy OF passion, and
he ran TO his bedroom and took therefr N the heavy
butt OF leather whiD and bayonet which had belonged
20 the musket he had used in the He TO
find shafer. He proceeded to KarOofs saloon, where
shaer and his wife had gone TO settle an account on
the way thither drawing the sheath from the bayOne
which nc held in his hands BE burst the fastening Of
the door and stood face with shaer. Knocking
Mrs shafer down with the club he told shafer with
an oath that hsd rot him and the men immediately
closed in deadly II ugge. The struggle " short
net through shafers body. VINO falling. sad: You've
stabbed me-" The ba50uet went into the j It breast
terng and threeuaiers inches below TIE left MP
pie and incl Ia the right passing between the
fourth and fifth ribs tran,nxng the lower lobe Of the
left lung and also the heart shafgr ned within
few moments the occurrence. and Fralich wasimme
diately arrested, offering opposition 10 the arrest
IsQTE AND TRIAL.
On the 5th OF Angus the coroner held an Inquest on
the body OF shafer and the Jury returned verdict that
Peter shafer came to his death from wounds inflicted
at the hands Of Henry Fgalch who acted with malice
aforethought" Upon the order Of the coroner Fraich
was committed 70 the Penentiary await the action
of the Grand jury Frach vigorously protesting hat he
did not mean 70 kill shaer He has times. however
claimed distinct recollection Of the ARRAY and
his wife had made him crazy, defense
which wac Intellectually interpreted on the trial.
Fraiich having been duly indicted FOR murder in the
first degree trial commenced the 10Th day Of
January last before the Hon. lie Roy Morgan. assisted
by Justices Cook aud Carpenter IN the Court OF oyer
and Terminer held az the Courthouse in Syracuse Dis
trictAttorney GOodee conducted the prosecution and
the Hon James Nixon, J. H. Costello. and Z. 5 Butter
field appeared for prisoner The jury was composed
exclusively OF citizens highest standing. from the
country towns from the city being represented
upon IL. Tie trial occupied two days, the people
making out their substantially as
set forth above. The defense admitted the facts
In the case. but claimed that from the moment when
came utterly unconscious that be out Of reason
that he was not responsible what be did that he had
been subject these attacks and had been regarded as
an insane man and that his mind became thus weak
eued in consequence OF a fever which ne contracted
while soldier in the United States army during the
LATE rebellion. The medical testimony failed to
substantiae the theory Of defense the other
witnesses one Of whom Fralich himself failed TO
rebut the crushing evidence which had been addueed
against him. The charge Of Judge Morgan was emf
ncnty fair and impartial and the jury, after an absence
from the courtroom but % minutes, found FTlich
guilty OF the charge stated in the indictment He
was sentenced on the 4th day of February bv Judge
Morgan TO be hanged on the 2sth March, 1919 The
Judge IN his charge intimate that the Legis
lature should provide punishment short or death
for a homicide committed under the circumstances under
which this cOmmited-a criticism when Is partcl-
mated in by some Of the ablest juriss 10 the state. who
regard the defining the various degrees Of murder
and homicide as exceedingly defective.
HIS DEMEASOR PRISON.
Fralch was considerably broken down by the SEN
tence but upon his ceraed, and has since
until day or two preserved stod and an indifferent
manner He has been frequently interviewed by re-
portr aud steadily adhered 70 his story OF unoon-
sciousness during the ARRAY. lie very ignorant
man. and dwet upon the trivial details II they had
An important bearing upon his He was generally
regarded by those who him during his incarceration
as a very uninterestng person. He spoke English i'm
perfectly Until the dispatch Of Gov DIX 10 the
sheriff he has evidently had strong conviction that
he would escape gaows His counsel have been IN
defstigaoie in their efforts 20 their unfortunate
elept and have exhausted every device OF the law IN
order 10 free hin from the gaows, aborng in his be-
half without compensation, and solely upon the belief
that his case was not such warrant the infection
OF the death penalty.
EFFORTS OF COUNSEL
Fralich's counsel FIRST applied 70 Judge Morgan for
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