The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-08
THE GALLONS.
Execution Of McNulty, the Alleged
Wife Murderer, at Peoria, Ills.
He Protests his Innocence to the la

He Protests his Innocence TO the last,
PEORIA, February 7.-Henry McNulty
convicted of numbering his wife at Chill
licothe, Ills, on September 23d last, ws'
hung here to-day in the presence of abou
one hundred people. The newspapers
had notified their subscribers in thC
country that they might as well remain
at home, only those authorized by Law
being permitted to. enter the jail. Not
withstandiDg this injunction, at 10 O'CLOCK
this morning the crowd which had in
creased to 600 persona, congregated II
front Of the jail and stared Vacantly Al
the windows. They were very well be-
haVed, and q squad of police were de-
tailed to preserve order. They were
not required Ito perform any ac-
tive service. Within tho jail at
one o'clock were about fifty persons,
witnesses in the case, the jurors and
q dozen reporters. McNulty had main
tanned since Thursday, when Gov. Bever.
idge resolutely refused to interfere In his
behalf, that he would dielike an innocent
man. He accused the witnesses for the
prosecution Of false swearing, and assert
ed that prejudice alone placed him upon
the scafold. He retired at Q o'clock this
morning but slept very little, although al.
lowed TO have a limited quantity Of bran
dy to facilitate rest BE dosed at 4 o'clock
and awoke at z, seemingly refreshed.
Fathers Halligan and Harley were with
him almost constantly, praying and en-
couragtng him. When the Sheriff in
formed MCNulty that everything was
ready, he was smoking a cigar, as
Indifferent to the surroundings as q street
gamin. he was conducted to the gibbet
BY the two priests named, who offered
the customary prayers for q dying person.
These concluded, McN Nulty spoke for near
" an hour, proclaiming his innocence,
charging the witnesses with perjury and
claiming that he was murdered and not
his wife. He iorgaVe those who had per
secuted him and hoped he would meet
them in heaven. Just previous to the
black cap being adjusted on his head he
kissed the sheriff aud, counsel, and to the
latter said, remember me-" These were
his last words. The bolt was Withdrawn
from the trap door at precisely twenty
minutes past one o'clock, and McNulty
fell five feet. There was cracking
noise, and 1t was subsequently ssceF.
tanned that his neck had been broken
at once. Life was said to be ex-
tinct IN ten minutes, but the body was al
lowed to hang for twenty minutes longer.
It was then cut down and buried in the
Catholic cemetery, at the expense Of the
county. There was no apparent interest
beyond an occasional expression Of
sympathy or condemnation felt In the
event by the serious. Public sentiment
was decidedly In favor Of carrying out the
sentence, but McNulty's protestatlon Of
his innocence when In the grasp OF death
have caused a slight change. The phyBi-
clans who examined the body insisted
that McNulty kept up his splrits with
brandy, He did not appear TO be under
the influence Of liquor at any time during
the day, although all he desired was a
his disposal. he was certainly remark
able man, 3 guilty, TO maintain his limo
cense as he did, and he must be consider
ed the greatest dissembler ever born.