The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-21
BOSTONS DOOMED MURDERER.
Hanging Not Played Out
in Massachusetts,.
Preparations for the Execution Of McElhaney,
the Wife Murderer-On the Bank
of the Dark River.

BOSTON, March 90 1873.
James McElhaney wilful murderer. is to pay
the penalty Of his crime scaffold, In the Suffolk
County Jail. tomorrow forenoon. His crime is not
OF so aggravated o character in all its details as
ehat OF many man who has escaped with trivial
punishment, and probably If IL had not been for
the murder epidemic which has prevailed so ex-
tensively Of late he would have got or with State
Prison for life. He committed deliberate murder,
however, was convicted of it alter fair trial, and
was sentenced to the extreme penalty. Energetic
EFFORTS to save the condemned have been made by
some OF the representative men of the community,
but Governor Washburn, like Governor Dix of New
York, believed that the safety of the community
required that justice should take its course.
THE MURDER AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
The victim of McElhaney was his own wife. He
had been separated from her through the maneu-
vrngs OF the inevitable mother lava Mrs. Rob-
erts--and on every occasion when he had tried to
have an interview with her the mother-in-law in
terfered. In fact, she had such control over her
daughter that finally she got even her estranged
from the one she had sworn to cherish and love.
1t was under these circumstances that McElhaney
went to see his wife on Wins0r street. OF the resi-
dence OF the .mOther-in-law, on the afternoon OF
the 18th OF August last He gained access to
and almost instantly drew a revolver and shot his
wife dead. The other occupants of the house, hear
| ing the report rushed In and the mother-in-law
among them. Without paying particular attention
to anybody he Immediately
| FIRED THREE BALLS INTO HIS OWN HEAD,
and. strange as 1t may seem, not one of them was
fatal or dangerous in it's consequences They all
struck the skull and tore their way through the
flesh, and lodged harmlessly in the side OF the
insensible by the wounds, but full OF q
sense OF selfpreservaton, he leaped from a second
| story window ON to the sidewalk and then ran for
| liberty. An Of1cer in the neghbOrhOOd seeing the
bloody fugitive, OWNED that something was
| house. He denied that he meant to kill his wife,
| and insisted that the first shot, like the three
was one Of the points Of the defence. Insanity
| was also urged, but medical men disproved
it. That the murderer was aggravated by
domestic troubles and meddesOme mother in law
is admitted ; but his own personal record was bad,
and from circumstance which TRANSFERRED only
three days before the murder it is clear that the
| crime premedltated. This circumstance con-
sisted OF the forgery OF a deed of certain amount
! legallzlng of the deed he mad his own sister per-
senate his wife. The natural presumption is that.
the wife being out OF the way, the property would
| then fall into his handS-henCe one reasonable
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION
The trial took place in September last, and the
| accused was ably defended by George Sinnott, a
| lawyer who received considerable renown by de-
|
said to be "marching on" The evidence plain
and direct, and the conviction and sentence which
| followed were credttable to Court and jury.
| EFFORTS FOR A COMPUTATION.
The anti-capital punishment philanthropists were
| early on hand and besieged the Governor Tor Ex-
ecutve clemency Their chief point was that the
murder was the result OF insanity, ana in order
that the question might be settled the Cover
nor granted reprieve for month. The
claim was not sustained, and Efforts for
! new trial then followed. both the Legislature
and the Supreme Court being invoked to secure it.
| n
| that the condemned shall hang tomorrow. Among
| those most clamerous for Executive interference
tackled Mr.. SinnOtt for Ianng TO properly defend
his client. Mr.. Sinnott replied Anew days after
siderable attention. 1t was caustlc and criticisng
to q degree which challenged even the learned
Phillips, and he has never attempted to meet its
| RESIGNED TO HIS FATE.
James McElheney WIN therefore be hanged to-
tervene. His friends and advisers have given up
all hope OF communication OF the sentence or a re-
prieve. Though naturally OF nervous dis
! position, and feeling his situation keenly,
the prisoner is resigned and penitent
outward manifestion Of concern when alone is an
apparent involuntary rubbing together OF his hands;
but not word OF aiuson to his rapidly approach
ing fate escapes his lips his prison attendants.
Since MS incarceration he has occupied cell No. ~,
in the east wing OF the Charles Street JAIL but for
| the reason that 1t was not so convenient to the
officers and less free from interruption he was ON
Wednesday night removed to cell No. IL in the
|
when he SAID he did not feel at home there, and
| the sheriff kindly allowed him to return to his old
| quarters for which favor he was very grateful.
| His father and mother yesterday passed several
| hours In his company, when
| EXECUTED HIS WILL
In their presence, affixing his signature In clear
| hand, IN marked contrast to those or the wit
nesses to the document, whose sympathies
| cited their nerves almost beyond control. Last
| night was passed quietly, and to-day his father,
| mother two sisters and q cousin visited him.
| They spent an hour and half In his company and
| took an Affecting and final leave In part
ing McElheney naturally exhibited more
tr0led, however, alter they were gone. These
were the last callers he was to receive, and accord
| ing to his own request, none others are to be
| allowed to communicate with him until
| his execution, except the efficers OF the
jail and the three clergymen who voun-
| the Rev. Messrs. Ray, Scott and Upham-
| or the Methodist Episcopal Church, the former
attending him from the time the relatives departed
until late In the evening when the others arrived to
administer consolation during the waking
moments OF the night, Mr.. Ray Will accompany
McElheney TO the scafrold tomorrow after an hour
Of devotion in his cell.
THE sCAFFoLD
which was originally built for the execution OF
Professor J. w. Webster for the murder OF DR..
Parkman, and has been used in numerous ex-
ecutions in Eastern Massachusetts, and twice for
adjoining States was put up in the rotunda Of the
Jail TINS afternoon under the personal supervision
OF Sheriff John M. Clark. BY his direction the eX-
ecutiOn will be conducted In as quiet manner as
possible, the necessary number OF witnesses only
being present. All the prisoners whose cells over
look the solemn scene are to be removed to other
parts OF the structure.
MupDrRER tn RE- HANGED I'M NEW