Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-21
BOSTON ITEMS.

Boston, Hass., 20. James McElleny, con-
demned to death for the murder of his wife
by shooting, at the sonth end, in August last,
will be hanged to morrow at eleven o'clock
A. Nj. should nothing prevent. His friends
and advisers have given up all hope of COM
mutation or reprieve, in fact the latter degree
of leniency has not been asked for since the
overrulng of the plea for new trial by the
supreme court Though naturally of a merry.
JUS disposition, and feeling his position keen
ly, the prisoner is resigned and penitent and
calmly awaiting his end. His only outward
manifestation of outward concern when alone
being an apparent involuntary rubbing to-
gether of his hands, but not word in alu.
sion to his rapidly approaching fate escapes
him to his prison attendants. Since his in.
generation he has occupied cell no. 20, in the
east.wing Of the Charles street Jail, but for
the reason that it was not so convenient for
the officers, and still less free from in
teruption, he was on Wednesday night re-
moved to number IL in the south wing. He
had occupied this cell several hours when he
said that 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 he
executed his will in their presence, affixing
his signature in a clear hand in marked con-
trast to those of the witnesses to the docu.
ment, whose sympathys excited their nerves
almost beyond control. Last night was
passed quietly and to-day his father, mother,
two sisters and a cousin visited him. They
spent an hour and half in his company and
took an effecting final leave. In parting
McEllany naturally exhibited more than or
binary emotion, which he soon controlled
however after they were gone; these were
the last callers he was to receive according to
his own request; none others were allowed
to communicate with him until his execution,
except the officers Of the Jail and the three
ciergymen who volunteered their services as
spiritual advisers, Ray, Scott and Upham of
The Methodist Episcopal Church. The for
mer attended 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 McEilany to the scaffold
tomorrow, after an hours devotion in his
cell. The ssaffold which was originally built
for the execution of Prof, J. w. Webster for
the murder of Br. Parkman. and has been
used at numerous executions IN Eastern
Massachusetts, and twice in adjoining states,
was put up in the rotunda Of the Jail this af-
ternoon, under the personal supervision of
Sheriff J. L. Clark. By his direction the
execution will be conducted in as quiet a
manner as possible, the necessary witnesses
being present, and all the prisoners whose
cells overlook the solemn scene are to be re-
moved to other parts Of the structure.
The case Of VIM. A. Glover, convicted
more than a year since, for being accessory
in robbing the Boylston Bank, has been de-
cided; the supreme court having over ruled
the receptions. Glover will be sentenced at
an early day, having been in jail nearly two
years since his arrest.
Strong easterly gale and thick snow
storm this afternoon and evening.