The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-17
THE GALLOWS.
The Cycle Of HangInE--Three Exe'
cuIi0nS Yesterday.

THE HANGING OF NIXON IN NEW YORK.
NEW YoRK, May 18.-MichAel Nixon
who shot Charles A. Pfyier in the streets
q few months ago, was hanged In the
TombS this morning. Nixon, after tax
ing farewell Of his family last evening
ate a hearty supper, and remarked
"This is my last night on earth, and /
have done what I never did before, take
two cups Of coffee" he then prayed
with Father Dursnguel. At - O'Clock
he went to sleep, and was awakened at
8, and soon afterwards assisted at mass
offered for his special benefit by Father
DuraDguel. The only words he spoke
afterwards were, "My Savior was cruel.
fled; this Ia nothing"
At nine o'clock Nixon left his cell
and walked, firmly to the scaaold,
Fathers Duranguel and McKenna on
either side. He carried large cruci6x
which he kissed iervently. Arriving Ut
the scafold he knelt between the clergy
men and repeated the Lcrd's Prayer and
creed Of the Catholic church. The rope
was then adjusted and without delay Nix
on was launched ints eternity. BE died
apparently easy. Owing 10 the disgrace
full scenes at the hanging Of Foster, Gov.
Dix suggested that the law could be vim
dicated In the case oi Nixon without
gratifying the morbid curiosity ol the
community. Notwithstanding the sug-
gestion, the Tombs prison was crowded
with holders Of tickets Of admission 10
the execution issued from the sheritfs
office.
The examination m made by the doctors
showed that his neck had not been bro
ken, and that his death resulted from
strangulAtion. One Of. the physicians
stated that the suferings Of the unfortu.
nate man must have been intense.
EXECUTION OF AN INSANE NAN AT sACRA-
..r MRNTo.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15.-Chas. Morti-
mer who was executed at Sacramento, to.
day, for the murder Of Mary Gibson, was
really insane, or Eelgned insanity To the
last moment. He did not recognize his
brother, the minister, counsel or any other
person. He did not utter a word, and
seemed not TO comprehend his position, no
emotion was visible on his countenance.
He was considered the worst criminal in
California.
EXECUTION AT Mt. CARROLL, ILLs.-THE
CRIMINAL CoNFEssRA
MT. CARROLL, ILLs, May 16.-Joseph
O'Neal was hanged q lew minutes past
eleven o'clock this forenoon in tho Jail,
for the murder of Hiram RexEord on the
22d Of September last. O'Neal made
q written confession Of his crime, and
says the cause was whisky and woman
In his confession he declares the limo
cence Of his brother, Thomas, who was
tried as an accomplice and sentenced to
the penitentiary for life. The execution
was witnessed by about 100 people, but
an immense crowd was In attendance on
the outside Of the jail.
CHICAGO, May 18!-A special from Mt.
Carroll, Illinois, gives the following &C.
countot the execution Of Joseph O'Neal
there to-day: O'Neal was taken from his
cell q few minutes before II O'Clock, and
was attended by Fathers Slack, Bartof
and Wright. the Sheriff and two deputies
having him in charge. he walked with
firm step to the gAlloWs and ran nimbly
up the steps TO the platform. He died
game, showing no nervousness whatever.
a short prayer was read by the priests,
he kissed the crucifx, and the religious
ceremonies ended. He then kissed the
priests and shook hands with them. Then
the Sheriff adjusted the rope, and 0'Neal
spoke as follows: "GenLlemen, my lit
tic brother Tommy is innocent l
am guilty Of this crime, and am glad
and Willlngsto give my life for the one l
have taken. l die the friend Of everybody.
am the enemy Of no one"
Addressing A. 8. Mckinley, Of Clin.
ton, he asked him II he would take his
body TO his mother, who said he would.
At eleven O'Clock and eight minutes
the pulse ceased TO beat; Of 11.2O the
heart ceased to beat He was cut down
st 1l.80 and placed In his coffin, which
stood by tho scafald.
Thomas O'Neal was to-day taken to
tho penitentiRFy at Joliet, where he iS
sentenced to fourteen years confinement,
instead Of for lie as telegraphed today.