The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-04
Tho Harvest OF the Gailows To BE
Gathered 1t Last.

One portion of to-day's news will be read
of New York who value their lives and the
lives of their relatives and friends, and who
believe that peaceable men have some rights
which murderers are bound to respect. From
several sources come indications that at last
the gallows is likely to gather in its legitimate
fruit; that the long-delayed justice is about to
stretch forth its hand and fasten its deadly
grip on the Threats of the assassins who now
choke up the cells and passages of the Tombs.
First, we have the charge of Judge Brady to the
Grand Jury Of the Oyer and Terminer, in
which the evil effect of delay in the prosecu-
ton of criminal justice is set forth, and the
jury is told that eff necessary all the power of
the State should be brought to stay the hand
of crime" The Judge comments on the free
and reckless use of the knife and the revolver,
and declares his readiness to sit continuously
until July if necessary, to clear the City Prison
Of the criminals whose long exemption from pay
ing the penalty of their offences is an encourage
ment to the rufians whose rule has continued
too long in this city. Next we find the cheering
news that the stone is at last to be rolled back
from the Tombs and that Murderers' Row is
to give up it's vile tenants to justice. John
Scannell, who, after hanging on the track of
Thomas Donohue for months with murder in
his heart at last shot down his helpless victim
in saloon, and poured bullet after bullet into
his PROSTATE form, is to be put on his trial on
Monday next. The following Monday the
dastardly William c. King, who took the life
of Neil because the latter testified to Kings
abuse of his wife, is to be placed at the bar.
The Stokes case is still under argument, and
the probability appears to be that the polished
assassin who waylaid his victim in narrow
passage way, from which there was no escape,
and in which he could be shot down as easily
as rat in trap, will be left to meet the fate
his cowardly murder merits. Even the singu-
larly protracted inquiry into the circumstances
attending the butchery of Duryea by Simmons
is progressing, and must soon be brought to
close. Thus the chain is tightening around
the crowd of blood-stained wretches now hang
ing on the public hands, and soon, let us hope
to hang upon the gallows
In addition to this gratifying intelligence
we learn from Albany that Governor Dix has
refused to commute the punishment Of
the murderer Gaffney, who now awaits
execution in Buffalo, and that he accom-
panies his refusal by decisive declaration
of his intentions in like applications. eff
the expression of my purpose in similar
cases." says the Governor, twill have the
effect of deterring evil-minded persons from
committing this highest of crimes, am will
ing to have it understood that circumstances
of a very extraordinary nature will be
needed to induce me to interpose for
the purpose of annulling the deliberate
and well-considered determinations of
juries and courts" These words are well
spoken and will strike terror to the hearts of
those criminals who have entertained hope
for Executive clemency. The convicted muir
derers may as well shut out hope from their
hearts and prepare to meet their offended
Creator. The assassins who await trial may as
well make up their minds to receive stern
justice at the hands of judge and jury. The
yarn is spun that will hang them all, and their
well-merited fate will be warning to rufians
for q long time to come.