Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-01
TELEaRAMs TO THE STAR
This Afternoons Dispatches.
THE GAulOWS,
DOUBLE XEECUTION IN BALTIMORE.
Hanging of Nicholson and HoIIohan.
Parting Scenes
The Rope and its Victims.
Their Dying Speeches.
Especial Dispatches to The Stdr.1

lSpectdt D1SpufcheS 70 Ihe Stdr.1
BALTIMORE, August 1st-11 A. NJ.
Joshua Nicholson and Thomas r. Hollohan,
alias Thomas Richards, alias Thomas whalen
suffered death on the gallows in the jail yard
here TO- day, for the atrocious murder committed
on the evening of January I'd last, the victim
being an aged lady named Mrs. Lampley, re-
siding at 102 Mulliken street. Mr.. John Mercer
Lampley, the husband of the murdered woman,
left his residence on the evening mentioned in
company with his married daughter, Mrs. John
English, for Ford's opera house, leaving his
wife in good health. About $50 O'Clock a
grown-up son returned home, and being unable
to gain admittance either by the front or back
way, forced his way into the house. A terrible
sight met his gaze. His aged mother Law dead
on the floor of the parlOr. An alarm was
at once raised, aud the neighbors fiocked in,
but put on the return Of the family it was found
that the house had been robbed of 81 900 in
bank notes and $3.50 in gold. The rings were
taken from her fingers, and her pockets turned
INSIDE IN out, Mrs' LamP,ey wore valuable pair
ear and was subsequently, found on the floor
beside the corpse. The murdered woman was
about seventy years of age, though quite active
and vigorous.
THE MURDRRRRs.
careful surveillance was kept over some of
the persons suspected of the crime, and on
January 31st Joshua Nicholson and Thomas
HOllohan, alias Thomas Richards, alias Thomas
Mhalen, were rearrested, having been previous
ly IN custody on suspicion. Nicholson was about
30years old, and a very genteel and intelligent
looking man, who had a wife and two children.
He married granddaughter of the deceased,
MIS-. Lampley, and was at one time an inmate
and afterwards an occasional visitor to the
house. Hollohsn was about 80 years of age a
widower, and had been an inmate of the Mary
land penitentiary. He was convicted in st.
Mary county, Md, in the year 1861, of an as
sault with intent to rob, and was sentenced for
term OF six years, hut in 1870, after having
E.nTV~ Al nh hn1f -
by Gov. Bowie, through the influence of friends
ana since that time had been a resident of Bal
tmOre.
THE ROBBERY AND ASSASSINATION.
The facts developed at the trial show that
about O'Clock on the evening of January 2.
Nicholson and Hollohan went to the house and
were kindly received by the old lady. 1t being
holiday times, she set out some refresh ents
and busted herself in filling a paper bag with
cakes for Nicholson's children (her own great
grandchildren.) 1t will never be known whether
they intended murder when thew entered the
house, or only robbery. An hour afterwards
Mrs; Lampley was found lying on the floor,
dead. In subsequent confessions made by the
Two men, each charged the other with inhctiny
the blow in the stomach which occasioned Mrs
Lampley's death. They both confess to taking
hold OF her for the purpose of restraining her
from making an Outcry while they rified the
house. The only lady was effectualiy silenced
Ihey then priced open the cupboard in which
the money was kept Gncluding a considerable
they left the premises.
EXCITING INCIDENT OF THE TRIAL.
The trial began at Annapolis on the It'll of
May last. On the morning of the 8th, when the
cell of Hollohan was entered, it was found that
he had worked the irons off of both legs. Sub
sequently he was brought into court with
Nicholson, and the trial was proceeding, the
states attorney making his closing argument,
when Hollohan suddenly sprang from the pris-
oner's box, and rushing at Deputy Marshal
Frey, struck him violently over the head with a
heavy piece of iron wrapped in a stocking
Nicholson also sprang out of the prisoners box
and rushed toward Fry, when an indiscrimnate
melee ensued. Detectives Pointer and Shaffer
rushed to the rescue of Marshal Frey, to protect
him from the murderous attack of Hollohan and
to secure the criminals. HOllOhan was struck,
his head being badly cut blood streaming over
his face. Marshel Frey, though terribly
stunned, was able to assist in subduing the
handcuffed. After the excitement subsidized the
trial of the case was proceeded with. 1t was
gwen TO the jury at O'Clock, who soon returned
with verdict Of guilty OF murder in the first
degree.
THE LAWS DELAY.
Nicholson's counsel contrived to add six weeks
to his life by raising technical point, which
was subsequently overruIed by the court of
appeals. In the meantime Hollohan had been
sentenced to be hanged, and Governor WHITE
had signed the death warrant and fixed j une
18th as the day for carrying it into effect. Sub
sequently the Governor granted Hollohan a
for Nicholson's execution.
AFFECTING PARTING SCENES
Yesterday morning the two children of Mich
olson had an affecting interview with him in
the prison. Upon entering both ran towards
him and clasped their arms about his neck.
After kissing them he talked earnestly with
them as to their future, and he being much
affected the little boy asked "Papa, what
makes you cryP'' While the unhappy man was
talking to his children the door OF the visitors
room was again opened, admitting the father,
mother, brother and wife of Nicholson. Placing
the children upon the floor, he grasped the out.
stretched hands of his father and mother first
than those OF his brother, and then turning TO
his wife clasped her to his bosom and wept like
a child. Nicholson then made known his last
wishes, and expressed himself as prepared to
die, believing, he said, that God had fully for
given him for his sins. Rev. Pentield Dodd and
Rev. MIR. Joseph Z. Wilson, of the Broadway
NJ. p. church. formerly of East washington,3
who had in the meantime entered the room,
deeply affected by the earnest prayer Of her
husband, and in her own prayer called upon
God TO so shape her life that she might join her
Nicholson asked his little son, Willie, If he re-
peated his prayers regularly every night and
morning, and received an Affirmative reply.
The father then requested the child to repeat
the Lords Prayer, and all kneeling down, the
child repeated the prayer, and added to it seve-
raj beautiful and touching words, chiefly that
God might be good to his father, and that all
might meet in Heaven. After the prayer had
ended Nicholson gave to his son a prayer-bOok
eDjoining him to follow its teachings and always
strive to live good life. The wife was almost
overcome when the time came to bid her hus-
band goodbye for the last time.
The father-in-law Of Holiohan visited the Jail
and had an interview with the prisoner yester-
day. The interview was of short duration, but
very affecting on the part of the visitor. Hol-
lohan begged the father Of his deceased wife to
prepare himself for Heaven, "as," quoting the
Language Of the doomed man, "none Of US know
when we shall be summoned before the judg-
ment bar Of God" Hollohan expressed himself
as satisfied that he would speedily join his wife
in Heaven, and dwelt upon that thought with
great earnestness.
THE scAPFoLD.
The gallows, on which for two weeks past
workmsn had been employed, was built Of yell
low pine uprights and crossbeams, and white
pine flooring and steps. 1t was Joined and NOR
ticed, and put together with wooden pins and
wedges. 1t was on the old Baltimore plan, the
tIap-doors occupying the entire floor. The
structure was twenty seven feet in height to the
crossbeam, 90 by inches,) and the platform
(sk by 6a) eighteen feet from the ground, the
latter being reached by fight Of steps. The
ropes hung from the top beam, arranged to fall
AZ 3 feet.