The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-08
IgnOmini0us End Of an Illinois
Wife Butcher.
M'NULTA ON THE SCAFFOLD.
A HORRIBLE SCENE,
The Wretched Culprit Ha-
rangues the Crowd.
Innosent, but Deceived, Betrayed and
Sacrificed to Public Clamor.

FcA the first time In many years Illinois has hung
murderer. For nearly decade silly senti-
mentality has prevailed In the community, and,
reaching to the Executive chair, has always sue
ceeded in wrestling from the hangman his legiti-
mate prey. The gallows has fallen into dsuse, and
murderers have either gone scot-free or have fallen
easy heirs to q short apprenticeship in the Peni-
Tertiary. Though not absolutely abolished, capital
punishment had almost become tradition and the
hangmans duty lost art, until to-day 1t was
shown in case of Henry McNulta that hemp may
still be put to excellent use. The frequent perpe
traton OF MURDERS especially at Chicago, has
awakened the community to sense Of the necessity
ofdoing something with the assassns and by way Of
radical change attention has turned to the gallows
as means OF both preSntion and punishment
The new Governor has stinened his mental verte-
brG and determined to give the revivalists fair
chance, and now when a jury finds guilt and pro-
claims for hanging, Executive clemency need not
be sought
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRIME.
Henry McNulta was hanged here at half-past
one O'Clock to-day, in expation for the murder OF
his wife Eliza the night of the 21st of last Sep
TENDER. The crime for which this wretched man
forfeited his life at the hands of offended siaw and
outraged justice was one Of peculiar atrocty and
at the time it created q wild excite
ment in Peoria. He was an habitual
drunkard, and when under the influence OF liquor
was little else than iend. For years the
poor woman whom he murdered was subjected to
unmercifu beatings at his hands, repeated from
day to day, until her screams Tor help were looked
upon in the neighborhood as common events
unworthy OF notice. The deluded woman loved
him with a blind devotion, and could never be IN
duced to appear against him in the Courts At one
time he Knocked her down with beer glass, cut
was able to walk, the forgiving wife appeared in
Court and begged on her knees that he be released
from custody. On the night OF the murder the
familiar shrek Of the abused and ong-sunerng
woman was heard at the midnight hour, and, al
though they were piercing and long continued, the
neighbOrs did not inercede, merely remarking
| that the drunkard was beating his wiie again.
CRUSHED TO DEATH WITH A BOOT
Early In the morning the murderer summoned q
physician, who found cold, lifeess corpse, from
which no more blows could eXtort q cry for help,
and no medicine could restore to the lie OF misery
! from which the spirit had escaped. McNulta told
| many and conflicting stories, and was at once
arrested and placed in jail. A postmortem exami-
nation disclosed the fact that the murdered
mans ribs had been broken and crushed into the
| spleen, the rupture producing death. Marks OF
boot neel were plainly discernibe on the side Of
kicked her. 1t plainly evident that life had been
crushed out by the heel OF the lends heavy boot.
| THE MURDERER
| was an Irishman by BIRTH having come to this
| country in 1885, then thirty eight years Of age;
| u
maddened by drink, was mild peaceable man.
| He had been married about ten years. He
tried convicted sentenced, and all the usual efforts
| to obtain pardon were made, but in vain. He
passed his last night calmly and was up betimes.
| On the scanOId he appeared In neat broadcoth
suit. fautless linen, but no necktie, though the
hempen cord would be sufficient throat ornament.
To the last moment he protested his innocence.
| ON THE scAFFoLD-A BITTER sPEEeH.
| On the scatfold were Fathers Haigan, Hurry,
Albright, Catholic priests OF Peoria. and Father
Campbell, of Lacon Sheriff Frank Hitchcock,
Deputy sherirs Samuel L. Gill AID John
representative Of the local and Chicago
press and New YORK HERALD, members OF the Bar
and officers or the Court. McNulta made long
without even a tremor. He was very bitter against
his COUNSEL and declared that he intended to convict
him from the first He spoke angriy about DR..
| Morley, OF Chillicothe; also OF Judge Puterbaugh,
| who sentenced him. He said Judge Putcrbaugh
| had deceived him and his friends, that the Judge
might as we'll have stayed in Peoria and got drunk
| as went to springfield to see Governor Beverage
| and get drunk. He was interrupted in his speech
| several times by Father Hurry, but seemed to
| cling to life to the last moment.
| THE END OF THE ASSASSIN.
Finally he ceased talking, and Sheriff Hitchcock
bound his hands and feet. McNulty then called Mir.
| Harmon Mr. O'Brien, Sheriff Hitchcock, Deputy
| Sherlrs Gill and Kinsey to HIM, and kissed them
| goodby. The moose was adjusted the black cap
| was drawn over his face, and the drop fell at
Lucas, Israel j. Guth and G. ]. Fox, Of Peoria. and
Dr. Morley, OF Chlllicothe, announced the prisoner
| dead and the body was cut down at five minutes
| before two p. M. The doomed man died after
| ders and cenchlng his hands once or twice. The
body was placed in handsome walnut coffin with
| silver mountings, provided by the Judge, and was
| taken charge OF by his friends.
| Immense crowds were outside the jail. There
! was no sympathy with McNuta. His bitter, I'M
reasonable speech the scaffold only increased
| the belief In his guilt Many people were In the
town from all parts of the country, hoping to be
able to witness the execution.