Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1874-12-31
Execution of Murphy.

City, in May last. The report
having been circulated that the ex-
ecution would take place in private
kept many from attending. Only
few were present from Virginia
CITY. Gold Hill, Silver City, or
Dayton, yet some 500 Witnessed the
execution. At 1890 Sheriff Swift,
Deputy Condor, and large police
force from Virginia City, conduct
ed the condemned man from the
Jail to the scaffold, which had been
erected about a mile from town.
Arriving in front of the scaffold,
Murphy sprang lightly from the
carriage, walked unassisted up the
steps, and took seat in the chair
assigned to him. During the read
ing of the long death warrant by
the Sheriff (who was much more
affected than the prisoner, Muir
ply surveyed the surroundings,
paying but little attention to the
reading, only occasionally center
ing his attention on the same.
When he did it was with look of
perfect contempt and defiance. He
sat with his left leg thrown care
lessly over the arm of the chair for
some time, then got up and walked
across to the opposite side and
helped himself to a drink of water.
While so doing the Sheriff ceased
reading, but was informed by the
culprit, "and indeed | hear you"
Returning to and seating himself,
he drew his right foot up on the
chair, and so remained until the
Sheriff ceased reading. He then
called on Deputy Condor for
drink of stimulants, which, being
furnished him, he drank the health
of Mr.. Swift and Mr.. Condor. He
then commenced upon his address
or speech, by moving about the
platform with fierce gestures.
"He swore the stars would disap-
pear before the faith on which he
built his hopes of a happy eternity
should be impaired" While taking
a breathing spell, the Sheriff told
him to be quiet; on resuming, he
was not so boisterous. He then
charged his counsel, the Judge.
and jury, with prejudice, fraud and
perjury. After finishing his TRADE
of abuse, he read from Edmond's
book on Spiritualism, paragraph
on the ultimate destiny Of man.
He then kneeled down on the trap
door and read the following prayer:
Almighty and most merciful
Father, who has created us in Thy
wisdom, and sustained us by Thy
love, look down with compassion
on this Thy unhappy child now
present, and assist him, we beseech
Thee, in his search after truth.
Roll from his mind the clouds of
error, Ignorance, and superstition,
that the light of Thy wisdom may
shine upon him, cheering his heart.
enlightening his understanding,
and rendering bright his pathway
to Thy holy mansions, eternal in
the heavens. Suffer Thy holy
spirits to minister unto him as his
guardians and guides, to lead him
from darkness to light and place
him on the plain Of everlasting
progression. "
Then, turning to the Sheriff, he
said, q am ready now" placed
himself in position directly under
the moose, and asked Deputy Con
don for drink and a chew of to-
bacco. While his feet and arms
were beng plnloned, he was sur
veying the sea of upturned faces in
front and outside of the ropes.
Recognizing Mr.. Sweeney, he said
" Hello, Sweeney" then noticing
the reporter of the News" he /
told him to tell his readers "that
he had seen him in a id tight +.
place" and that he wished those
ID judges might yet experience a
like drop. The black cap was adj
justed, the lever was sprung, and
the body of John Murphy was sus-
pended between heaven and earth.
He dropped about six feet, and his
neck was broken. As there were
no physicians to examine the pulse,
he was left hanging 80 minutes,
when the body was taken down and
placed in a neat coffin, covered
with black velvet, and consigned
m ifc loot racfiou ,,1aoa