The Grange advance., 1874-03-04
ne llns1eeor 1allsrtJ.

AA0 WV VVS0 IN one OF the 003t0030
ssanties Of Ireland in the year 1e4s, aud
came to this country in childhood. He has
always been Of bold, vicious and depraved
character. His personal appearance wa3
very indicative Of his character. He was
about five feet eight inches high, with broad
10" forehead, deep set eyes, high cheek
sones' firm mouth, and lower jaw square
and obstinate, the very mould Of . deter
mined ruf6sn. OF course, his experience
hsd not been calculated to inspire him with
any love for the police. He regarded them
as his natural born foes.
THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
which he has partially e1piated with his
life occurred in Chicago saloon kept by
one Daniel O'Brien, little after midnight
on the 4th of August, 1872. Upon that oc-
oasion two officers, O'Meara and Scanlan,
entered the saloon with warrant for this
rufhan. He at first offered one of them
cigar. The officer replied, "Not now,
Chris, have warrant for you" What's
It for, read it, said Rafferty,. The officer
read the warrant, and Rafferty, said, " WE'LL
l suppose must co." and started with off,
Ger Seaman. In moment more he sprang
for the door, at the same time drawing
heavy
COLTS REVOLVER.
O'Meara sprang to intercept him, but
Rafferty, raised his revolver, saying, ''The
first man that lays hand on me, damn him
I'll shoot him. and took deliberate aim at
his victim. ''Hold on, Chris, don't shoot ="
cried O'Meara, but the words were scarcely
out Of his mouth when the villain pulled the
trigger and the unfortunate officer fell to
The floor with groan, shot through the
heart
Rafferty, then turned his pistol and fired
at Scanlan, who had barely time to throw
himself behind the bar when the bullet
whizzed harmlessly over his head. The
murderer then turned and tried to reach
the door, but he was seized by the men who
had been playing cards in the saloon, and
held firmly over a chair until Scanlan came
up to secure him. As the men released
him into the officers hands, Rafferty, made
= desperate effort, freed himself, and again
attempted to fire his revolver. Scanlan
locked his hand over the pistol, aud the
hammer came down on his thumb, thus pre-
venting the discharge and saving his life
Then ensued
FEARFUL STRUGGLE
between the tw 0 men, in which the lockers
on did net dare to participate. At length
the desperate was successful in making his
escape. The excitement was intense, and
he was instantly pursued by men, who de-
termined to take him
DEAD OR ALIVE.
He was captured the next morning, and
on the I'd day Of September the Grand Jury
found a true bill against him for murder in
the first degree. On the 9th Of the same
month his trial began and lasted two days.
The jury were only out twenty minutes
when they brought in the following ver-
dict: "We the jury, find the defendant,
christopher Rafferty,, guilty Of the murder
Of Patrick O'Meara, as charged in the in
dictment, and sentence him to be hanged
by the neck until he is dead.''
A terrible, but just verdict, under the
law. He received it, however, with the ut
most GOODNESS. He was then sentenced to
be hung on the 14th day of October. His
counsel appealed to the Supreme Court, and
on account Of errors of law in the proceed
ings below, they granted new trial. He
was again tried in February 1873, again
convicted of the murder, and again sen.
fenced to be hung, this time on the 7th Of
March, 1873. The twice condemned man
was taken back to his cell, which it was
thought he would never leave except at the
end of rope The gallows, however, was
again to be cheated Of its dues. A second
appeal was made to the Supreme Court, and
second time they interposed new trial
between Rafferty, and the halter. The third
trial occupied the Goth and 9th days ot
November, 1873, and the third jury found
him guilty of murder, and sentenced him
to felon's death. The 26th Of Decembe,
was fixed this time for his execution. But
again his counsel appealed to the Supreme
Court, and again the day Of execution was
postponed. The case was argued before
the Supreme Court on the 22d day Of Janu
ary, but this time the court decided thai
there were no legal errors made in the tria
below, and fixed the date of Rafferty's fna