The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1874-11-26
The Montrose Murderers
n Double Execution. L.
HANGING OF O'MARA AND IRVING

county, NJ lO:3O A. NJ to-day.
The peculiarly astrocious nature OF
the crime, and the relations of the
parties. make the occasion one of
unusual interest. Daniel O'Mara is
about thioty years of age, five feet
six inches high, weight one hundred
and fifty pounds, and ratherpleasant
looking Irving is thirty four years
old, five feet eight inches high.
weight one hundred and seventy five
pounds, low forehead, with some.
what repulsive features, and half
savage, half-idiotic expression.
The crime for which they were ex>
ecuted was committed on the morn
ing of September ~, 1878, at O'Ma
ra's home, about two miles from
Montrose Station, on the line of the
Delaware Lackawanna and Western
rail- oad.
Daniel ONara was required TO
support his mother and sister during
their lives, after which he would in
horit the small farm upon which they
lived. valued Mt two thousand dollars.
Daniel was not satisfied with this ar~
rangement, so he determined to get
rid of them and secure the property
Mt once Patrick Irving was O'AIa-
ra's hired man. 1t was said he wish
ed to marry Mary o Mara, but she
did not favor his suit.
The bodies of Mrs. O'Mara and
daughter were discovered early on
the morning Of the day above men-
toned. lying on the right hand side
of the southern bound track, n short
distance south of tho Montrose dc
pot. The hand and the lower part
of the arm was severed from the
body, and lay about eleven feet above
and on the other side of the rail. No
blood was found near the bodies,
either upon the track or rail. The
intention of the murdercrs was eyi-
IDENTIFY to make it appear that their
victims were killed by being run
over on the railroad. A wagon road
crosses the track about two rods be.
low where the bodies lay, and upon
this some spots Of blood were discov
cred which aroused suspicion of foul
play. 1t had rained heavily the night
previous. notwithstanding which q
line of blood was easily traced from
this point to OMara's s house. A
bunch of human hair, piece of blood
stained rope and some shreds of cloth
were also found on the way. One
mile from the house n wagon was
found. the tires of which correspond.
cd with the newly-made tracks on the
road. Large blood stains were seen
in this wagon. At the house it was
found an attempt had been made to
wash the sitting room floor, which was
not yet dry. Blood stains were still
distinctly visible ON the floor, and
splatters of blood were seen upon the
door leading to the kitchen. In the
next room, whe: o O'Nlara and daugh
ter slept, some of the bed clothes
were missing, and blood was found
upon the bedstcad. An OK team was
discovered near the house with blood
stains on yoke and oxen, showing
that the bodies were carried some
distance upon the oxen and thel
placed upon the wagon The physi'
clans who examined the bodies gave
it as their opinion that the women
were killed with some blunt instru.
ment, probably n bark spud, whicl
was subsequently found covered witt
blood. OMara and irving were ar
rested on suspicis4 and taken tC
Montrose Jail to await trial, On
January IL, they were brought into
court. where they pleaded mot gull
| ty" The trial lasted until the %
when the jury returned verdict o
murder in the first degree. Or
January 20, the court refused til,
motion of n new trial, and the pris.
oners received their death sentences
The Pardoning Board, which me-
October Sth, heard an argument il
favor of pardon or communication o
sentence, but refused to interfere il
the case. Their death warrants wer'
accordingly issued, and Thursday
November 10Th, was fixed for thei
execution. On October 10th Sheril
Beach Helmc read the death war,
rants to them. O'AIara evinced I
spirit of resentment, but finally she,
tears, Irving was not particular,
stirred by the announcement. Thoil
behavior since has been good. o.
Mara's wife has not seen him sine,
sentenced. He spent most of yes
terday with his spiritual advisor
He had an affecting interview will
his sister, who arrived from Scranton
at noon. / interviewed irving a
noon. He still protested his inno
cence, but in nm ncoherent name
said if he must die he was ready.
All preparations for the execution
were completed last evening. Mucl
excitement prevailed because of
rumor that secret society, know
as the "AIolly Maguires," had az
ranged to make an assault on tn
prison during the night, for the pur
pose of liberating the prisoners, bu
they did not make their appearance,
At 7 this A. NJ. Father Murphy, c
Auburn, Pa, and Father Slatterl,
of Susquehanna, spent some tim
with the prisoners, who seemed I
have given up all hope of earth an
were directing all their thoughts to
wards eternity. They seemed some
what resigned and hopeful of til
fntnra