The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-10
he QUIETLY SUBMITS TO HIS FATE.
All Attempts to Turn His Heart
to Heaven Futile.
mo No Going Hang
Don't Hang =
Another Bungling Execution Moose
Fails, the Culprit Falls and Is
Hanged Up Again.

On the evening of the 9th of July last party OF
~ sailors were engaged 10 playing cards at a
boarding house kept by one WILLIAMSON, In Cherry
street in this city, when John Stephenson, q
deputy United States Marshal, accompanied by two
sssistants, entered. They were in quest OF one
Prilt, q saiior, who had deserted his vessel and
for whom warrant had been issued. Prilt was not
there, but Stephenson picked cut Fnlander,
named Jacob hechela, saying. "Yoa got $40 for
running that man Prlp from the vessel"
kechena replied, "No, but lent him
$l0.n One Of the sailors in the
party cried out Don't 60 with them, they are
boarding house runners" Mechella thereupon
said he would not go with them Stephenson
pulled out pistol, grasped Mechelfa by the collar
and with the aid OF the two assistants pulled him
ont into the street and Mechella was locked up.
Next day he was brought before q United States
Commissioner a charge OF resisting the Marshal
but the case was compromised by Mechella con-
senting to go with the Marshal and dnd Priit, who
~ stated was at Washington, New Jersey
Accordingly on Friday afternoon, the nth OF july
Stephenson and Mecnena C. ossed over to Jersey
CITY, where they appeared before Commissioner
Muirhead and obtained a warrant for the arrest Of
Pnlt They left the Commissioners Office and
proceeded to that of Marshal Bailey, just two
blocks distant, at the corner OF Grand and Hudson
streets This brings us to
THE MURDER.
Not an unfriendly word had passed sctween the
men, and the unsuspecting Marshal walked a little
IN advance Of Mechena. Just as they had arrived
ut the corner of Grand street, opposite Mr.. Bar
ley's ONCE Mechea stealthily drew knife and dealt
Stephenson q blow In the back that sent him
staggering into the street OF the curbstone. The
Marshal resolutey faced his antagonist, whose
eyes glared like those of hyena. They clutched
and struggled across Hudson street to the side
walk, when Mechella, being the more powerful
nan, threw Stephenson over pile OF timber and
buried the knife in his heart, rocking the weapon
backwards and forwards as one witness re-
marked. After repeating the thrusts three or
four time he drew tue blade across his own throat
crowd collected ana Stephenson was raised
slightly up but he was corpse.
THE TRIAL.
Mechea was committed to jail, vas indicted for
murder and on the 2Oth OF October was brought 10
trial before Judge Bedle and Justices Hoffman and
Virgins, associates. The prisoner being riendless
was assigned counse by the Court, and the plea
set up in his behalf was selidefence. Mechena was
dogged, suen, silent and indifferent during the
trial. refusing to communicate with
his counsel. When his brother was placed
oner broke out from his wonted silence
And became very excited. He protested
loudly and vehementy against his brother being
in his native tongue and hall in English, TO say
nothing about his rather mother or home. His
counsel called on himself TO take the stand in his
ewn defence, but he stubbornly refused. Counsel
appealed TO the Court for compulsory order, but
the Court declined to grant It, The trial lasted
three days, and the jury, after celebrating Tor
three-quarters OF An hour, brought in verdict OF
murder In the first degree. The Russian Consul
attended the trial
One week after the verdict was rendered he vas
sentenced by Judge Bedle to be hanged on Friday,
the sth OF December, and the prisoner listened TO
the sentence with that sulenness and indifference
that characterized his demeanor during the trial
Throughout his term OF imprisonment his conduct
was violent abusive and boisterous, his actions at
times revolving and his language invariably bias
phemous. He hurled imprecations at his Keepers,
At the kind friends who called to see him, at
those who took warm interest In his
case, and especially at the clergy to
whom he bore an unaccountable anIIpathy.
He would not be interviewed, nor would he need
any counsel by whomsoever rendered. HIS favor
drunk In consequence Of these exhibitions a
email party OF Jersey City men made representa-
tons to Governor Parker that the prisoner was In
sane. The Court OF Pardons had already been APP
peaed to, but in vain. Every prominent physician
Who examined him pronounced MIN TO be sane; a
lew thought the case doubtful. and the majority
believed he was felgning insanity. The Keepers
proved to be the best judges in the case.
Two special deputies who had charge OF him
OBrien and Crawford-hit the nail on the head
when the former remarked, ''He is more rogue
than iool,n and the latter declared, with en-
phasis, "rnat fellow Is very keen and shrewd-al-
most too sharp for us"
RETRIEVED.
d II
the representations made though almost the en-
tire population Of Jersey City was shocked by the
fhat fixed for the execution he came to Jersey City
OF January-jtst 6ve weeks. Mechella was
again subjected to an examination by dozen
OF physicians or more, and yet not one OF them
would stake his professional reputation on the
assertion that the man insane. The Court OF
Pard0ns was called into special session, discussed
the testimony presented to them by the PHYSICIANS
after which, with unusual promptness, the Court
1hA Ina
plank was now gone, and the news was
conveyed to Mechalla that he must prepare
in obtaining a reprieve py violent conduct
he now became exasperated. He assaulted his
Keepers, was placed in irons, raved like a maniac
and became altogether ungovernable Every DAY
was drawing him nearer to his end; but that re
hection conveyed no meaning to his heart. HI
had made up his mind on one point-he would d o
Near any clergyman, Judge Virgins one of th,
associate justices who tried the case, called OF
him. bringing q Lutheran prayer book; but he bea
q hasty retreat to avoid missile directed at hi
THE MACHINERY OF DEATH.
new gallOws was erected, taking that in TIT
Tombs as q model, and set in corner OF the jail
yard The executioner an expert VIII,
several culprits within the Tombs including Foste
And Nixon. On top OF the wall surrounding tn
jail yard high wooden fence, covered with al
the. view from the outside. Two hundred
and nifty passes were issued, and to pro
cure accommodation for this number reconrs,
was had to the roof of one extension-th,
wash room Tor the reporters and the boiler room
fer the Freenohers Three companies or the state
militia surrounded the building, and no precautiOL
for the maintenance OF order was omitted It was
anticipated that Mechela would become violent al
the last and tne Snerln had on hand strong posse
OF deputies. He also adopted a wise Suggestion
rendered him-thst the prisoner be Kept IN strict
secusion the day previous TO the execution The
effect OF the Seclusion was magical He snen.
THE LAST MIGHT
in remarkable quiet and repose for one hitherto
uDgOvernabe. He became meditatiye and
when he retired for the night he coCld not sleen'
He moaned and sighed. and was heard TO remars
~ one time,
"OH, MY MOTHERr'
when asked where his mother was he answered
tmpatiently :-'Go ask my brother he no xoOu NJ
be damn fooln He jumped up, paced the cell
smoked stump OF a cigar for half an hour, ther
nature was victorious and he fell on the cot ex
hausted- 81 tell you" observed Crawford, "aite
shat he slept nine square hours.n Expressly.
enough was this for the slumber that was TO pre-
cede the long repose In the cold, silent grave
M IL uaiohnd nnnrnsaiuaIx avon on m,