New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-18
MURDERS PENALTY.


-FIIIs's AGONY TERRIBLY PRoLoNGED-CRowD-
ING IN THE PRISON YARD.
The three negro murderers, William Ellis,
william Thompson, and Charles wrend alias weston
wore hanged the Tombs yard yesterday morning LOT
the murder Abraham wessberg, the Hebro" pedcDcr
on Friday. Sept H. just three months ago Yesterday
The crime was cold Mooded and very revolving. The
murderers dubbed and stoned the helpless man. ana
finally cut his When the mutiacd corpse OF The
victim was found, suspicion Immediately fastened upon
the negroes, who arrested by Ca'ts Mcdonnell
and Heden aud the evidence against them was so con
elusive that westons confession was not essential 10 thi
conviction Ellis and Thompson chose to be Nleo 10
gether and separately from Weston They wore arrlseu
Oct "a before Judge Barrett, and the jury a'er IA!
trial found them guilty Of murder in tho first degree
without leaving their seats Weston tried ON the
following day the verdict the same IN ms case
The Judge sentenced DO hanged on Doe L. The
efforts OF THEN counsel 80 obtain first stay oil proceed
ings and then writ OF error. were unsuccessful.
The night before the execution was memorable one
at the ToInbs Dolan who had narrowly escaped shang
the ignomniOus fate of tho negroes was ied wlh9 Joy
and received the CONGRATULATIONS u his friends In ho
three cells adjoining his the three doomed men were pre-
parng for terrible evont OF tie morrow Al O'CLOCK
in the morning Ellis prepared for rest and at 1870 O'Clock
Thompson aud Weston followed his example. Al
o'clock the condemned slept. Ellis gave ORDERS 10
be- called daybreak. but the three awoke at o'clock
and at $40 q. IN. westons sister was admllted
TO the corridor weston's wife did not accompany her
Shortly after the men arose breakfast was served
Weston took only cup of tea. Thompson called for
eggs tea and Enis ate heartily OF occisteaK ana
toast Thompson then smoked cigar, while Etls de-
voted his time TO prayer in his cell Weston ana IuOm
son. accompanies by Doan afterward attended Mass
celebrated by Row Father Duranquet IN the chapel
In the female rxson received tho sacrament The
two negroes absorbed in their dcvotons
In tho meantime Ellis had lain down IN bis eel, anu
had fallen asleep almost immediately. lie was awakened
at o'clock by the Rev T. a. Davis and WAS then visited
NiSprs He
his Dress and black suit with white vest, neektie
and cotton gloves One OF his advisers asked nm Oh
what he based hopes Of future life, and ELS said
Iu Jesus Christ hope for immortality" Aboht
O'Clock death warrants read to the condemned
men their cells Their arns were pinoned the noo'eS
adjusted about their nOcks and the black put on
their heads.
Outside the ombs a vast tbrong blocked the sreeta or
all sides and covered the balcony on the south sde O
the railroad depot. Policemen were stationed ON the
roof OF the depot majority OF the persons who had
permits 10 view the execution from the pubic
Offices city. The crowding that tooG place at the
door of Tombs and in the courtyard in tie scramble
for positions was dsgraccfu The gllows was erected
on the west side OF the male prison. III narrow court
The cross beam provided with four holes and pueys
Ropes Lun from OF tsen The fourth was intended
for Dolan. The morning cold aud damp ana inc re-
porters and physicians and deputy sherhiS Immediately
in the Eillows waited uneasly ON the chinS
pavement The mass OF 'he crowd was packeu IN
small space between iron railing at the end Of the
prison wall an the courtyard gates
little before halpast nine o'clock the solemn pro
cession formed in tho corridor. The condemned men
devoted their last moments to prayer Capt Lo"erey
and Inspector DlAs led mo procession. followed by
sheriff Conner and the deputy sherifs next came
Weston with a deputy sheriff holding his left arm and
Father Duranquet the risht Thompson with deputy
and Father Barry, followed and Ellis with deputy
brought up the rear Weston met the gh Of day with
bold face ana lie passed along the court bowed and
said GOOD by" TO those whom To recognized. He re-
peated tho Lords prayer and held crpci-
FIX The outward bearing OF the three men
was wonderfully quiet and composed, but IL was nouced
that Wesons walk was tremuous he in view OF
the gallows Tho crowd glzed muteiy with uncovered
heads As We ton approached the gauOws no noticed
Deputy Finley. and sing. shook hands WHO
him Thompson did the The work on the scanold
WAS done expediOusy Tie nOoSes were hooked 10 tho
ropes ana the black caps drawn down Ellis said; Il
an the chief Of sinners but JesIs died ioI mo- Ihe AZ
fen on the rope that held the weights and The bodies OF
the three muldcTers spraug high in air simultaneously
Weston OF kissing the cruoiiN, which fell
10 the floor body dropped straight down. and not
muscle stirred Thompson fell with the Knot under his
left ear and had spasn0c commissions iOr lew sec
onds and lis breast hoaved Occs sionally.
ELIS's FKIGnTFuL STRUGGLES.
Tho execution OF Ellis Of the most horrible
spocaecs cNe a scafold. At the moment The
weights fell he threw his head to the left and when he
hung dangling at the end Of the rope II seen with
shudder That had been displaced by the move
ment Of his head and. without tightening, bore ON the
back of Lis neck and reached above The chin.
1t is said that he called for cream previous 10
the execution and rubbed some of 1t ON Lie
neck, thinking it would facilitate the slipping
of the moose He hung iao;Ionlcss for All Instant ana
then Tcc0ycI from tic SHOCK reGaincd hs senses ana
filled every body honor by Lis struggles he freed
his arms sufficiently to grasp the rope above the knot
and his handkerchief which was IN his hand, caught IL
the moose lie planted has feet against tie side Of the
seafold ard cndcavoIed raise himself. Then swinging
aginGt Ihom SON. he claopeG the latter with bis eSs
md caInbcred up till he got better hold Oh the rope
with his let hand. As he swung loose again he
made = eurgling sound, and cried. "savo me!
save ne 4" The appalled, spectators tanned then
heads from the frghtinl sight ana uttered Calculations
of horror. OF Es's religious advisers called Tor
ladder paras zed the spectators with horror
that il is doubtful If anything could lave been done Io
struggling Lis claSpcd Thompson once moro wish ms
knees, gavo another tug al tho rope, ana the crowd
he,yeG sigh Of relief this last effort socn to al
tust the Knot His hands fell 10 his side and In
slant he was beyond oonsc BUSINESS.
TIE EBDING AWAY OF LIFE.
AT 935 a. IN. the three raised INTO the air
minutes WestOns pulse Dcat at 70 AT tAe
end minutes It stood at 10; q minute ater IL
went down II at the end OF six minutes his pulse
uttered UP 10 -, aud IN quarter OF ID mute more IL
ceased TO beat ThomIsons puise after three minutes
stood at p after four minutes, 10; five mill
utes l6 At six mnutes tho pulse was nn
percepti bic. and at the end OF seven minutes
he was dead. AT the end OF four minutes
Ess pulse at az. after minutes AS al the end OF
minutes his pulse bounded TO 81 ana ne stitSsieu
somewhat After no nad been hanging Z minutes LIS
pulse 81, beating lnterinltJ1nlIy NJ INC eb OF
minutes 10. AID hUtloIing Alto he had
hung minutes the pulse was stiee peIeePt'Die anu
In 10 minutes he was dead lie DJtlCe were lOWciCu
but no pnlsation could be discovered. Afto- hanging
% minutes, Westou's BODY was lowered mo the