The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-21

purpose and no more. II consisted OF two white
pine uprights with cross beam ON top. On .
raised platform there was q trap door, wnlcn was
held In position by an upright; 10 this upright
rope was fastened leading to q santing beam, and
still another rope RON the slaniing beam 10 the
trigger at the loot OF the steps OF the scafold The
loot touching this trigger set ree rope 70
from underneath the trap door, allowing the cul.
prit 10 lal. The drop method or stranglng Is stll
rigidly adhered TO In PENNSYLVANIA.
At two O'CLOCK the doomed man slept. but awoke
at tour ana oid not rise until nalf-past SIX. HIS
spiritual comlorters. Rev. Messrs. D. Moorhead and
Love, OF the reformed Chlfch, were WIN nun anu
did all III their power 10 prepare the unhappy man
Tor MS Journey TO eternity. AS carry as niue
O'Clock the country people commenced 10 mock
into the town, and soon the street IN the 'front.' OF
the jail was black with spectators. IL became
necessary to stretch rope across the sidewalk
leading 10 the entrance OF the Ja The space IN
rhe Interior OF the prison was necessarily limited;
but a few persons on side OF the members OF the
press and lurymen were admitted 20 witness the
execution. Among the spectators rom choice
were Mrs. Kerr wife OF the murdered man, and
his two daughters, girls scarcely out OF tneir
teens, who were pretty ana modest. and yet the
place seemed uniting either TO modesty OF
b -auty. Such revolving spectacle as
legal stranglin9 one would think repugnant
to the delicate sense OF pure womanhood anu vet
they remained and looked at the culprlt when
he came down out OF his cell on the second tier,
and. with the assistance OF two deputy sherifrs,
chairs placed directly over the trap. He wore a
neat suit OF black clothing. with a low cut vest,
white shirt and dark scarf; his ieet were encased
IN white stockings and low cut slippers embrod.
eyed; mis- legs were now bound with broad bands
with much interest never once raised mis- eyes
from the groundwork OF the gbbet. When this
was done the Rev. Mr.. Love took rom pocSel OF
his coat O long document. which was q confession
OF the condemned, 10 which he admitted the muir.
der OF Kerr, and that ne (Beigheyl richly deserved
to ole. he planned the nuroer week before. and
to help him through IN the deed he bought aud
drank that night quart OF whlskey. He was 80
drunk that he took old Kerr's coat instead Of his
own. This led 10 his arrest and conviction. Dur
ing the reading OF the confession, at that poins
where he SAID that he could have escaped the ar.
rest II he hadn't drank SO much whiskey, the eyes
OF one OF the Kerr girls Mashed lire, and ipS
tightly compressed. she elevated her nose 10 In
dlcate the contempt she lett Tor some OF his asser
tiOns; Dut Beighey never once raised MS eyes
from the door. Upon the conclusion OF the read
ing OF the confession pray was offered up and all
then lett the scaff0ld. The moose was then adj
justed ana the black cap drawn over his lace. At
eight minutes past one Sheriff Quincy touched the
wooden trigger and tine trap was sprung. Beigh-
ley fell like a lump OF pig Lead and the snap OF tho
breaking OF his neck could be heard distinctly by
those near the scaiold. he died within two min.
utes. Alter hanging twenty-five minutes the body
was Gu. down and given into the hands oil the ex.
press company. who forwarded IL to Apollo. where
the grandfather Of the dead murderer lived.