The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-28
TO BE HANGED.

The last scene but one in the Metuchen tragedy
was enacted yesterday in the dingy. ill-ventt
lated Court House OF Middlesex county, New Jer-
sey, at New Brunswick. 1t was the sentencing Of
Michael Sullivan for the murder of Daniel Talmage
on the 1st day OF last Dece mber Long before tho
opening OF court the auditorium was packed with
people eager TO witness the booming to death OF
their unfortunate fellow creature In many re-
spects the muraer, the trial and the actors COM
bined to form singular tragedy. No case
has excited such interest throughout the State
since the Bridget Durgan case, eight or nine years
ago, as this one The conviction was HAD upon
purely circumstantiai evidence. no third person
having witnessed the murder or the murderer
leaving the scene OF the tragedy, so as TO be able
to positively identify him. Still, the chain OF CIR
cumstances forged around the prisoner was 80
strong that no impartial person doubts the justice
of the verdict.
THE MURDERED. AND TIE MURDERER.
Daniel Talmage, the murdered man, was veA-
cradle septuagenarian farmer, Of Metuchen. widely
and favorably known throughout Mddlesex
county. He was quite well of, and appears
10 have been an old gentleman OF exceedingly
kind and sympathetic disposition, always ready to
Auccor and help the needy and to counsel and ard
theipdusIrious and deserving.
THE MURDER
as stated, took place on December l, 1874.
1t N Monday afternoon. Sullivan had been
out ployment. Some time before this
he hl orked for Mr.. Talmage on tho
farm he latter. On the day or
the muir called at the Tamage homestead
in search TX. He was kindly treated. invited
TO eat din (ltn the family, and while in the
house saw elmage change ten-dOar note
Tor black who had been sent by neiQhbOr.
roll 70 i@ OF bs ms pocKetDooS. Sullivan watcneS
him wistiuif SOFAS to attract passing attention.
suoseauenty NJ Tamage started 70 ,,, visit his
Sullivan. Here 1t should oe stated tnat Suvan's
application ior work was not successful; he was
told Dy the old gentleman there was nothing f0r
him to do. The old gentleman mad not been gone
great while. when fiom the house
ns against wagon ss1era
ran to his assistance. They found him welterlng
across the old mans mead, at the back, near the
ear. He never spoke. The doctors OF the neigh
6orhood were called but tasS cSu la not save MIN:
ton the 2d). Nothing was seen OF sullivan by the
family that day after ne followed MI; Talmage 70
the barn. There had been a slight fall OF
, wsss SSS s eaG,a from the rear q
a field. This neghbor was arrested on suspicion.
He proved an Gltdt and was freed. AT the Coro-
Ivan as the murderer. nut he nowhere to be
found. Al length, on the Saturday night follow.
for RAILWAY and Was taken to tine Ne warK sta ton,
the arrest being elected at the Market street do.
pot tnas city on his person was found pocket
name thereon. He was taken to New Brunswick
duly indeed and on Tuesday, February Q, was
PLACED ON TRIAL.
The trial lasted eleven days and resulted In Q
verdict last saturday OF guilty OF murder In the
trial that Mr.. Tamags was murd cred with blow
OF a fail swingIe; that sullivan suddenly became
a. sn New S and New nd
the and found and on rsr.
MO nv ne
stand Sullivan told story which nobody be-
lieved and which he was unable to substantiate.
VINO asked him 70 ''crack JoD'' and then gave
him Tamage's pocketbook with 500 In It. He
said he agreed to go into business with The man,
but refused to tell what the business was.
THE SENTENCE.
ne was reo Up sU crSwSea TO- sn
location, hundreds being unable TO gain standing
room. 1t was feared that there might be some
demonstration on the part OF Sulvans friends
So before opening court, Judge Scudder ordered
the officers to arrest any person who might 20
f Tns Court an" was opened amid breatness
silence. The Court asked the prosecutor
at once moved that judgment be pronounced upon
Michael Sullivan. Sullivan was not then IN Court.
but UPON the Judges order ne was brought IN ~
At the bar and the Judge told him to stand up and
asked the usual question II be had anything to say
why Judgment should not be passed upon him.
Before Sullivan could reply one OF his counsel.
Mr.. Adralp, arose and moved for new trial. ON
Der g. that sullivan ought to be hanged
Denied the Judge saying that the rule in the state
had always bevA to hold that these must have
er muTas n malice Ss sa a1s s
said. were satisfied that suticient evidence had
been produced to prove Sullivan guilty. At this
the doomed man twitched ana grew PALE Again
the stereotyped question was put to him by the
Court HIS only reply was,
az AM ENTIRELY INNOCENT .
of the robbery and murder or Daniel Talmage."
Following mis- words, clearly and unialseripgly
spoken, there was slight rustling among the
Stiffness A pin might almost have been heard to
drop, as the presiding Judge spoke Slowly, ana In
o ''more in sorrow than IN anger" tone OF voice.
THE MURDERER's DOOM.
Addressing sullivan, who stood trembling at the
after careful hearing OF evidence, and the Court.
aiser critical review OF tue proceedings saw no
cause 10 doubt the truth OF the verdict nor any
error which would justify an arrest OF Judgment.
His able counsel were not able TO remove the con-
viction forced upon the MINDS OF an oy .ne uestl-
Alter briefly going over the facts ana making some
suggestions and observations, the Judge said.
ave are sorry that you have done This great
punishment is not merited. This Court has no
you have placed yourself. the law which we have
sworn TO enforce commands US to execute he
Judgment upon tnis conviction, and TINS
done.u Continuing, the Judge warned Sullivan
that 1t was vein 10 look Tor interference win the
| said, in a solemn tone:-"l shan now pronounce
the sentence OF the law upon your conviction. IL
Is considered by the Court that you have feceived
fair trial. and II directs that you he taken to tho
jail OF THIS county and there be retained until FRI
day, Aprn g. 1875, on which day, between the houra
OF ten and three O'Clock, you are 20 be hanged I'M
I'll dead, and may God have mercy upon your
| SOUL"
Many persons were moved TO tears. Sullivan
pore the ordeal well. He was heard 70 say it's
| hard death TO die.n HIS father, VINO sat near
HIN, wept bitterly. Sullivan was then handcuned.
| and, under u strong guard removed 10 the prison.
On arriving there female prisoner, VINO, IL APP
pears, mas fallen In love with the murderer, burst
into tears, and succeeded In kissing him passion
ately before he was placed in the condemned cell.
A remarkable feature OF the case IS the rapidity
| with which IL has been conducted. Tue mu der