The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-26

over the assemblage aboat him. Al precisely
nine O'Clock ana lortytwo minutes the turnkey
took from ms pocket the black cap, at the signt
or which Costiey turned toward the window as II
70 take a last look at the bright sunlight which
was so soon TO be shut out from him forever.
During the process OF pacing the cap over MS
head the condemned dd not show the least fear
and stood wlfn head erect without moving
weight was quietly drawn taui, ana the sheriff au-
dressing the condemned sald:-
ADDRESS OF TILE SHERIFF
"And now James Ii. Costey, by virtue OF the
authority in me- | now execute the sentence OF
the law on you, and may the Almighty God nave
Alter snort pause, the Sheriff at fifteen MN
utes before ten 'cleck caused the weight to iall
and the body OF Costley snot quickly into the air.
Tue weight ieil with heavy thud and the body
assembled some six feet and then fell six ncnes,
where 1t remained. For some three or four MN
and fingers, after when the BODY nung motlonless.
At ten minutes before ten O'Clock, 5nerin Thomas
the room, and quite "a number awaited themselves
OF the privilege. the Knot, alter the BODY was
back oil the skull, leaving the entire back
OF The unfortunate mans neck and head in clear
ten the pooy was lowered suficenty to allow an
examination TO be made by Dr.. joan W. Chase,
the surgeon OF the jail ana other physicians Lille
was pronounced to he extinct; but, IN conformity
with the usual custom Of having the body hang
for nalf an hour It was not taken down until SIX
teen minutes past ten, wnen It had hung
thirty minutes. The following Is
THE LETTER OF THE CONDEMNED
lett with Mr.. WHITE, the Jahor:-
DrDnAm Mass, June "a 1873
RESPECTED s1R-I think you know my ieollngs without
expressing them in writing. Bit wish to thank you
once more for the many, many KIND words and acts
w uqds yo ca n ana 20 sy S n
than all the precauuon that might , surround me. |
will not multiply words, but my trust and respect Is
second to none bur brother. Truly grateful, INV
The doomed man was esterday visited for the
last time by Horace H. Cheney his counsel, who
has done all In his power in defence OF the unlor
tunate man since HIS assignment as attorney.
Before taking his departne Mr.. Cheney was
af1rmed was the last and only statement he
should make IN regard to MS case. II was not
knowledge or animation OF 1T being as above
stated The statement W., was written In good
ABOVE the ordinary rum copy OF 1t is appended.
CosrLEY's LAST STATEMENT.
wishes Tor he Just and laws o. tins Common
wealth and nc executors Of the same Ihe laws would
known. assert goodness but in the tear ana almost
murder now forgive my enemies, thsnk NY friends,
sS b. pysce 2 s mark ali ah the
and especially 50 to Mr. White and Mr.. Goodwin,
Strict 10 duty they have showed every Kindness allowed
soSo enns t to them The many KIND visits Of Dr. Shae
were very dear % me- am truly grateful 10 all the ON
very thankful followers Chris, Tor their SYM
10 Kew &'pS H. BrooEs OF nnoVCr and
Of ne 2 eRd nSs mem
aSn srae o aEai" ana 0f oosTLE9 Sna
THE TAKING OFF OF LOUIS WAGNER AND JOHN
S. GORDON, AT THoMAsToN, ME.-THE ISLE
OF SHOALS MURDER AND THE THoRNDIKE
TRAGEDY
THoMAsToS, Me-, June rs, 1875.
the scanold in Maine to-day has reaped rich
harvest in the execution OF Louis Wagner and
John T. Gordon-the former for the murder or
couple OF women on Smutty Nose Island, known
as the Isle OF Shoals murder; and the latter Tor
the murder Of his brother, his brothers. wife and
their infant child in the town OF Thorndike. The
incidents OF both murders are fresh In the minds
or the HERALD readers Robbery was the motive
in the first and Jealousy the cause in the sec
ond. and in both instances the condemned
men denied their guilt 10 the last. the
demeanor OF Wagner and Gordon as
they were several times brought together,
within Re hours or the gsllows, was in striking
contrast. wagner was q Prussian by birth and
mas been schooled through q sailors rough knocks
ABOUT the world. lie has from tine first persisted
In the belief that he was not to be hanged and
that the Lord would never permit such an occur
renee. Even VITA the rope around his neck ne
SAID would not believe 1t possible. In any event
nc had bur to ole once and there was use OF
making fuss about Il. THIS apparent Indifference
TO death Is confirmed BY his sleep and appetite
which we're not impaired BY the near approach OF
death. Ills feeling for himself and regard evnced
Tor his good mother, who has not deserted him
in his crime but made mothers supplicaion for
hin before the State authorities and who is heart
crushed by his ignominlous death, has naturally
excited some sympat by Tor MIN. lie mas all along
ma de profession OF change OF heart. which ne
SAYS occurred before coming to the PRISON. aud to
every appeal Of his spiritual advisers mas given
no ADMISSION OF HIS GUILT.
He has even selected passages Of scripture for
mis- funeral togetner vita the hymn, Jesus, lover
OF my soul, let me 70 ray bosom fiy.n After the
interview with Chaplain Mason last evening" ne
na, wiz fwO n
townsmen and relatives, whose principal
errand Is 10 take his remains TO
indications that Wagner's stolidIty and superstl-
lion had been disturbed by the forebodIngs OF the
nonchalance. The night also told heavily on Cor
dom who passed It's hours sleeplessly ana miser-
weakness ana dependency. Nther OF them ate
breakfast. Al a seasonabie hour sheriff Iorrey.
accompanied by Deputy Gross and otner assist
ants arrived and proceeded % make
THE FINAL ARRANGEMENTS,
ana at halfpast ten the prison was opened for ad-
mission OF me lega witnesses required bJ statute
aud sue representatives Ui the press having claims
De present. Th6 other prisoners. having mad a
snort morning exercise In the SHOPS were early
returned to their cells TIL after the execution. ON
account OF the condition OF the men II was decided
60 dispense with all religious services except the
private devotons in the cell. and Tor this purpose
Chaplain Mason visited Wagner's cell. and passed
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE or GORDON.
AS Mr.. Mason passed into GOrdons cell he found
him lying IN oed Ia an unconscious state, bleeding
IN the region OF the heart. lie mad
been seen by the Warden only about
half hour previously. The instrument
with which he attempted TO defeat the gal
lows was an old shoe knife, very sharp aud
ponte 4 and without q handle, but TO which he
had improylsed handle by Winning rag around
the shank. when Gordon was put In his cell,
week ago, ne was strictly searcned FOR tnStru-
ments OF se.fdestrucuon. It Is con1ectured tnat
he may nave secreted 1t in his cell some time ago;
tnat II may have been handed TO HIM By
his intervening friends or thrown up 10
his cell the corridor The first
Suppositlon is undoubtedly the correct one.
The surgeon OF the prison was Immediately IN at
tendance. assisted by DR.. Layanseller, OF Thomas
ton They pronounced him probably fatally
wounded and fast failing, but Sheriff Torrey d.
rected the arrangements for his execution TO pro-
ceed and MS assistants got his execution suit
upon MIN.
Meantime Wagner being robed for his fate In .
suit OF black and with his arms pln0ned,
was taken from his cell at tnrty.lve minutes past
eleven O'Clock, attended by two Of SheTin Torreys
deputies. AS ne strobe along through the guard
room and iRt0 the prison yard TO the scaiTod MIS-
erect iorm-over six leet In ncight-and pleasant
ANaW