The New York herald., 1875-12-18
HOW THE CONDEMNED DIED
A Terrible Scene Of Horror
at the GalloW5.
LACK OF POLICE DISCIPLINE.
History Of the Crime for Which
the Men Suffered.
THE CASE OF JOHN DOLAN.

Thompson and Elis-yielded up lhelr hVes on the
gaows for the life they bad so wantonly extingushed
IN Lydg's Woods In September last The execution
took place in the yard Of the Tombs prison ana
viewed by a large number OF men OF all ages and
ditions in society. The legal tragedy marked by
scenes OF disorder among the spectators woiui lack
Of discipline the part Of the police and OF
alter horror
THE
Silence had at last settled down upon Murderers
Row The condemned men did not retire al once.
Weston and Thompson deferred their last sleep until
one O'Clock and about when Ellis sought his
couch
AS nothing particularly inviting in the
Row The HERALD reporter betook himself to the
trance where Warden Quinn and a couple OF deputy
sherns represented the vigilance Of the law But few
would surmse the tenderness OF heart hidden under
thc exterior OF the Warden The conversation,
natural under the circumstances FIRST turned upon
the condemned men, then upon Dolan again upon
politics finance and various other subjects One Of the
Jagged deputies retired TO lounge in the Doctors
Not long after this loud knock was heard at the
Tombs outer gate; the gate was opened, and voice
SAIL ''I've brought some cofins for your "Bring
them n,n said the Warden Accordingly, these
ceptacles for defunct humanity were brought in and
deposited inside the rallied portion OF the waiting
The Sheriff had teegraphed for them to Bellevue Hos
pitaL The Spartan simplicity OF these collins certainly
lent charm to death Roughly put together of
white pne daubed with little raddle, with ordinary
nails TO fasen down the lid, they looked cold and
pulsive. Two OF the prison hands soon carried them
OF sight Nothing Of importance transpired after
this episode until a few minutes after I'VE
O'Clock when 1t announced TO the Warden that the
condemned men had arisen. About this time Weston's
SISTER came gave him some underclothng, and soon
departed westons wife did come until later, and
-.
unable TO bear the crush while waiting she quietly
Withdrew Later she bade Weston adieu In the prison
yard At about halfpast six O'Clock the HERALD
porter again entered Murderers' Row. There
amount Of hustle stir the various clergymen
arrived and began their minstrations Thompson and
Weston assisted at mass said by Father Duranquet;
Ellis attended TO his cell by Rev. p A. Davis II.
II. Garnett J. II. Lightbourn and J. S. Willis. Ellis
had risen at FIVE O'Clock but feeling sleepy, lay down
again AZ halEpas and fell into profound sumber.
Doian put appearance about O'Clock and
heard mass with the condemned men. He looked calm
ana sad.
Al about hafpast O'Clock Police Captains
Lowery Of the Sixth precinct; Clinchy OF the Thir-
teenth Williams OF the Fourth CaGery, OF the Fifth;
Mccullough, OF the Seventeenth and Murphy of the
twenty first arrived with a force OF men from each
precinct the whole being taken hand by Inspector
Dilks
The advent OF the police the real given
that hegrlm business OF the morning FAR dis
iant Presently the prison breakfast served out,
and all the prisoners securely locked in their cells
Tux CONDEMNED.
There nothing notable about the demeaDor of any
VI the condemned with the exception Of Ellis, whose
chief care after the discussion OF beef steak breakfast
be arrange his toilet with the most
pulous care. When this finished he did
not look unlike hired colorcd waiter
dc wore pair OF slippers black pants
and coat a white wastcoat and a white neckiie. He
devoted especial attention his hair which, by
Of ts shorness and its stubborn disposition 10 curl
gave him considerable trouble Having satisfied him.
self that he autess full dress he surrendered
himself the ministrations Of the ministers who had
70 smooth the path to the grave for him. 1t may
be incidentally mentioned that Thursday evening,
lust after the religious conducted by the col
Dred clergy Murderers' Row had been brought 70
close quite interesting discussion
the colored brethren with regard paying the ex-
penses OF Ellis funeral the various cheerful items OF
coffin digging. hearse &c, being discussed with
quite chdlike simplicity right before the condemned
Yesterday morning al eight O'Clock conclu-
had been arrived at
Almost at the hour Of daybreak curious knots or
idlers gathered near the entrance Of the PRISON on
Franklin street None Of these people had any hope
being able to the ali knew was to take
place inside the gloomy walls Of the Tombs, yet they
fingered carefully watched tho door through which
were 70 enter the sheriff and his posse.
The day broke clear. with only few specks OF aeecy
clouds 10 the sky AS the sun rose above the house
tops the early mist disappeared though the air was
raw and cold BY and by squads or policemen began
appear and as they arrived a Gordon Of officers
thrown around the entire square occuI~ad BY the
prison. Near the Sixth ward station house
strong force of police massed and remained pas
sivcly awaiting further orders The cars moved mer-
ry and fro; truckmen drove their vehicles through
the streets only the labors Of the day. In
corner group o. boys played marbles and hand
organ pealed forth popular The note OF prepa-
ration Tor the and the scenes OF everyday
life afforded vivid contrast The in blue uniform
there maintain peace aud order while the men
condemned % de we're compelled to pay the penalty Of
thor crime
soon there appeared a new element In the scene.
Men from al sides carrying in their hands enye-
opes marked IN mourning aud as they reached the en-
cirong line q police each was az once permitted 70
pass unquestioncd These the spectators and II
remarkable that 20 many men were snx Gus % see
the legal tragedy be enacted As these legal
toward the prison they placed
IN lines 70 await the signal Tor entrance
past eight clock Sheriff Conner arrived with
hls deputies led BY Under sheriff Cunning AS they
moved silently through Centre street large crowd fol-
lowed, only 70 be stopped az Leonard street by Tie
police Al the Sherins entered the prison they we're
followed ~ tie police force, and the door
closed behind them. Then enEued thirty minutes OF
waiting Already i evident thai the police
rangements confused for the authorized Specta-
tors werc allowed 70 push forward until they
wedged together n q solid mass that when the
sgral 70 enter wa gwen OF those nearest the
door could move. The police shouted and swore and
many nustled back without ceremony, only
be pushed forward again by the surging crowd be-
hind Finally order restored and the bearers OF
tickets began 70 pass inside
YARD
on entering the prison yard spectators found the
police in possession Of the courtyard where the
rallows stood. Bv the time 200 persona had entered
they had so wedged themselves together that when
they once began 70 move forward the police guard
poweress 70 check them. Fortunately the little Bit
of yard that bad been selected for the gallows 70
stand In was screened on by q stout wooden fence
with narrow gate the centre Had u not been for
this the sswitnesses' would have seized vantage
ground and delayed the execution As II was they
nrA Tor In nrdnr