The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-08-31
An Enecnt1o,, at pauton ONO.


James Murphy was hanged at Dayton, O.,
on the 25th of August, for the murder of
Colonel William Dawson, in the streets OF
that city, on the night Of August 81, 1875.
While the hanging was taking place, says. 8
reporter of the Cincinnati Gazette, the frail
hempen rope, only th~ree-eighths Of an inch
in diameter, snapped under the great strain
of a fall of three and a half feet, and the
body CT the half strangled man fell to the
floor, feet foremost. In falling backward,
his head struck n Of the swinging
squarely upon his back. For almost
a minute he lay completely motion
less, while DIR. Crum examined his pulse,
and endeavored to ascertain whether the
neck was broken. At the expiration OF that
time, Murphy crossed his feet, one over the
other, gave a loud groan, and returned to
consciousness. His pulse was beating at
one hundred and twenty per minute. The
black cap was still drawn over his face, but
he said, in a voice LOUD enough to
be heard by those around him:
"Oh, Godl must l lay herea" A moment
later, seemingly impatient, he said, els
there any doctor here to feel my pulse?"
Another moment, and he broke out with,
q Saw. don't believe me dead, and leave me
laying here; father, l amt dead" Again,
"No use my laying here and suffering some
body kill me-" And lastly, "Oh, my God,
don't leave me here in miseryl" Then he
was quiet.
The crowd in the corridor were slow to
realize the situation, but when they did,
there was great excitement. II
was with much difficulty they could
be restrained from breaking through the
frail barrier of black muslin which separated
them from the suffering man, and only the
strong guard of police prevented it.
Sheriff Patton was not altogether satisfied
with the small rope, and, for fear of acct
dents, had prepared a heavier one, with a
hangman's moose at each end, and long
beam, thus making a double rope,
as well as q double moose. This was
left for convenience in the doomed mans
room, and could not be found at once. After
a delay of six minutes and a hall, the badly
wounded mar was borne on the arms of six
men to the scaffold, and sustained by them
while both nooses were adjusted. AS the
Sheriff was about to spring the trap, Murphy
suddenly seized Deputy Sheriff Freeman by
the coat lapel, with the grip of death, ex-
claiming, il a frenzied voice:
awHAT ARE you GOING TO DO WITH ME?"
All this time, including that in which he
lay on the floor, Murphy still held clasped
in his right hand with the grip of a wise,
the little gilt crucifx which he had kissed
before his first fall. An effort was made to
break his hold on the Deputy's coat, but
force failed. Father Murphy advanced, and
addressing him as "My poor child" re-
quested him to let go. "Let go like a man. y
said the Rev. Father. al will" said the
condemned, and his hold relaxed, although
he still retained the cruci6x.
Murphy was unable to stand, and while in
position for the second fall, was sustained by
the hands of Deputies Hellriggle and Free
man, at arms length. They could not hold
him long in this position, and without
further delay Sheriff Patton sprung the
deadly trap. Both nooses firmly clutched the
already wounded throat, and the body o.
James Murphy dargled in the air. For
minute he made no motion. Then he drew
his legs up conyulsively q number of times
and again remained quiet. Five minutes at
terward there were several more conyulsivs
throes, and then the body hung limp, and Il
all appearance dead.
At five minutes after the last fall, which
occurred at 1:41 o'clock, the pulse of the dy
ing man indicated eighty-four pulsations pc
minute; at the expiration of ten minutes
sixty pulsations, and at the expiration o
fifteen minutes a family perceptible futtel
In seventeen minutes the stethoscope faile'
to find any motion of the heart, and JAIME
Murphy was dead. His neck was broken b
the fall.