The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-07
An Execution ut Dayton Ohio.

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
q reporter of the Cincinnati Gazette, the frall
hempen rope, only three.eghths of an inch
in diameter, snapped under the great strain
of a fall of three and a half feet, and the
body of the half strangled man fell to the
floor, feet foremost. In falling backward,
his head struck one OF the
swinging traps heavy blow, and he
fell squarely upon his back. For almost
a minute he lay completely notion
and endeavored to ascertain whether the
neck was broken. At the expiration of
that time, Murphy crossed his feet, one over
the other, gave u 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 voice
loud enough to be heard by those around
him: ooh, God must lay here" A mo-
ment later, seemingly impatient, he said, els
there any doctor here to feel my pulse !"
Another moment, and he broke out with,
"Say, don't believe me dead, and leave me
laying here father, amt Dead" Again,
" No use my laying here and suffering; some
body kill me-" And, lastly, ooh, my God,
don't leave ME here in misery" Then he
was quiet.
realize the situation, but when they did,
there was great excitement. 1t
was with much difficulty they could
be restrained from breaking the frail barrier
of black muslin which separated them from
the suffering man, and only the strong guard
of police prevented 1t.
Sheriff Patton was not altogether satisfied
with the small rope, and, for fear of ac-
cidents, had prepared heavier one, with
long enough to wind twice around
the beam, thus making double rope,
as well as double moose. This was
left for convenience in the doomed mans
room, and could not be found ut once.
After delay of six minutes and half, the
badly wounded man 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,
Freeman by the coat lapel, with the grip OF
death, exclaimiDg, in a frenzied voice:
"wHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ME?'
| All this time, including that in which ne
| lay on the floor, Murphy still held clasped
| in his right hand, with the grip OF 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 90 like man,
said the Rev. Father. az WILL" said the
condemned, and his hold relaxed, although
he still retained the crucifx.
Murphy was unable to stand, and while in
| position for the second fall, was sustained by
| the hands of Deputies Hellriggle ald 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
of James Murphy dangled in the air. For a
minute he made no motion. Then he drew
his legs up convulsively number of times,
and again remained quiet. Five minutes az
terward there were several more convulsive
throes, and then the body hung limp, and to
all appearance dead.
| At five minutes after the last fall, which
occurred at 1:4l o'clock, the pulse of the
dying man indicated eighty-four pulsations
per minute; at the expiration OF ten minutes,
sixty pulsations, and at the expiration of fl
teen minutes family perceptible fiutter. In
seventeen minutes the stethoscope failed to
find any motion of the heart, and James
Murphy was dead. His neck was broken
| by the fall.