The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-22
How the Condemned Man Met His
Death.
A REMARKABLE MIDNIGHT WATCH.
Extraordinary Goodness and Forti-
tude Of the Prisoner.
The Proceedings Conducted with DecOrum
and SOlemnity.

John Richard Dolan was hanged yesterday morning
In the yard of the Tom5s Prison for the murder of
James H. Noe, crime committed.on Sunday, August
~, 1875. The execution was conducted with proper
aecorum, and the condemned man met death quietly,
being apparently resigned his dreadful fate As
example of the majesty OF the law in the penalty paid
by the prisoner for his crime the legal tragedy enacted
yesterday full OF force and to the reckless
class TO which Dolan belonged.
Doan took his last farewell OF his mother Thurs
day night and also parted for time from his WIFE, 1t
then nearly midnight, and the sounds of tho
passing could be heard IN the silent corridor Of
the prison As the sough OF the wind and the rafting
OF the drops fell the of the prisoner he
stopped for moment and listening intcntly, said in
indifferent of voice. 'It's raining pretty hard.
If keeps like this this time tomorrow II III be
beating my grave No culver in his tone could DO
dscerned and the only trace OF emotion pcrceivable
was In the In which he chewed and tugged
1t his cigar The bitterest part of his last
hours the parting from the woman who had
given him birth--and Doan had evidently braccd him
sell to endure the torture of preparation for the gal
lows spirl, OF quiet determination to keep his body
strong and his mind firm. But the storm hushed,
the wind fell and the rain longer battered the sky
lights, and then the unfortunate man turned TO his
roncssors and engaged for time in earnest prayer
At eleven o'clock Deputy Shcrins Hillyer, Max
we'll and Stewart came duty as the
night guard tho prisoner and they
re-, icvcd their predecessors Dolan greeted them with
pleasant smile and nod This Of relieving
tho Shcrin's guard is striking The deputies who
had remained with Doan all the evening and witnessed
The sorrowful parting of the wrcched mother and
glad escape from their unpleasant dnty, while
the corners reluctant their share of
the task Of watching the last hours of their prisoner
The guard were nervous and even agitated, while
the prisoner seemed unconccrned and Indifferent,
that not knowing who Dolan would suppose
that the sheris under the ban Of the law instead
Of him.
At midnight Dolan betrayed sign OF WEAKNESS and
he continued in the corridor the door of the
condemned cell until after three O'Clock He smoked
cigars rapid succession and chattcd cheerily with
those who watching the night hours pass. few
minutes before O'Clock HERALD reporter entered
the CORRIDOR and as he appeared Dolan payfuly
turned on tho light Of dark lantern Seeing who it
was John turned the bulbs eye aside again and
went on talking. Tho reporter passed through
the little cato that separates Murdcrers'
Row from the remainder OF the corridor
and seated himself in the little circle For
some time conversation was INDUCED in other than
between the deputies, the keepers on duty and Dolan,
and it difficult to comprehend that Of the
parties engaged in the conversation being carried on
could possibly be condemned 10 suffer tho dlrcst
penalty of the law within few short hours. Finally,
however the identity of Dolan made known by
some casual aluson to the approaching legal tragedy
by the condemned himself The reporter then
joined in the colloquy and not little amazed at
the light and airy manner in which Doan responded to
all remarks made No connected continual
conversation could be carried with him. however,
for he would constantly break with some remark
foreign to the matter in discussion
CoyDEMSED's MANNER
His manner appeared to be one OF rolicksome numor,
he laughed and jokcd things past and future
dates localities though he had many many
yet before him instead OF few ncetng hours. Ho
would chad the deputies and recall their memories
some sporting house, and then to them some
Of his experiences in these places Not word could
got from him OF serious other than that IL
he had not several occasions turned the woman
who testified against him his trial out Of saloon
where he tended bar he would not have been the
s'snap'' he was All this time he pcrpctuay
ferring to the occurrences OF the day, and quoted
many OF the articles that appeared thursdays
HERALD when talsing subjects to which they
had pertinencc He showed no signs OF nervousness
or trepidaton the approaching crisis. still he APP
peared at the time TO realize that he must die
yet, contradictory IL would appear. his manner
that OF bravado, but rather that OF man who was
physically nsensblc to finer feelings OF the heart
BRAIN as though his nero animal nature predom
nant intellect and that sufficient for him
10 live for the moment alone without thought or q
glance beyond. lie entered into account Of the ship
wreck the steamship Atlantic for instance, and re
crred 10 the CHASTITY work the divers performed at
that wreck in discovering the bodies of the Ill
fa,ed victims, neutrality-suspicious. nasty job it
must have been for those divers u 60
down between decks OF the ship and come
face to face with the bloated and swollen dead He
also spoke Of the hidcous appearance these corpscs
must have presented when brought up. The reporter
underworld change the conversation, but he sim
harped this string saying he had paid visit
10 England on the Atlantic her outward trip from
this port her return from which she was lost He
entered into long dissertation on the lower quarters
OF Liverpool and London and appeared 10 be very
familiar with all tho districts peculiarly notorious
the resorts of thieves. He then camo back TO the
wreck OF ship oil the Battery and the dnding OF
dead body and recovery thcrcirom by the divers,
saying he would not like TO have anything do with,
the handling OF, such rcpusiye looking object az
riRsr ALIusIox TO ms rarg
Just then he observed Of the deputies looking
tired. he ADVISED him 10 retire anu get sleep for
few hours When It suggested to him that he
probably wanted 10 take sleep himself he made the
first aluson in words his approaching fate, but
any sorrowful regrctul Rather the contrary;
for said he laughng:-.well no; II had wanted 10
slccp should have turned in some two hours ago
guess will take shake down Tor couple OF hours
about i've O'Clock. before the final event comes
prepare me He then went on TO say what a slap the
HEnALp had given President Grant One Of the depu.
ties happening to say that he had Dolan
into his cell produced the paper and handed u to the
sheriff TO read.
GETTING
This done he again retired TO his cell and brought out
several pots OF flowers, which he placed on shelf IN
the corridor ready his wife u take away with her
after her final parting IN the morning lie next dis
tributcd little rinkets among the deputy shcris
and keepers mcmentoes He once more started con-
but shortly alter broke and went into
his CELL rom which he brought forth hts bed covcre,s
ana sundry other things, which he neatly folded aud
placed in his trunk IN the corridor, remarking--
Them up for IL don't there will not be much Of them
left 10 ihrcc days from now lie again resumed
bis conversation after completing this opera
ton and pulled away his cigar, talking all
the while until Father Duranquet appeared IN the cor.
eidor from out OF the condemned cell where he bad
been resting DoIan, soon as nc saw The venerable
prtost threw away his cigar and went 70 greet The
EssI,er and seated himself beside him. TINS at