The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-11
HANGING In N0RRIST0WN.
THE YOUTH VINO KILLED A GIRL VINO
UOULD NOT TELL 4 LIE.
Two Coroncrs Jurics on Sccnt-sentenced to
he Hanged In 1879, hut Escaping for Sew
enteen Months under Writs and Petitions

YOUNGSTOWN, Pa, Sept. 10. - Thomas
Francis Curlcy was hanged at this place this
morning. Curlcy was only 10 years OF agc
The crime for which he suffered was the muir
der on the 18th of May. 1875. Of Mary Ann
Whitby. fellow servant on farm near Upper
Providence. where Curlcy was employed. On
that day, Weikel, Curlcy's employer. with his
wife and children. had come to Norristown,
leaving Miss Whitsy alone. Curlcy was at work
with neighbor named Hoyer lie went TO
wekcs for dinner and returned there Mt
about in the afternoon. He soon aftcrward
went back to the ncghbor's house. and said
that Molic had been murdered. He was much
excited. Hoycr. with several neghbors. hur-
ricd to Wcikels house. on the floor OF an out
building OF which they found the dead body OF
the girl Her hair was clottcd with blood from
n great cash in her head. extending down into
the forehead The right ear had been hewn
away. and ten cuts could be counted on the
sides and back OF the head.
Curcy. AT the Coroners inquest. Mt which he
was the principal witness. said that when he
went home to dinner on tho day Of the murder
there was n tramp at Weikes house who want
ed something to eat. Food was given him. but
money was refused. H. went away muttcring
threats. When Curley went back 70 the house
N ne eyyening ne sald ne i9und MISS Whtoy 10y
| death at the hands Of unknown persons A sec
ond jury was impanel led only to find u smil lar
verdict. Finally. Curley was arrested on It's be.
! ing asccrtnincd that there were spots of blood
on the hat and boots that he Wore on May ls
near whore the murder was committed. Cur
lcy's trial was begun in September OF that year.
| and resulted in his conviction Of murder in the
! first degree. At the trial 1t was shown that. in
| addition to the circumsantiM evidences of
guilt. previous TO the murder he had had dis
| putc with his vctim-she having refused to cor
| rohorHtc n lie he had told To his employer. A
motion for new trial was denied. AMI he was
9th Of the ensuing May. A writ Of error taken
| out by his counsel however. postponed pro-
ceedlngs until the spring Of the present year
when the supreme Court decided against him.
second death warrant named Aug. as the
date for his hanging and Gov. Iartrnnft again
rcspited him until sept. 10. That the Board oi
rardons might consider his case. but the board
refused 20 interfere.
Curlcy was troublesome prisoner. and made
several attempts To escape. He smoked in
cessantly after his final sentence. lie was
h,3yish-lqoking and had good oppression.
apparently. and even when he was informed of
the failure of his counsrls application beiore
the parlOning powers and that he must die. he
did not seem 10 be- in the least moved. ON Fri
day he exchanged cells with Wahlen. tue nj
legged murderer Of Horhnn. himself awaiting
trial, probably 10 end IN "A similar terrible pen
atty for the killing OF his friend at Glen stat on.
near the Centennial grounds; A. Curley leit
his old cell he surprised his Keepers with tho
Information TINT he had u knife concealed in II
which he might as we'll give up. or else = that
fool meaning Wahlenl would discover It and
commit suicide which Is all nonsense, YOU
know" lie then pointed to Il hinge in his closet
door. which being unscrcwcd, "a broken razor
and "A knife were found. He had managed 10
take OF the hinge. cut a hollow in the wood u
conceal the weapons. ana return the hing" to
ts place The prison officers had suspected
| for some time that the willy criminal was tam
| prring with his cell. hut a rigid animation
| failed TO discover anything. They are yet at d
loss TO know how Curley obtained the knife and
the razor. as nothing WAS permitted TO ho tnkrr
into his cell. and he has been under constan
watch.
Curlcy's spiritual advisers. Fathers Mcnahar
and GarVey. were with him nearly all day YES
terdly. and left him III 10 o'clock last night
! Curley did not retire until nearly o'clock. H'
wns again visited this morning 10y the priests
who administered the Holy Communion. At
| o'clock Curley partook of his break fast. and th'
remaining time was spent with his spiritual al
Vlsrrs. At 1905 A. VI. the Sheriff entered th'
corridor and informed Curley that his time has
come. t. which he responded that he was ready
The procr~-iun consisting of the priests TIT
prisoner. and Sherilrs officers. was soon form
ed. ana marched to the s'ailOld. which the pris
oner mounted with steady steps Only "A iey
minutes were occupied in ia" religious serVir"
At the conclusion. Curl"y arose and said: " Gen
tlemen. bid you all gOOd-hy.' few mnut"
more were cOn-umcd in arranging the rope
The Sheriff then gave the signal. and at lO:l
. the drop fell nnd Curry was hanged. The tral
fell with It's usual heavy thud. and was audihl
throughout the Jail. The body twitehrd hu
little After hanging ten minutes he was pro
nounced dead. and at 10 40 the body wa
cut down. II was aft"rward Inferred in III
Catholic burying ground.