The New York herald., 1877-02-16
By ROPE AND POISON.
The Closing Acts in the
Brock Tragedy.
HOW OSCHWALD AND RYAN DIED
The Former Strangled on the GallOwS,
the Latter Expires in His Cell.
Ryan's Last Horrible Night-Poi-
soned and Drunk.
BOTH DENY BL00D-GUlLTINESS.
Remarkable Scenes In and Around New
ark Jail Yesterday
WE'RE THEY INNOCENT?
Ryan's Last Horrible Night-Poi-
soned and Drunk.
BOTH DENY BLOOD-GUILTINESS.
Remarkable Scenes In and Around New
ark Jail Yesterday
WE'RE THEY INNOCENT
Startling Letter from q Woman Calling Her
Husband the Murderer.

There was so much mystery, fuss and nonsense over
the preparation for the execution OF Oschwad and
Ryan al Newark yesterday, that simple obedience 10
the mandates Of the law entirely lost sight OF In
the bgness and Importance Of the occasion. At an
early hour on Wednesday evening patrol was placed
around the Jail, and respectable citizen was not al
lowed to walk along the in the neghborh ood
without being watched by these oficIous constables
Inside the prison the Sheriff and his deputies,
busy with the preparations for the mornings
work. and fairly bursting with the importance
the event and their share in 1t. A lew
chosen favorites came and went at their pleasure,
but to all Others there was no "open sesame" which
would unlock the gates Of Newark jail The reporters
whose duty 1t to gather the details relating to the
last hours ofthe doomed vigorously excluded
from the prison, while the doors almost fell down IN
AFFECTION before the small Jersey politicians who en-
joyed the favor of the Sheriff. Every request for
facilities the duty imposed upon the representatives,
OF the press rudey refused, and 81 know nothing
about 1t" was the only response which could be
obtained IN reply to questions touching the
condition of the prisoners. On the outside
there were rumors of the impending death of
Ryan flying from mouth to mouth, and among these
intimations Of poison frequently heard AT the
prison OF these could be verified further
than that Ryan in a very low state but that
better. The gossips had better opportunities of know
ing the truth than the gatherers and the deputy
sherins and small Try politicians opened their mouths
wide to their crones and companions while closing
them tightly to the reporters But TRUTH like murder,
will out and bit by bit the facts were gathered which
tell one of tho remarkable tales Of
the last hours OF u murderer.
THE DOOMED MEN.
RYAN and Oschwald were Two young men who were
born and nved all their lives In Newark As their
names indicate the was OF Irsh the other Of Ger
man extraction. singular friendship existed be-
tween them and they companions in suffering as
well as in crime Ryan's home was within a stones
throw OF the prison where he to die miseraby
and each OF them had n iather and brothers who
compelled to bear share of the suffering and shame
OF his fate Oschwad the younger OF the two and,
the evidence tended to show, guiltier, while his
life had been blameless This was his first
crime, but 1t brought with it his last punishment
1t was he, according to the prosecuting officers
who fred the fatal shot which cost Officer Brock his
lie and doomed himself and his companion to the gal
lows Tho fact that this his first offence gave him
a sympathy which was not extended TO the other SIM
ply Ryan had acquired notoricty in crme and
was already known for his evil deeds. Tommy"
commonly called slack" Ryan, had already served
term in the New York State Prison, and he
eral principles Nobody pretended he had shot
shot at officer Brock 1t not shown that he
had aided even counselled tho shooting From tho
outset he asserted his innocence, without accusing his
companion, and both of them died denying their guilt
All this gives to the peculiar interest and in
vested the death story Of 0schwad and Ryan with a
which seldom surrounds the last hours OF
doomed murdcrers.
INNOCENT GUILTY.
Their asseveratlons of innocence would IN them
selves have touched the popular imagination. 1t is
nard 10 believe that convicted murderer die
with lie upon his lips Protestations of innocence
the scafold always leave bitter flavor behind
them, ana when they persisted in they usually
met by almost feverish anxiety to destroy tho
spectre which they raise by nnal oniession. 1t IS
often that efforts strenuous and persistent,
and at the same time so Irutcss, made
to this end as were made in the case OF
Oschwald and Ryan. Their last hours were en-
bittered by the appeals OF officials OF counsel
and o friends for acknowledgment of their guilt.
Indeed, the efforts Of the lawyer who had defc nded
them upon their trial induce them to acknowledge
the CRIME laid at their door only be characterized
extraordinary. Under the very shadow OF tho
gallows he quoted Scripture them, aud i'm pIored
them II they we're guilty to acknowledge their guilt
"lf had anything TO confess | would confess it
now" Ryan answered. and Oschwald in a coarser
way, more emphatic
''l innocent boy, and that's the end OF IT,
Even after this, and with copy Of their stateme
his possession, Mr. Morrow appealed to them again.
with the response. Nothing could move
them from the position they had taken IN the begin
ming, and they both died leaving such testimony as
they could behind them touching their innocence or
the OF which they convicted. 1t Is curl.
ous document, and cannot fail to excite profound
tho remarkable circumstances under which it was pub
hshed.
oscHwALD's DYING STATEMENT
The following prepared by Oschwald, is the state
ment reierred 10. II was given 10 Samuel Morrow on
the day before the execution
We, the undersigned, make the following dying
statement to the pubc:-That VIC are entirely limo.
cent of the crime ior which We 10 suffer the
uemo penalty OF the law, and know nothing about 1t
Whatever; for II we did we would now make full
confession of IL, as would be OF
Innocence any further As Tor Mr. j. Fusseil's testl
mony, have only TO say that he Is mistaken In tho
party. We do not mean to say that he did not
any one leaving house Mr.. Bedell; but as for
man that will deny his own character and
ogpzc his friends with whom he had personal
acaua intance and dealings before he came to this
country IL does not look at all reasonable that he
could so positively Identity two entire strangers to
hIrp-as ho swore we were--at "A momen.ary glance,
and then cannot give any particular reason how no
identified thom, only they had dark clothes on and
wore stln Drmmed hats As for John Koch, man
wbo was FIRST arrested on charge OF committing the
decd. and who Is now In State Prison for a theft he
committed 10 Union county, we do not know what his
10 screen himself he told several parties when nc
was committed 10 Jail These were his expressions =
81 had say something TO gcs OUT Oh " myself /"
And furthermore man that says thai August was
the rst night he ever slept away from home (Which
happened TO be the night this terripie tragedy "c
srrcdI .na his reason for staying that nignt
he could get In his house after Ten clock
At night, and when he was cross-examihcu and
followed up he was out alter ten O'Clock on
JuIy n and pot into his house with night Key cyrus
Brown, the little coored boy who sw9re 10 ,no same
effect that Koch dd-that we were III H. hoe's savon
ON the morning OF the Sd August 1s76how is II that