The New York herald., 1877-03-02
EXECUTION OR JACK NCALL.
The Murder of Wild Bill. the Famous
indian Scout Expiased on
the Scaffod
A DISGRACED SISTERS LETTER
Story Of the Crime as Told by Texas Jack to
Herald Correspondent.
rnY TELEGRAPH TO THE HEaALp.1>

I.s
The execution OF John Mccall. alias Jack Mccall
took place here to-day in the presence OF about ooo
spectators Mccall. It will be remembered. murdered
william Hicock alias s.wild Bill" In Deadwood City.
BLACK Hills on the second day OF August last, was
,red for the crime IN this city last January, found
yultv and sentenced to expate his crime on the gal
lows.
THE MrRpERgRs LAST DAY.
Al nine O'Clock this morning the death warrant was
read TO the prisoner United States jail oy Mar
shal Burdick, he having been previously visited oy
Father Daxachcr Catholic priest, VINO spent severa'
hours in the administration Of spiritual consolation TO
him Al twenty minutes past nine the prisoner en-
tered close carriage, panied by the priest, and
was driven 10 the place of execution, scaod having
bccu erected for that purpose about two miles north
of the city ON the open prairie.
on THE TRAr.
Mccall assembled tho steps with urn tread, ap-
parcntly Indifferent and needless OF his surroundings
The priest robed in white, kne with the prisoner on
the scaGo,d and repeated the death tany the prs
oucr at tho same engaging in silent prayer with
upfted face holding in his hand the symbolic crachx,
which ho kissed close Of tho prayer At twenty
pnc minutes past ten the black cap was drawn over
the prisoners face ana the Marshal was adjusting
he rope about his neck Mccall requested him 70 draw
II tight that there might he no mistake
THE LAST PRAYER
After the adjusted ne requested 10 Uc
allowed to pray, and for moment he turned his lace
to heaven 10 silent prayer. Another moment, and the
drop fell and at the same instant Mccall cred 10 an
audible voice, 'Oh my God the last words spoken Dy
him before his soul was launched into eternity.
A DIsGRAcED SISTERS LETTER.
Last night Marshall Burdick received the following
letter from McCall's sister,
LOUISVILLE, Ky.. Feb. %. 1877
To THE MARSHAL OF YANxroS:-
the es RiSs
There young man of the name OF John McCal lett
here
s ", s sn.ss yns here re in has
% @ HSs ssu aa ssy send s's as any s
John Ncca /. about twenty-five years ola has light hair
his height as he was not grown when he left Please
%s,y S.See. are S
NO INDICATION OF FEAR.
Mccall bore up with remarkable nerve, and at no
time showed the slightest indication OF giving why.
now BILL WAS KILLED.
Texas Jack, well known and respected scout, who,
parties in the wilds of Indian country west of the
Missouri lives quietly near Philadelphia, was long anu
intimately connected with Wild Bill for whom nc enter
tained generous admiration. He has furnished TO the
HERALD correspondent the following narrative OF the
cowardy assassination Of the renowned and patriotic
scout, foll0ws:-Ear!y In August Wild Bill
was at Deadwood City, Dakota, where there Is
about the roughcst and worst population IN the Wes
made up largely of outlaws. gamblers and roughs.
Here he met one Jake Mccall a across-eyed IeIlow who
was gambling sharp and u sort OF "no-good." He
challenged Bill to game OF POKER IN which b,l peat
hand. that is he bet SO and when Bill called him
and took the cards Mccall had only 81 So Biii mildly
demonstrated with him, saying, "You don't want 10
overoct your hand; that's no way TO play cards"
Mccall SAID he hadn't another red upon which BIZ
kindly gave MN enougn 10 pay 'or ms oGsns anu ms
saloon playing quiet game with party OF gen.
lemen The play was proceeding pleasantly enough.
With several looking on, Mccall being IN another part
Of the room. Suddenly before any one noticed him.
Mccall stood behind Bin, who remained seated at the
table. TO draw his revolver. place Is within few
inches OF tho back of Bs head and TO lre, excaim-
ins "Take that, Gamn you, was the work OF few
seconds he ball entered little to the right OF the
the back OF the head and came out below the
right eye B.l stifened himself and tell back IN his
chair dead, without groan, and probably never knew
who had killed nm. rhe cowaray deeo was 80 quickly
done that before those present could seze the mur-
dcrer he had begun backing toward the door, holding
his revolver in front OF HIM aud threatening to kill
any man who moved.
THE MuRpERER's ESCAPE
The bullet that killed Bill passed out below his right
eye and buried itself in the OF his opponent in the
game, steamboat captain on the Upper Missouri
The ball catered at the WITS: and passed upward 10 the
elbow, where It remains wcdged IN between the bones
OF the forearm in such position that It cannot be
extracted, ana the man Will probably be disabled for
lie.
Mccall was subsequently arrested and put through
the form of trial by miners court chosen at hazard
IN mpromptu, ntormal manner. He was acqut-
ted. Alter McCas acquittal California joe General
Custer's old guide good honest fellow, who was
friend of B's met MCa on the street and told him
very Significantly that he thought he had staid in
Dcadwood long enough. Mccall thercupon lett town.
and California Joe was subsequently Killed In the same
ftud.
HIS ARREST AND CONVICTION.
Mccall probably went direct TO Custer City, where,
being heard to say that he was the man VINO had shot
Wild Bill he was arrested by a United States Deputy
Marshal and taken TO YanSton Jail He was tried
regular court and condemned to be hung on the
lst OF March, The only excuse he gave for his crime
the assertion that years ago Bill had killed
his (McCall'sl brother.
BIN had large funeral and was very much mourned
by the aw-abding people OF Dcadwood, by whom his
death was regarded as great calamity.