The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-06-14
Hanged for Numbering a Friend.
HOW THE CAREER OF VICIOUS Wharf,
RAT ENDED-THE STORY or HIS cow
ARDLY CRIME-CoLD-BLooDED HOMICIDE.

W.
ARDLY CRIME-CoLp-BLooDED HOMICIDE.
Philadelphia, June 1l.-George W.
Fletcher, the murderer of james Hanley,
was hanged at 1918 o'clock this morning.
at Moyamensing prison. Fletcher was
born in the old district of Southwark about
the year 1915, His victim James Hanley.
was member Of the Paid Fire Depart
ment, stationed at engine house No 3, and
both were companions from boyhood, and
about the same age. They were members
together of the old Marion Hose Company.
Of the Volunteer Fire Department. During
his boyhood Fletcher was known along the
wharves as vicious, idle fellow. quarrel
some and unruly. Despite the most tender
parental care he became "whurf rat ~
and before he was tw enty -one years of age
he was hauger-on at the Marion Hose
house. His family are known and res
pective as good citizens, and one Of his
brothers is a local preacher of the Metho-
dist Church. Bad companions and vicious
habits led the unfortunate man astray at
an early age, and at last eliminated in the
atrocious crime of which he was convicted
and answered for with his life upon the
scafold. The circumstances surrounding
the crime are of peculiar nature. In the
latter part of 1873 Fletcher, it was alleged,
committed grievous assault upon young
girl, Lizzie McCuen, who figured prom
inently in the trial. 1t was in consequence
or Fletcher having been charged with COM
mitting an outrage upon this girl that he
lost his position in the Fire Departm ent'
he charged Hanley with having manufac.
tured the charge against him, and this t
was that created the eninity. Lizzie Nc
Cuen, during the trial of Fletcher for mur
der, testified that the latters charge
against Hanley of having instigated the
prosecution for rape had no foundation in
fast Recently she found herself dying.
and then, it is said, she made confession
admitting that Hanley had induced her to
swear that Fletcher bad committed an out
rageous assault upon her in order that
Fletcher might be discharged from the
Fire Department. Fletcher always attri-
buted his arrest and the trouble that fol-
lowed, part of which was his discharge
from the department. to information given
against hm by Hanley. The two had
frequent disputes about the matter, and it
was believed that it had been settled amica-
bly, between them on the afternoon pre-
vious to the murder. On the evening of
November 3, 1876, Fletcher went to the en-.
gine-house and asked for Hanley, He was
told that Hanley was in the house, but that
he had better moi have meeting with him,
as they were always quarreling. To this
Fletcher replied that the quarrel had been
settled. Hauley shortly afterward came to
the front door of the engine house, and the
two men Joined in a quiet conversat ion,
during which Fletcher put his left arm
around Honleys neck, and, drawing the
pistol that he had kept conc called in his
other hand, placed it against his victims
breast, and fired, killing him almost in
stantly. He was arrested on the same day,
and admitted the deed, declaring that he
had no friends who cared for him, and that
he was ready to suffer the consequences of
his crime. On the trial which followed the
jury brought in verdict of murder in the
first degree, and he was sentenced TO be
hanged. His counsel labored hard to Sc
cure eommutation of his sentence, both
before the State Supreme Court and the
Board of Pardons, but without avail.