The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-22
!, TFLEaRAPn no THE urnALp.l

by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
CANTON, n. " Dec. q. 1877. :
On the last Sunday May, 1877, young man
called at the residence OF John Clafy, WHO resides
short distance from ogdensburg, and asked to stay all
NIGHT He stated that his name John McNaly,
md that he was from St. Catharincs, Canada He was
allowed to remain night. He stayed longer, do
Ing chores for his boari. He was called McNally for
n long time, but It aitcrward turned out that his
right name was Van Dyke. With James Daley, who
resided three miles from ogdcnsburg. and near Cfys
lived at that timo girl named Mary Bartholomew,
who six or seven years ago bailey had taken from tho
Poorhouse. Mary Bartholomew and John Caify with
whom Van Dyke was stopping, had enjoyed very in
innate acquaintance, so Intimate, in fact that about
The middle OF July last Mary had him arrested for So
ducton Caffy being anxious to get out OF the scrapc
induced Van Dyke to marry her. 1t was all agreed
upon, and on tho 23d day OF July Cany with his
carried Van Dyke and Mary to Heuvclton, seven
miles distant whore they married by tho Rev.
w. +. Ball Cany was present at tho ceremony and
gave his name as John Douglass The newly married
couple returned and lived Daileys This occurred
on Monday
THE MURDER
On the following Saturday morning. while Mary
was standing in the Kitchen and while Van Dyke was
IN the woodshed adjoining, tho report OF gun
heard. Van Dyke Immediately to the barn where
some mon at work and said 81 have shot. nv
poor wife," The mon hastened to the house, and
cure enough, upon tho floor Mary, lying dead in
pools Of blood. Both oyeballs were pierced and had
run out Tho skull was broken through and the mem.
branes of the brain displaced. Some teeth were
broken out, and some shot entering the lips had
passed through. There lead marks on tho skull
whcrc shot had glanced Tho post ortem showed that
the woman was from four and halt Eve months In
pregnancy II was thought ut first that the shooting
w NJ h,trn
Dyke was arrested without delay. About Novemper1
The Grand Jury Of st. Lawrence county indicted him
Tor murder in the nrst degree and his trial immed-
was ably defended by Mcssrs. Mngone Spratt, OF
Ogdensburg. IL was conclusvcly proved that tho
shooting could not have been accidental The trial
lasted three days, and tho found guilty
OF the crimo charged and sentenced to DO nuug
to-day.
"No CHEAP JOHN LADn
van Dyke passed last night in needless, thought
quarters at eight and remained TN midnight. He
smoked constantly and the best cigars. He said he
was mo Cheap John lad Il he was gong to be hung"
gallows IN the yard below. lie looked out
into !, the bright moonlight saw IT, and
thing after all" He talked freely about tho clowns
clog dancers. riders and tumbicrs who with
John Robinson's Circus He was glad 10 know that
Bome one present knew thom. He asked the reporter
Of the HERALpif he know any good clogs. Tho
porter said Eyes and whistcI one He said, "0h
| would dance that IL the audience was iprgcn
He said 1.-THE ministers aud reporters had
wouldn't much longern lie seemed have no lear
OF death or anything else, and apparently light
When tho party was about to leave him he said,
swell, good night, fellows; hope TO sec you all to-
morrow"
BLAsrHRMous TO THE LAST
lie said III no could be hanged by eleven O'Clock, SO
that he could get to hell in time for dinner he would
be pleased. After the visitors had passed out he sat
up and talked the two guards TO sleep Shortly utter
Two o'clock, finding that he mad nobody to bother
I'll six o'clock He then got up dressed himself put
his feet upon the and 1T cigar unconccrnedly
rs though he were IN barroom. About cight O'Clock
number Of visitors called. lie said he wanted new
suit OF clothes; when he went away from homo no
liked 10 look nicely. Sheriff Wheeler and
purchased black SUIT for him. After Van Dyke had
put them on combcd his mar nicelyaud pinned n
delicate flower upon tho lapel OF his coat he they
need not wait any longer Tor him. From that ,mo
till the hour OF tho execution no grew serious
yet, to the last, manifested certain spirit of ndier-
once
PREPARING FOR DEATH.
Al twenty minutes alter twelve the jury took seats
In the inclUsurc There about lity people pres
ent. About halipas twelve tho prisoner attended by
three deputies, came INTO the yard Van Dyke was
very cool and had serious look. He took his place
on the scaro!d and listened attentivcy while sheriff
Wheeler read the death vibrant. After the warrant
had been read tho Sheriff tho prisoner ii had
anything TO say.
He responded in low VOICE that all he had to say
was that he would advise and all present to
0. bad company and liquor; especially beware OF bad
company. Hc sak he was nnoccnt Of the crimc Of
which he had been convicted and asked the LORD to
have mercy on his dear soul. Rev. james Gardner
then read chapter from the first Epstc oil John and
aItcrWard offered very affecting prayer Az the close
OF the prayer the prisoner shook hands with his
quansances and Dade them good by. He was calm
and deliberate, and at tins did show
fear or emotion in the least
THE EXECUTION.
AT forty minutes POST twelve O'Clock Deputy Tanner
adjusted the Knot and pulled tho black cap Van
Dykes face and IN half a inmate more tho BODY OF
the unfortunate man was swinging IN the air. Imnc-
diatcy alter the body was caught Tho knot worked
around under the chin ana choked the to
death. His neck was not brokcn ana the dying
brca,hed loudly causing many to shrink away. lie
hung IN this position for fifteen minutes when the
doctors pronounced him dead. colin then
brought INTO the yard. when the body down
and placed In II. Tho taken to the
depot
HENRY NORFOLK