Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-27
..tYI.o Hanged EI,l met ?"

This has been :. mystery for Irish historical
studcnts for tllYco quarters of century. The
hangmaa was quite unknown to all the specta'
tors Of the death scono OF tho young patriot.
His arrival and departure were SO we'll screened
by thg myTmidona OF the terrible SIR, the town
major Of Dublin, that ali the skill of Emmet's
sympathizers failed to penetrate his secre.---
Since that time no one has claimed the iniam
Gus distinction, and when, thirty years ago.
DR.. H. r. Madden was engaged on the Ills
tory of tho United lrshmen' all his efforts
we're unable to llIt the veil. 1t had been dis
missed as ono OF tho inscrutabe problems OF
history, like tho identity Of the Man in the
Iron Mask, and it is safe to say that even curl
GUS nquircrs he'd forgotten that there was
mystery about the hangman OF Emmot. But
tho mystery that had 50 l0ug lain hidden has
been suddenly cleared up.
Last Monday, August 5, an extremely Old
man died in the Workhouse at Ballina, Mayo
county. and Two days later was consigned to Is
pauper's grave. Ills name was Barney Moran.
lie was native OF Dublin, and 80 long as he
was able to tramp about lie made livelihood
as q professional itincrant ballad singer. lie be-
licved himself at the time Of his death to be
about 90 years Of age. Ga his deatbbed he
made q singular revelation 10 the doctor, master
and chaplain Of tic workhouse. Ho told them
that he was one of the band OF soldiers who oa
tho night OF May IS, l79S, accompanied Majors
SIR and Swami to the house of MIR. Nicholas
Murphy, the feather merchant. No. l5S Thomas
street, where Lord Edward Fitzgerald was con.
ccalcd, and effected tho capture OF tho rebel
chicltain. Barney Morao avowcd that 10 that
terrible business no faithfully discharged his
duty as loyal soldier to the British Grown.
But his most startling revelation was 10 come.
This was that he also vas the cxccutioner OF
Robert Emmett. This confession has been Cor
roboratedsinca Moran death by most respect
able gentleman Of Ball!na, who states that Tor
many years be was aware Of the unpleasant ses
crct, but was pledged not to dvulge it till Mo-
ran was beyond tho reach of the obloQuy sure
to fall upon him. Moran's statement was to
the effect that he was on duty at Portobeo
barracks on the evening Of September 10, 1903,
when an cmissary from Major SIR came and
offered him Q considerable sum it ncxt morning
he would oiloiato as hangman for Emme'.
Barney Moran was quite willing on this occa
sion also to prove his ''loYaty" by work strange.
~ out of keeping with soldiers true vocation.
But the history Of that awful timo attcss that
British soldiers 10 too many cascs lost all sense
of honor and took n ficndish delight in the per.
lormauoe of any bloody deed, tho victim Of
which would re an Irish rebel or suspected
person.
And so on the morning Of September 20.
1903, Barnoy Moran (harrg been conveyed
thitAcr in civilians cothcs) stood Oh the plat
form in Thomas street, directly opposite st.
GATHERINGS church, with Emmet beside him,
pinioned and standing beneath the gallows.--
The story runs that Emmct expected q rescue
and gazad about him long and Wlstfully as II
trying to read hopc in the upturned faces OF
the crowd. lie protractcd his arrangements az
long as possiblc Even with the haltar around
his neck, 10 answer to the cXccutl0ncrs ques
lion whether he was ready, ho several TIMES
exclaimed, mot yet, not yet At length
The cXccuIioucr, weary OF waiting, turned him
off. with the words ''Go! yet coming from his
lips. Moran admits that he was the man Who
did this decd, and after tho hanging severed
the head from the body aud held 1t up to the
gaza Of tic spectators With The stcrcotypco lvr
muIa, "I'his is the head OF n traitor After
lie execution Moran wes conveyed by some OF
Nlaior Stir undcrl!Dgs to the caslr, r,and thea
sent back to his military duty. lie kept the
secret, Tor we'll he knew tho tempest ol hatred
and nbhorrcrcc Which would gather around lIs
head were it once known what ne had d0nc.-
Ills il got gains did not prosper. lie Quilted
the army, and after WandCrpg lltc OF hard
9hip and plivati0n for half century. exactly
s.Ycnty five years after Emmet'a death his exc
cutioncr has tcurd paupcr's death and n
uamcIcss crave. And thus there II one enigma
the less for the historical student. .--NcV lof5:
WrGLh