The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-19
JACK EIIOE.
THE LAST HOURS OF THE KING OF THE
MOLLY MAGUIRES.
Death orr the GallOws for n Murder Com
nitfed Nearly Seventeen Years Ago
Incidents Of the Execution.

poTrsvrLIE Pa Dec. ls-Jack Kehoe the
king Of the Molly MaRuires. suffered the pen
atty Of death upou the gallows this morning at
10 20 O'Clock for the murder OF +. W. bangdOn,
1T Audanred. September 4, 1872 Langdon was
enmity Of the Molly Maguires.. il is alleged. for
docsing some Of the miners belonging to That
order At q Do itical meeting on the night OF
September IA, 1872 Kehoe and some OF his fol
lowers made themselves particularly obnoxious
and created disturbance and singled out Lang
don as their victim to suffer for the wrongs done
them Iangd n was followed homo and so
terribly beaten with stones and clubs that he
died In a few hours For this m murder i n kehoe ,St
degree while his companions, Neal Dougherty
and John Campbell. were convicted in the sec
ond degree and sentenced to five and nine
years, respectively. in the State prison. Ks
hoes wife has labored increasingly since her
husbands Incarceration to furnish evidence
strong enough to turn the scales of Justice. but
without avail. and not until after yesterday
meeting Of the board of pardon did she give up
hope, and only when notified by her husbands
Kehoe bore up to his fate during the remain
Ing few hours with wonderful fortitude. He
retired last night at Il O'Clock. amer having
made his devotions. He rested uneasily during
the night having slept only three or four hours.
At O'Clock this morning ono 81 the under
keepers called at his cell door and found kehoe e
time engaged in prayer. lie dressed h1msef
carefully. and while doing so was, asked how
he felt, and replied 'First-rate: | never felt
1A5 About !" 3 O'clock this morning, Mrs Kehoe was
again admitted to 500 her husband; ana had
short interview with him b.fore MS splritual p,l
advisers came. Mass was celebrated by Rev.
Father Gallagher. assisted by Father brennan.
Kehoe's wife remained with him, and partook
of break fast with her husband Mt o'clock Tor
the last time. The parting between Rehoe and
his wife was sad one
At 10 20 the procession moved out OF the cor
ridor down the jail yard walk y the instrument
of death headed by Warden King and Sheri1t
Matt in their reGr fathers Gaae ber m and 5,l
Brennan reading the service Of the Cathollc
Church Kehoe came next. with head covered.
wrapped In n heavy circular. holding lighted
taper in his hand. his lips moving n prayefr
the least tremor being perceptible. On the scat
/ fold his spiritual advisers embraced him ire
qnenly and whispered words Of encourage
mont in his ear.
anything to say Kehoe threw off his heavy
! cloak. appearing in q suit Of brOadcoth, low
slippers, and q nosegay in his coat lappel
Clearing his throat two or three times, hf
stenpei to tho front Of the trap. and smiling
upon his audience. said In clear, ringing
voice: L am not guilty Of the murder Of Lang
don mover saw tho crime committed"
The moose at 1925 o'clock, was then adjusted
and the white cap drawn over his head. At lo:7f
John Kehoe was launched into eternity. Three
minutes after the drop fell he was pronouncet
dead. The body was cut down at 1928. Tht
scHffold used was the same one that had hanged
seven Of KehOe's followers.
Kehos's body will be taken to Girardville. his
late home at / o'clock to-day. by q specia
train provided by the Philadelphia and Read
ing Railroad whore It will be walked for two
nights and on Friday will be Inferred In Ia
mHIua. --,
that Kenoe had made a confession TO his attOr
| ney Yesterday afternoon Of al his crimes. This
ia denied by his counsel, who say keh68 posi-
lively asserted to them that he never committed
a murder in his life.
Kehoe's Body mt GIrardyilie.