Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-08
The GallOwS.
EXECUTION OF SULLIVAN, ALIAS WOODS, AT
MALONE.

EXECUTION OF SULLIVAN. ALIAS WOODS. AT
MALONE.
An extra Of the Malone Palladium, for
which We are indebted to the courtesy of
MIR. Henderson, express agent. brings a
detailed report Of the execution of Daniel j ..
Sullivan. alias Joseph Woods, who was
hung ct Malone on Friday last, for the
murder OF Stephen Barber. at Belmont,
N. Y in August last. Woods spent Thurs
day night Tor the most part in reading his
prayer book and in prayer. He slept about
three hours. from to q, which he said was
all he wanted, as he should be lat rest" in
the afternoon. At 1870 a. IN. Father Rossi-
| ter the priest who attended him, admins
| tered the last sacraments of the Catholic
church. The Jail yard was opened from
eight to eleven O'Clock Friday morning, and
constant stream of people poured in and
out to see the gallows and arrangements for
the execution. There were hundreds in the
streets from other towns. and among them
two officers from New Hampshire, who are
to execute La Page next month. Nine
| physicians of the vicinity, the twelve
jurors. and a number of officials were
present at the execution.
THE EXECUTION
At one O'Clock those who were to witness
the execution were in their places in the
Jail yard, and the roof o. the Hogle House,
from which a view OF the galows could be
had. was crowded with people A moment
H. - 4
and the crowd outside were jeering and
hOoting as ii they had no conception of the
nature and meaning of the tragedy that
was about to be enacted.
At one O'Clock and six minutes the
prisoner came from his cell to the yard,
Fathers Rossiter, of Malone. and De Pau,
of Chateaugay, at either side of i'm, and
officers Beckwith and Titus walked close
behind. He wore plain salt of black. and
soft felt hat (given him by lady of Malone),
and carried in his hand crucifx. The
sheriff at once read to him the warrant
He was then asked if he had anything to
say. and. standing erect and head uncover
ed, in tones so low that it was impossible to
catch his words, he spoke substantially as
follows:
Il have very little TO say in fact nothing to say
concerning the crime and .he sentence. | wish
simply to speak OF tho kindness oil the people OF
Malone since | have been confined in the Jail.
There very many OF them, and don't know as
l may speak y: them all by name. But there are
a lew whose kindness limsy mention. Among them
are Mr.. Wolff, MIR. Horton and Mrs, Ladd. The
sheriff has also been very kind to me, and wish to
thank him and all the others for their kindness
and the attention they have given me. But | am not
going to make speech concernin. the crime and
the sentence, and have nothing more to say.n
lie then knelt. and the priest offered a
praver-aiter which he arose and shook
do hn
hands and feet were then tied, and, as a
final act before the cap was drawn over
his face the crucifI was held to his lips,
and repeatedly kissed by him. P. B. Wolf
then put on the cap, which was of
black alpaca. and. though hiding his
face from the crowd, allowed him to see
plainly all that transpired. Before it was
pulled down be stood moment with closed
eyes as if In silent prayer. and then again
kissed the crucifx. officer Titus then drew
the cap over his face and Sheriff Stockwell
and Officer Beckwith adjusted the rope
about his neck. A moment later-at one
seventeen-the signal was given, and some
one, concealed from the crowd by shelter
at tho side of the gallows, cut the rope, and
the drop fell. His neck was broken and in
twenty minutes he was pronounced dead.
Father De Pau, just alter the execution.
stated that the prisoner seemed contented
with his fate, regarding it as due pensnce
for his crimes, and that he said if they
would open the doors and let bin 60, free
man, he would not avail himself of the
chance.
Father Rossiter. Thursday afternoon, said
that Woods had confded nothing to him
which could be made public that, since
the man refused to say anything himself he
felt he ought not 70 say anything for him.
The editor of the Palladium says: We
saw him only two days before his death,
and asked him if be was going to die with
out having once ayerred himself innocent
or guilty of the terrible crime of which be
stood condemned-if no tender memory, or
sense Of his awful situation, no fear for the
future. could compel him to speak the truth
about his connection with the murder. He
declined abruptly and absolutely to utter
single word in denial or admission. But
when the conversational first carelessly and
afterwards polntedly-turned upon his lie
and criminal record, he was eager in pro stes-
tatlon, and yet, as we inslnuated knowledge |
of matters that he must haye supposed we
knew nothing about, there was no, in his |
face or action single indication of recog-
milton or surprise. He said his name was |
neither John j, nor Daniel }. Sullivan, nor |
any Sullivan at all NOR am | " he said. |
giuseppe de la Maraie" We spoke of the |
letters on that conyict's arm, and asked if |
the same were not on his own. He made |
earnest denial, and barred the arm itself |
The cell was rather dark and we could see |
only what seemed to be an ugly scar -
though We were since informed that had the |
light been good and the arm less shrunkeu |
We might have easily traced the letters.
His manner during most of this converse |
ton was revolving in the extreme. When |
speaking Of his fate, he laughed aloud and |
heartily-notIthe senseless laugh of the idiot
nor the painful laugh Of the lunatic, but |
that of the hardened criminal, Indifferent |
to man. punishment or Gods wrath.
The murderer's body was taken in charge
by Catholic priest and buried in the |
Catholic cemetery. At Woods's request his
coffin was filled with unslacked lime, so as
to destroy the body as soon as possible. lie
seemed to have horror of falling into the
han ds of the doc tors for dissection