The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-26

FREDERICK, Md, June 2l.-The
execution of Ed rard III. Costley,
alias Dorsey, for the murder Of his
cousin, Solomon Costley, on the 4th
Of April, 1877, took place this morn
ing in the northeastern part of the
Jail yard in the presence of three hun
dred persons
la compliance with the request of
the prisoner, the cap was adjusted
over bis head in his cell, and at lo:4S
be was led forth and upon the gal
lows. A few moments interviewed,
the scaffold was cleared, the drop
sprung, sud the body Of Costley
swung in the air twenty minutes /;
afterwards he was pronounced dead
by attending physicians. The body
was lowered into the coffin and taken
in charge by Daniel Costley, an un-
Gle, and Father Gahe, his spiritual
adviser. His neck was dislocated by
the fall and the slight movement Of
the body while hanging was scarcely
perceptible. During the execution
rain fell in torrents, with vivid flashes
oflightning.
Costley was q bright mulatto, and
came 10 Maryland a short time be-
fore tie murder. His native place is
said to be Florence, Massachusetts.
His victim was a colored man.
CINCINNATI, June 81. - Perry
Bowster, who murdered an aged toll
gate keeper and his wife on the Cir
c~leville pike, a short distance from
Chilieothe, Ohio, last October, was
hung at Chilicothe at II O'Clock this
morning in the presence of a very
large crowd. Bows;er went quietly
to the sceffold. He refused to per-
nit any religious ceremonies, bad
nothing to say and maintained q de
liant attitude to the last. His neck
was broken at tie fall of the trap.
lie never confessed his crime.
CHICAGO, June 81. - At 1920
o'clock this morning, Jeremiah Con-
molly. aged 10, and George Sherry,
aged 81, were hanged for the muir
der of Hugh M'Conville, on the eve
ming of the 10Th of January. The
young lei were on a %protracted
spree, and started GU. Cd the evening
Of the murder with the avowed pur-
pose of killing somebody, and before
meeting M'Conville they had assault
ed some half dozen persons--one q
woman.
Seven minutes after the trap was
sprung the young men were pro-
nounced dead, and fifteen minutes
later the bodies were cut down and
delivered to their friends. 1t is many
years now since there was an execu-
ton in Chicago.
CHICAGO, June 2l.-A special from
Paris, Illinois, says John Burns was
hanged there at l O'Clock this after
noon, for the murder of Elijah Burn
well on the goth of October last.
Burns was reckless and hardened and
met his fate with a GOODNESS amount
ing to bravado. He was pronounced
dead in seven minutes.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, June 2I.-I
Jacob Levels, (~colored), was hanged
in the county jailyard here to-day for
the murder of another colored man.
Levels assembled the steps as firmly
and with as little emotion as Il man
would walk up to q banquet. He
took his place on the trap door and
stood for q moment regarding the Up-
turned faces OF the crowd beneath
him. A religious ceremony was gone
through with, after which be was
asked if be had anything to say.
Only n thing re replied-"Prepare
to meet me in glory"
The officers babe him adieu and
the black cap was drawn over his
face. The moose having been drawn
he stood a spectacle to be remember
ed, not even the light drapery show
ed signs of the slightest emotion.
His hands were clasped and his chin
elevated. The sheriff raised
a handkerchief, the trap fell, and ia
cob Levels dangled 10 the air, having
fallen about four feet. His gasps
and struggles for breath were pain
fully audible and his shoulders and
chest underwent commissions. After
hanging seventeen minutes be was
pronounced dead.