The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-18
KEHOES LAST KICK.
He Pays The Penalty at Pottsville.


Natlonal Associated Press 10 the Seaf.
PorrsvILLE, Pa, Dec 18-The Sheriff OF
this county yesterday evening received a
dispatch announcing that Martin Bergin,
the murderer of Patrick Blrns at Tusca-
rora, was respited until the 10th of January,
1879; and almost Immediately afterwards
the wife of Jack Kehoe received message
stating that the Board of Pardons refuse to
hear McHugh or act upon the affidavit.
This is final, and Kehoe must hang to-day.
Bergin remarked that he was well pleased
with the efforts of his attorney and the re-
sponse of the Board of Pardons, ''but it's
only for time; they will hang me yet"
Kehoe had been hopeful, and expressed
confidence in the result being ultimately
favorable. Mrs. Kehoe hastened to the Jail
with the message, and the doomed man
saw in the expression of his faithful wife
the dreadful intelligence she bore. Her
emotion prevented her from reading the
message. Jack took it and read it without
change of features. Upon the request of
his wife he had his photograph taken, and
an hour later he bade farewell to his six
children. Mrs. Kehoe passed part of the
night with her husband. There is no ex-
element in town.
PoTrsv1LLE, Dec. 18-Langdon was Q
ticket boss at the Honeybrook Colliery,
operated by J. B. McClay & Co. He in
Cured the enmity of the Mollie Maguires
it is alleged, for docking some of the miners
belonging to that order. AT political
meeting on the night of September 14th,
1862 Kehoe and some Of his followers made
themselves particularly obnoxious by cre-
ating disturbance, and singled out Lang
don as their victim to suffer for the wrongs
done them. Langdon was followed home
and so terribly beaten with stones and clubs
that he died in a few hours. For this mur-
der Kehoe was tried and convicted of muir
der in the first degree, while his compan-
ions, Neal, Dougherty and John Campbell,
were convicted in the second degree and
sentenced to five and two years respectively
in the State Prison.
HIS wIFE's DEVOTION.
Kehoe's wife has labored increasingly
since her husbands incarceration to fur
nish evidence strong enough to turn the
scales of justice, but without avail, and not
until after yesterdays meeting of the Board
of Pardons did she give up hope and only
when notified by her husbands attorney.
HIS LAST HOURS.
Kehoe bore up to his fate during the re-
naming few hours with wonderful forti-
tude. He retired last night at IL o'clock,
after having made his devotions. He rested
uneasily during the night, having slept
three or four hours At o'clock this
morning one of the underkeepers called at
his cell door and found Kehoe still IN bed.
He aroused at once, and for time engaged
in prayer.
He dressed himself carefully, and while
doing so was asked how he felt. He re-
piled: First rate; l never felt better in
my life" About o'clock this morning
Mrs. Kehoe was again admitted to see her
husband, and had short Interview with
him before his spiritual advisers came.
Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Gala
CHER, assisted by Father Brennan. Kehoe's
wife renamed with him and partook of
breakfast with her husband at 8 O. clock for
the last time. The parting between Kehoe
and his wife Was sad one.
GLOOMY PROCESSION.
At10:2oo clock the procession moved out OF
the corridor down the jail-yard walk to the
instrument of DEATH headed by Warden
King, and Sheriff Matz in the rear, Fathers
Gallagher and Brennan reading the service
of the Catholic Church. Kehoe came next
with his head covered, wrapped in heavy
circular and holding lighted taper in his
hands. His lips moved slowly in prayer,
the least tremor being perceptible. On the
scaffold his spiritual advisers embraced him
fervently and whispered words of encour-
agement in his ear.
To the question of the Sheriff whether
he had anything to say, Kehoe threw off
his heavy cloak, appearing in a suit of
broadcloth, low slippers and nosegay in
his coat lapel. Clearing his throat two or
three times, he stepped to the front of the
trap and smiling upon his audience, said
in clear, ringing voice: "Iam not guilty of
the murder of Langdon; I never saw the
crime committed" The moose, at 1925
o'clock, was then adjusted. the white cap
drawn over his head. and at 1925 John
Kehoe was launched into eternity. Three
minutes after the drop fell he was pro-
nounced dead.
HIS BODY TO BE wAKED.
The body was cut down at 1928. The
scaffold used was the same one that hanged
seven of Kehoes followers. Kehoe's body
will be taken to Girardville, his late home,
at o'clock to-day by special train pro-
vided by the Philadelphia & Reading Rail
road, where it will be walked for two nights,
and on Friday will be inferred in Tamaqua.
The morning papers published state
ment that Kehoe had made a confession to
his attorney yesterday afternoon of all his
crimes. This is denied by his counsel, who
say Kehoe positively asserted to them that
he never committed murder in his life.
nuE MENRhpAI