The New York herald., 1878-03-29
Long and CirrumStantial Statement Read on
the Sea fold Affirming His Innocence.
FEARFUL SCENES AT THE GALLONS.
Two Young Men Hanged in tennessee
Tor a Cold-Blooded Murder.
CONFESSIONS Of ENORMOUS GUILT
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

A sombre cloud hung over this town at early dawn
The rays of the morning struggled IN vain to DIS
pei gloomy shadows OF tho last day which should
dawn upon Thomas r. Fisher, who was TO expiae the
crime of beng ono OF the principals In the
brutal murder OF Morgan Powell on tho evening OF
December ?. 1871, the facts OF which offence, with
the trial anc conviction of tho cuprt, familiar to
the readers OF the HERALD, and which during several
years have clamod large share oil attention from
The pubic
NIGHT sLEEpLEss.
Fisher had slept but little through the night, but
Father Buncc his spiritual ADVISER stated that he was
bright and under the circumstances to wonderful de-
trec; that he was n favorable OF mind resigned
To his fate, ano would approach the scaiiold with
bearing OF courage sustained by hope of a blessed
siernty that he stoadfastly persisted IN declaring
his innocence, and had sign1ed an intention to make
such IL statement In his dying remarks
From other sources the HERALD c0rrcspon dent
learned that Fisher had suffered greatly during tho
night that ings reverbcraed throughout the
corridors aud pierced the utmost reccsses OF The
prison.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Al about eight O'Clock mass said, after which
he partook Of hearty breakfast by the advice OF his
friends He seemed to require tho constant attend
OF frieads and their words OF encouragement TO
maintain a semb lance OF resignation Hardly had the
ana wynpc wcre announced, and the last rites OF the
Roman Catholic Church were commenced.
DEATH MARCH
AT about hal-past ten the Sheriff announced that
perfect order would bo required, and for an instant
the request needed, but again the hustle and
proane epthets resoundcd throughout tho corridor
When the Sheriff rcappearcd from the cell with Fisher
he was followed by Fathers Bunce and Wynne and
they by The Coal and Iron policemen bearing
candles. In this manner they ascended the
scafIod. Seven men had previously been executed
the same structure within the past few months for
Molly Maguire murders The raoDle at the foot OF
tie gaIlows shouted, Here goes the c'ehth.' The
protests and threats oil the sheriff ana police
heodcd until the reverend fathers voices were heard
in unison with Fishers in prayer, which was brief.
FISHERS DYING STATEMENT.
The Sheriff then asked Fisher II he had anything to
say. Drawing from MS pocket large roll OF Iaper
he begun 10 read put soon olued the paper again
ana animated that the iui contents would be printed
alter his death.
The following is correct copy Of the paper which
Fisher commenced to read on the gallows:-
A DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE.
MAUcH CHUNK PRISON. Feb. 2s, 1878.
am innocent of the murder OF Powell as The child
unborn. l Fever was engaged IN conspiracy with
any person or pcrsons TO take the llo OF Morgan Pow
ell or injurc him In any way public
John Donohue, OF to any other person as
reward for the killing OF Morgan Powell,
before after his death; nor there any meeting
beld al summit Hill for that purpose, TO my knowl-
fdgc; nor there any money paid out Of the socc
reward for tho commission OF that CRIME never
had conversation with Pat ODonnell through the
heaters, IN English or In IRISH with regard TO paying
money TO Patrick O'Donncl, TO- gwen 10 any man or
reward IN the way OF drink any other
way. before the death OF Powell or alter his death;
aid | ever meet Patrick O'DonnclI in a saloon
aTinking place IN any house Tamaqua, public or
private; nor was ever IN Pat McKenna's company,
up Stars IN Pat Maey's mouse, IN Tamaqua, as
sworn TO by Charles Muherrin l was not in
Pat Mckenna's company outside OF doors any place
lhc night that Powell was shot, rs David Morgan
T.. L.
McHugh would squeal right that he could have more
how | camo TO sweeney's and lett there:-
came James Sweency's early The
evening that Morgan Powell was shot, as it was
place always was III the habit OF visiting, and es
peclaily on Saturday night. was not long
Sweeney's ON the night OF the shooting until saw
knew one OF the men. HIS nam. Donohuc |
never saw the other two men before.
Some person called Tor "A treat. | was called with
the others and had drink and D0nohue introduced
me TO the other two men. He called OF them De-
wire do not remember whit he called the other
man. Alter the treat was over | called Tor
uent Those men drank and other men that
Out again. Shortly after iuss started between
McKenna and one OF Sweeney's boardcrs G. r.
McHugh interiercd. He was intoxicated. Sweeney
showed hts boarder up stairs and that quoted the
fuss AS the crowd was scattering went az as the
home lie told me he was going to Dr.. Donohuos
or bottle Of medicine and would call coming
Dohohue that night do not know what
direction the other man went. l came right into
S~eeney's; five minutes mad not elapsed from tho
lime went out until came IN again. That was the
only time ! was outside OF Sweeney's from the time
came there carly IN the evening until
When came in got talking to Sweeney
about the fuss that occurred between
McKcnna and one of his boarders We talked to-
geth,r some time. ! went up 10 the bar and called
ior treat. said We would have sociablc drink,
the crowd had gone sweeney waited on us / do
hNrr n
lime. know there wero tour or five drank. re-
member Bob Brslin being there, and two diners who
have since died. One WAS McHugh, the other Boyle
POWELL
Alter the treat Sweeney and got talking about tho
uss and exchan ging Views on many subjects, "a
small hoy came IN and said Powell was shot At this
time was standing NJ the beatcr, and remember well
ton paid 10 the boy Fifteen twenty minutes alter
ward Crampsie came In and sad Powell shot.
Sweeney and yet standing at the heater and
did not harJly believe him. He SAID II was so, and
that he saw HIM carried into Wiamson's store /
could not say how mauy wcre IN the barroom at that
hmc, as the excitement WAS great. am sure sweeney
there aud | was always under The Impression
Solomon Rickert was there. There were
two or thrco mon sitting at the other
side OF the heater, and thcrc were two Others
who sat on the bench near the window one was
Boyle and the other Mchugh. declare before God
ana tho world that was not out OF Swccncy's bar
room that night from carly evening until left about
nine or halpast ninc O'Clock only when went as far
as the sidewalk with Dononue, ana turned back INTO
swecncs's whon ne TOLD me no was gong Tor
medicine. also declare thatI did not noar tho namo
OF Powell mentioned tbat DiRht Dy Of the
strangers any other person until tue word came
by tho little BOY TO Sweeuy's, and shortly alter by
ursmpsie on my way home from swceny's called
In ut McIiugh's saloon That was tie last place was
IN until ! came to my ST. tcf's, where board, d. 1t
might nave Dccn about hapast ten or eleven O'CLOCK,
wncn got there
TESTIMONY coSrRADrcrrD.
AS TO my conversation win Mchugh In the grave.
yard, which testified To by him. | have 10 say |
told Mcllugh that Bridget Matthews told me In my
bsrroom that she would pull b's hgh head down
nc along with those shot
Powell at her house. That evening alter telllng
me what he knew about II said are You not AFRAID OF
getting INTO troubIcY lie told me he was u remark
able man, referring to large coal marx that wcs on
his lace, and that hu would be caught u he wouid
clear out told him ne could do hc pleased IN tho
matter, as knew nothing ABOUT tho alair That
ended the conversation.
APPREHENSION of TROUBLE
My reasons Tor writDg TO a. W. Lclscnring were
tbesc:-I was told by d. DonDrlly That lie heard
Captain Williams say, IN ByDoD's store, that " would
take what my property was worth TO get out OF the