The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-07
HANGING OF JOSEPH WOODS, AT
MALONE, NEW YORK

tHle8 rom MALONE says foi 'HS HhuA
der of Stephen Barber, in the town OF
Belmont, four miles from here, Joseph
Woods was hanged to-day. The crowd
in town was very large. Many came
forty and fifty miles. The weather has
been fine, and the sleighing is splendid.
Only about two hundred persons wits
messed the execution.
STORY OF THE MURDER.
Barber was murdered on the night of
Sunday, August goth, The Thursday
before man came along who pretended
to be a stone mason, on his way from
Montreal to Watertown, looking for
work. He stopped at Barbers house
and took dinner. After dinner he sold
Barber a coat for two dollars, and in
paying the money Barber exhibited
three ten dollar notes and other money.
Woods went away and was seen no more
around there. On the Sunday night
above named, about midnight, Mrs. Bar
Der was aroused by the report of a pistol,
and upon raising up she saw man
standing in the bed room door. 1t was
light, and she recognized the individual
as the man who was there on the Thurss
day before. Just as Barber was getting
out Of bed the man fired again, and
BARBER FELL UPON THE FLOOR.
Two shots were then fired at -.
Barber, who has lost the sight of one of
her eyes from the effects of the wound.
Supposing both to be dead, the man
ransacked the house and fled, Barber
died the next morning. Woods went in
an easterly direction, was pursued, and
two days later was captured near'Platts-
burg, taken back to Malone, identified
by Mrs. Barber, and lodged in Jail. The
Grand Jury soon after indicted him for
murder in the first degree. AT first he
refused counsel, but finally consented,
yet at the time of trial he did all the
talking for his side. He asked the Court
to dispense with the farce of a trial. and
proceed at once to a sentence. Before
the jury, at the conclusion of the trial,
he made speech of nearly an hour,
without notes, that showed much ability.
He did not derry his guilt, nor has he at
any time since. Neither did he say he
was innocent The jury, after being out
twenty minutes, broughtin
A VERDICT OF GUILTY,
And he was sentenced by Judge Potter
to be hung. Since the day of his sen.
tence he has manifested no outward
show of concern. Most of the time he
would only eat one meal day, and
during the last four days did not taste
morsel of food. His appearance to day
was somewhat haggard, but he was as
cool and apparently unconcerned as the
day he was sentenced. He was regarded
here as strange character. He could
write well. Those who became intimate
with him state that he could read Greek,
Latin, Spanish, French and English.
No one knew his correct name, though it
is generally believed that it was Daniel
J. Sullivan. Woods denied it, however,
and said his right name never would be
known. He did not care to have his
friends ever know what had become of
him. In 1860 man named Giuseppe
Delamarie was sent to the Auburn
Prison for highway robbery. Afterward
he was transferred to Sing Sing, and
then to Dannemora, where, after while
he was pardoned. In prison he was
called "ltalian Joe" This man and
Woods are supposed to have been the
same, but Woods denied it. Certain
India ink marks on his arm convinced
many that he was the same individual.
He told the Sheriff that he was born in
the County of Limerick, Ireland, in 1890.
DR.. Harris, of Albany, claims to have
traced out his pedigree. He says Woods
came from Ireland, but doubts his pa
rentage being Irish that he was in
prison in Dublin before he came to this
country, and was very bad man.
HIS LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
Was spent in making pictures with cray
on, reading and praying. AT 1890 he
told the guards that he had no fear of
death. He had seen many people die
around him, and it never affected him.
He would as soon have been hung yes.
terday as to-day He said he had been
a great sinner, but thought God had fors
given him. He spoke not in Dragging
manner, and said that he had an educas
ton that few men could boast of; that
he laid his misfortunes to sad disaIs
pointment which occurred years ago;
that there were few men who had seen
as much as he. "The fact is" he said,
| have seen too much" When asked
if he wanted to 60 to sleep he said no,
he would getsall the sleep he wanted in
the afternoon. He went to sleep at
three o'clock and slept till six, when
priest came and invited him to High
Mass. After Mass he informed the
Sheriff that he was ready: During the
forenoon two Sisters of Mercy remained
with him. He refused to see the re-
porters. At one o'clock he walked out
into the jail.yard, accompanied by
priest and two deputies. In his hand
was Cross. He was calm and appeared
unmoved.
HIS LAST WORDS, AND THE LAST SCENE.
After reading the death>warrant, the
Sheriff asked if Woods had anything
to say. He replied "I have very little
to say; in fact, nothing concerning the
crime and the sentence. l wish to
speak of the kindness of the people of
Malone since have been in jail" He
then named several who had shown him
acts of kindness, mentioning especially
the Sheriff, and closed by saying that
this was all he had to offer. He knelt
with the priest, who prayed. After
prayer, and while being pinioned, he
conversed with the priest. When the
black cap was about to be drawn down
he handed the cross to Father Rossiter:
At I:I7 o'clock the 3I5 pound weight
dropped. The mans neck was broken,
and he died with scarcely struggle.
FOREIGN ITEMS.
LONDON. Feb. 5-The Standard Saws.