The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-10-10
NO. /
"Mhs Hanged E,nme,,.,

THIS has been mystery for IrisI
historical students for three quarters o
&. a century. The hangman was out,
/ unkaown II ali the spectators of IN,
/ death scene of the young patriot. Hi
! arnvSl. and departure were so wei
screened by the mYrmidons OF the terri
bic SIR, the town mayor Of Dublin,
that all the skill of Emmet's symps.
| th'zers failed To penetrate his secret
But the mystery that bad so long lain
/ hidden has been suddenly cleared up
THE QUESTION ANSWERED
Last MOuday, August 8. an extreme.
IL old man died in the work house Al
BAllina, Mayo county, and two days
after was consigned 10 panusr's
grave. His name was Barney. He
WAS native of Ddblin, and so long as
be was able 10 tramp about he made q
livelihood as professional iiineraut
ballad singer. lie believed himself a,
the time OF his death TO be about nine
ty-nine years of age. On his death
bed he made. a singular revelation 10
the doctor, master and chaplain of the
workhouse. He told them that be was
one of the band of soldiers who. on
the night OF May Is, 1898. accompa-
MED Majors SIR aud Swan to the
house OF Mr.. Nicholas Murphy, the
feather merchant, No. 1853 Thomas
street, where Lord Edward FitZ serald
wss concealed, and effected the can
ture of the rebel chieftain. Barney
Moran avowed that in that terrible
business he faithfully discharged his
duty rs loyal soldier u the British
crown.
BARNEY MORAN, EXECUTIoNER.
But his most startling revelation was
to come. This was that he also was
the eXecutiOner of Robert Emmett.
This confession has been corroborated
since Moran's deaths.by most respec-
table gentleman of BallIna, who states
that for many years he was aware OF
the unpleasant secret, but was pledged
not TO divulge it until Moran was be-
yond the reach Of the obloquy sure to
fall upon him. VI rams statement was
10 the elect that he was on duty at
P0rtobello Barracks on the evening of
September 10. 1903, when an emjsSary
from Major SIR came and offered him
a considerable sum if next morning he
would otficiate AS hangman fOr Emmet.
Barney Moran WAS quite willing on this
occasion also to prove his 'loyalty" by
work strangely out Of keeping with
soldiers true vocation. Bat the history
OF that awful time attests that British
soldiers in too many cases lost all sense
of honor aud took a fiendish delight in
the performance of any bloody deed,
the victim OF which would be az Irish
rebel or suspected person.
ON THE PLATFORM.
And so ou the morning of September
20, 1903, Barney Moran (having been
conveyed thither In civilians clothes)
stood on the platform in Thomas stree,
directly oppo itc 5 Cl:heuue's church,
with Emmet beslde him, pinioned and
beneath the salloTs. The
story Iuns that Emmett expected a ,e =
cue, and g0zed about him long and
wistfuliy, IA # trying to READ hope in
the upturnei faces of the crowd. lie
protracted his sirln"rmrn's a4 long rs
possible. Egen with the halter around
his neck, in answer to the execution
er's question whether he was ready, he
several tImese acclaimed, mot vet, not
vet" AT length the executloner, wea-
ry of waiting, turned him of with the
words mot yet" coming from his lips.
Moran admits that lie was the man who
did the deed, and after the hanging
severed the body and held il up 20 the
gaze of the spectators, with the stereo-
typed formula, "ThIs is the head OF
traitor" After the execution Moran
was col yeyed by some of Major Sirr's
10 the castle, and then sent
back to his military duty. He kept
the secret, for well he knew the tenn
pest of hatred and adherence which |
would gather around his head war9 Z =
)nce known whas he had .SJne. His
ll-gotten gains did not prosper. He
quilted the army, ami after a wander
ng life Of hardship and priyation for
half a century, exactly seventy Ave
Fesrs after Emmers death his .execu-
ioner has found pauper's death and
nameless grave. And thus there is
nc enigma the less for the historical
tudent.