Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-19
THE TWO JACKS.

Jack Ketch Finally Conquers Jack Nehoe
the King of the Moilie Maguires-He
Protests His Innocence on the ScafTold-
Gov. Hartranfts Questionable Conduct In
Relation to His Case.
PoTTsv1LLE, Pa, Dec. l8.--Jack Kehoe. the
notorious chief of The Mollie Maguires, was
hanged here at 10 80 this morning. Kehoe re.
tired to bed at IL clock, fell asleep, and slept
without waking FOR four or five hours. When
an undertaken arrived at o'clock, Kehoe arose
and remarked; In answer to a question. that be
FELT hrst rate, never better in his life. At Z
O. CLOCK his wife visited him, and shortly after
wards Fathers Gallagher and Brennan cele-
brlted mass. Breakfast followed, and at
1925 A. NJ, Kehoe, the sheriff and
priests marched to the eallows
Standing on the platform Kehoe said: 81 am
not guilty of the murder of Langdon. J never
saw the crime committed" Kehoe was then
bound, the black cap and rope adjusted, and at
precisely 1920 the drop fell and death was
caused by strangulation. The body was re.
moved to Shenandoah by special train, and will
be walked two nights. Friday morning the re-
mains will be taken to Tawaqua and buried.
for which kehoe was hanged to-day was the
murder of Frank W. 8. Langdon, at Auden
road, Carbon county, Pa, June IA, 1862.
This case has attracted great deal Of atten.
ton throughout the country, not only On ac-
count of Kehoe's Importance as the leader of
the mysterious and murderous society, but be-
cause of the attempt that has been made to
give his case political significance. 1t was
freely alleged that Gov. Hartranft's friends,
during his second campaign, made bargain
with Kehoe by which the votes Of the Mollie
Maguires were to be given to Hartranft in con-
sideration of large sum Of money paid to
Kehoe, and that furthermore, in return for his
political influence, kehoe was to have imnu-
nifty for his oHense. The fact that the warrant
for Kehoe's execution April 10 was issued
and withdrawn and that Gov. Hartranft with
held its reissue for more than two months after
the board Of pardons had announced it's refusal
to interfere with the decision of the court,
seemed to bear out this assertion.
HIS FRIENDS EXPLANATION.
The friends Of Gov. Hartranft, however, as
sert that he could not issue the warrant during
the political campaign without having the &C
ton twisted to his disadvantage. If he hanged
Kehoe he would be denounced as q coward who
sacrificed a man q life to save his own reputa-
ton, while his delay to sign the fatal document
was selzed On as proof that the story of his bar
gain with the Mollies was true, and that Kehoe
had good reason for his alleged boast that THE
Old man at Harrisburg wonld never hang him."
Inc Governor was led to entertain grave doubts
OF kehoe's guilt by the affidavits
OF John Campbell and Neil Dougherty and the
solemn assurance Of John Donohue all assert
ing Kehoes innocence of compicity in the
murder of Langdon, the crime for which he
was executed. Donohue, at the time that was
made. was counting the hours to the day of his
execution, and Campbell and Dougherty were
convicted of murder in the second degree all
for the same crime. All three, either expressly
or tacitly, acknowledged their guilt. but exon
Grated Kehoe. Whether or not their testimony
made any impression on Gov. Hartranft, it did
on many in the coal region, ana thousands
live, would have felt relieved if he had been
tried and convicted for some other crime in
which his guilt could be more clearly estab-
lishad