The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-19
qAyGED IN A SNOW STORM.
y,cK REHOE, KING OF THE MoLLIES'
,SstSsIN AND POLITICIAN.
,A,. Man Planned Murders 80 Many
TAat the One for which he Died Seemed
a.,s Forgotten by Hini-His Last Might
,,,.s,d sieep before the Mornina OF Doom.

p,rrsvrrtr. Pa, Dec. 1s.-When the Shcr- |
scbuvlklu County had TO hang James
n.sou 1amos RoGrity. Hugh Mcclellan. James
81 Thomas Duffy. and Thomas Munley. on
49, Dis, of June last he got up for the occasion
..orv comprehensive Rallows. one OF unusual
.,.,mnodations and so constructed ms to ad-
t,.to,tonsion to almost any degree compah-
ta rlth the size Of the Jail yard. according to
ms demands which might be made upon 1t. As
...or,ed on that occasion II was capable OF
h.nstn,, the six men at one time. although for
sor,e reason the six were then hanged in pairs
.obatth the full extent OF its capacity was not
demonstrated The very remarkably compact
and ingenious gallows invented for the hang
Inc Of Ed. Kelly. Alexander Campbell. Michael
nove and John Donohue at Mauch Chunk,
on the 2lst Of last June. was handsomer, but
-, more capacious or solid. Two-thirds OF
heschuylkin County machine were put up In
me pottsyjllo jau yard on Monday last. to do
,ns,ice to John Kehoe. King OF the Mollios."
sndMartin Bergen. young member Of the same
order: but Yesterday afternoon the granting OF
re.nte 10 the latter was officially communi-
Gated TO the Sheriff. and then one-half OF the
ssllows WAS taken down. leaving only the Sec
Hon adapted to the hanging OF one man.
Twas upon this portion that Jack" Kehoe
r.s accordingly hanged this forenoon.
Since the receipt Of positive assurance that
lhe Board OF Pardons had refused TO re-
omen his case-a fact which was communicated
tohim by his wife yesterday afternoon-Kehoe
has borne up well and has shown himself as
ready TO meet death a.. since sentence was
passed upon him. he has always said he would
be. Months ago he said to q Sun reporter who
visited his cell:
"They say I've got TO hang for the murder OF
Wv S. Langdon; but I'm ready to take my
oath on the Book that never knowed anything
sbout Langdon's killing until after 1t was DONE
And then only the same rs other people. I've
never had Justice The newspapers and tho
people are down on me. because they say I'm n
Molly; and to say that in Schuykill County OF a
man is about a. good as signing his death war
rant But il I've got TO 20 to the Gallows, 1t will
BE- like man. They will never have the salts
faction Of seeing me weaken. and with my last
breath | shall say that I'm an Innocent man
unjusty condemned. As for being Molly Ma
guIr. that am not. and never was. and know
hothing about any sugh society; was mem
ber OF the Ancient Order OF Hibernians; but
hat WIS all
ucipaton In the actual committal OF any other
murder .han that Of Langdon has been pro-
duced 1t was established beyond question that
be shared IN the determination and arrange
ment Of numerous deeds OF blood. contributed
10 paving assassns for their work. and held the
the most active Intelligent. and weil-informed
officers o' the Coal and Iron Police said 10 a
repres- ntative Of The SUN here. at the time Of
The execution of the six Mollies in June last
Guilty as they are. Kehoe is worse than all
Of them together-a wickeder and moro dan
gerous man We have only deemed II neces-
sary 10 convict MIN Of one murder. but we had
our choice which Of several TO take him on. II
b. had twenty nccks we could prove on him a
separate crime for each meriting It's stretch
And Jack looked it, Prison life somewhat
Ninned and paled him, but did not improve the
expression Of his face. II bleached the EN-.
purped veins in his cheeks and the redness Of
his nose colored by the bad whiskey he used TO
Sell and drink. hut II could not take from his
eountenAnce it, dominant characteristics Of
cold cruel cunning. His face was long and
bis 9osS nos tordEaad lSsd RGs Rsh and
narrow: the lase Of his skull broad and
hi neck thin. His almost constant smile gave gave
pulling Of concealed string. His figure was
only oi medium size. but his shoulders were
man uan his appearance betokened. That was
the way he looked Yesterday afternoon when
taken out 10 the prison yard l2nr h"'ographmeq m
years OF confinement II was observable too. at
that time. that there We're streaks in his hair
that matched with the i0lng shoWuhkes. one
yenr ago his hair WIS Of a uniform dark brown
or so nearly 30 tnni the gray was only 10 be
noted upon very close observation. The pic
ture was ttkcn. with the prison wall for It's
background. buf WIS hardly an artistic success.
Al il oclnck last night kehoe retired. and
O'clock tins morning Mr.. Wal iron. the under
mker. called upon hin. found him awake. but
not vet risen. and asked him how ne ieiL
" First rate; never better in my liie.' he re-
Piled
4 lew minutes later he arose. His wife was
admitted 10 his cell She has been with him a
great deal, and has done much t. comfort and
sustain him: much also in energizing the des-
peraie legal contest that has Deen maintained
H. the endeavor 10 save him from the gallows.
Almost every day for months past she has
loed up the sterp hill to the lail door. often
accompanied by her six children. and when
admitted has stood with him AT his cell door as
long ~ prison rules would permit. encouraging
bis hope and stimulating his resolution. She
II sister OF Charles and Friday O'Donnell. two
noted Molly Mcguire =. who murdered two mine
bosses. named Sanger and Uren. Friday has
been killed and Charles Is fugitive from Ius-
lice but stlll actively hunted by Pinkertons de-
lectlyrs who have abundant evidence 10 hang
AT o'clo,k the Rev. Fathers Gallagher and
Brennan arrived and celebrated mass Then
kehoe ate y light breakfast his wife sit
ting beside him 4 sad parting with his aiiec-
honate and faithful partner ensued. The last
mssag.a 10 his children We're spoken, and then
Ne eulpri seemed TO shut out iurlner thought
Of Garth and To devote himself entirely 70 the
spiritual consolaiions Of the priests. who re-
Iumed their Wiuistratons.
AZ "a few minutes past 10 o'clock Sherin Matz
entered tue cell and read the death warrant
hel ur 4hIl little or no attention 70 the fOrmAli-
ty listening only to the whispered eXhOrtations
0i the priest who stood nt his elbow. At 1925
he condemned man walked out Of the side door
Of itr jail into the yard at the further angle OF
panied hy Sheriff MHtz Warden King. and Fa-
Piers Gallagher and Brennan. In the rear a
pand ot CoU and Iron policemen and special
uepnilr- made W little procession. The air
va very cold. SnoNhakes hutefed thickly
a4wn % the already Wh tened earth and whlred
v sNlN rtdir- before thr sharp gusts OF wind
hehoe dl not appear 10 notice the cold, but
walked firmly and steadily 10 the gallOws. Al
Pc placed himself beneath the fatal moose he
Aiew III his overcOHt and appeared in a new
luil ~ black broadclOth with nosegay at his
breast
Have you anything to say2" Sheriff Matt
hH~ him lu low tone. Kehoe paused an in
YAM, as II 70 collect his thoughts, drew long
yteAh. ana then looking around upon the iacee
81 lhe hundred spectators before HIM. said. in a
am not guilty Of the murder Of Langdon.
immNei saw The crlme comm .ttod."
N men ne took a stop backward, and nodded 70
sle oh'rlh us a slgnal Of his readiness, Two
s'bu.lr7 qllc kly adjusted straps upon his arms
hll logs 10 e1uiue them. Sh rin Matt put the
~ .rr ABOUT his neck. drew the white cap down
R,rr ie eyes and descended from the scaifOld.
Nv u'llF shrrils below instantly removed
A." SUPPORTS uphOldlng the galiOws Platform
.nlhNa. iur suine moment the Sheriff sprung
It tIHp IhH platform. hinged ike greht door
ntY l's 1Wn wrl-At and John Kehoe dropped
M. ''h-'A ni thr rope from the ghllOWs beam
xt""' WAS precisely at 1927. The doctors
li' d quickly to the side Of tho dangling
Hui'' n'''I lAW hitrr hhnSlng Two minutes me
trf.' l7 We're lZl per minute, then hlHckcned
I' FI.W Nraeor. were Accelerated again, Nut
uin', N''. 80 ip"u stopped. AT twenty three