The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-08
Execution Of William Dixon for 'lh
Murder OF A. Bachman.
A FIEND1SH CRIME
An Unofiending Stranger Has His Heat
ID Crushed by q Drunken Asn.nJ
TO GLORY VIA THE GALLOWSs
Tpx rErrGaArH 70 THE HERALD. ]

vIcKsBURG Miss, June Z, 1879
At three O'Clock this afternoon William Dixon. ALAG
william Monan, aged twonty sevcn years, was ledf 10
the scanold In the al yard TINS walls werc shrongsd
with people, and great number were within the
closure numbering altogether about ono thousand,
including number Of eoiorsd women. Dixon was
accom- panied by Rev. J. q. McManus. Catholic PRIEST
and Sheriff A. J. Flsnagan. Tho sheriff addfsaed
the crowd and requested that they should preserve
good order on tho solemn occasion. Dixon kneli
down on the scaGold while tho priest administered
the last rites Of the Church. Before the rope waA1d
justed Dixon kissed it. After the rope was secured
the priest placed rosary his neck and Dixon fer
veLlly Kissed the image Of Jesua
ExpArIoS.
A. seven minutes past three the Sheriff pulled the
catch, tho weight foil and Dixon was Jefked abtut
three feet above the floor Of the scafoid. He was
very muscular and struggled some time, making an
effort 10 free his pinioned hands andEmcving hia
lower limbs up and down sufficiently to sway ha
Will be gwen TO the sisters Mercy a. whose hapaa
it will receive Chrisan burial
.sa Has DEATH. arAt-.t1isa
Dixon walked up The scanoid stops with firm trcad,
he had been smokiug He manifested the utmost
for.iiude HIS body did not trsmbie his eyes did not
quail. nor his face culver. II was aforsisuds pos
born OF bravado. but INSPIRED by religion: He made
pressed Willingness TO die and is reported 70 have
inq uired 0i tho priest II he thought his execution
would be sufficient expation OF the murder TO save
his soul
~ DIxox's cR,NR. .,i-
Tho murder for which ho suffered was o most brutal
and crue! one. II took place the steamboat Far
Play. which runs botween vicksburg and SunfoweF
River, the night 0l December q, 1871 dis.
lance above VicksburR The victim was A. Bachman,
old Jew pedler, who plea HIS vocation up aud
down the Sunhower RIVER Dixon was deck sweep
the boat, recently employed, and Bachman was on
his way up TO Sundower River as deck passenger.
The night OF the murder being cool. Bachman on
the coal pile front OF OF tho boiler nres and foil
asleep Dixon, VINO was under influence OF liquor
aud had Quarreed with ahreman, picked up an age,
and. walking TO tho spot wnere Bachman was sleep.
ing, doalt him three powerful blows across tins
head, sinking the axe down 10 the old made
At each blow and chipping large piece out oil
the skull He then walked to another part OF the
boat. dragging the bloody axe along the noor, wkh
the murdered mans hat clingtng 10 It, Tbs arspan
Of the boat and negro deck passenger Witnessed
the horrible deed, and the officers OF tho steamer.
being immediately informed Ut II, arrested Dixon
aud turned the boat back 10 Vicksburg, wneSe4tno
old man died shortly alter her arrival. ~
TRIAL AND CONVICTION
Dixon was tried IN January. 1878, and three days
His counsel, Mayor L. W. Magruder, did everything
possible for his clien making able hrgurnoht ufg
ing the jury 10 award mis- client miider peuAlty shAn
that OF death. He finally took appeal 10 the Sue
preme Court, which proved unsucccssfuL Alter
DixUn's c0nvi0ton the sisters or Mercy we're unre-
mtting Ia their attentio 70 him, urging him 10 eals
brace me consultations Of religion. Thsy asos clrau-
Governor stone, asking Tor mutation OF the
tsnce. Their illustrations and ih"sc OF his spiritual
adviser effective inducing the prisoner saek
the divine PARDON for his crime and 10 nope Tor PARDON