The Morning herald., 1878-03-26
TELECRAMS.
TIE TRIPLE ExEcUTIoN.

TEE TRIPLE EXECUTION.
II SAEk - t5
TEE HANGING OF THRzH MOLLY AAoulkAs
At SsL,oxssuHn NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HHsrxR, PETER NcHuaH AND PATRICK
TuLLY PAY THH PENALTY FOR A CRIME
coNMITTsp TEARS AGO.
BLooMsssRa, March 25.-P.obably ok
hundred strangers visited the town to-day
out Of curiosity to witness the hanging OF
Patrick Hester, Peter McHugh and Patrick
Tally and the attendant circumstances. Fe'
nearly two hours previous to the execution
crowds congrsgated about the quaint ana
dilspidatsd jail, and at the time the culpriss
were being launched into eternity, at least
1000 people were on the outside and prob
ably 800 within the prison wallis.
,. MASS CELEBRATED,
This morning, about half,past sixo'clock,
Fathers NcGovern, Koch and Schutler, the
priests who ministsred to the spiritual
wants of the condemned, celebrated high
mass In kcHugh's cell, Hester and Tully
bsing present. The devotional exercises
lasted about two hours, and among those In
attendance were the grief-stricken wife,
three daughters, and Two sons-ia-law, who
appeared deeply affected. The grief OF the
wife and daughters gave vent in loud sobs
Mrs. Tully and her little son were also par
tieipants In the solemn scene; the latter had
slept with his father few nights ago.
At THE soAFroLD.
About quarter of eleven those who had
been admitted to the jail building by card
proceeded to the prison-yard, In which the
sesffold which sent four Mollie Maguirse
into eternity at Mauch Chunk, last sum-
mer, had been erected. 1t occupied posi-
tion near the centre of the yard, and around
It had gathered about three hundred per-
sons, among whom were newspaper report
ers from Chicago, Cincinnati, New York,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other points.
About II q. M, McHugh emerged from
the uninviting corridor down the high sters
into the jail yard, accompanied by priest.
Next came the cerpulent Hester, followed
BY Tully, also man Of heavy frame, both
escorted by spiritual advisers, and both
looking the picture of health. Hester wore
black neck tie; had on gold shirt-studs;
wore brosdcloth coat, and in no respect
locked like q murderer. The condemned,
with the crucidxes In their hands, ascended
the steps leading to the scaffold with re-
markable steadiness, and took their position
under the ropes which were soon to stretch
their necks. McHugh, of delicate frame,
appeared to be the most nervous of the
three, although Hester's lips were noticed to
unnaturally twich previous to and while the
devotional exercises we're In progress, Hes
ter steadied himself by seizipg hold OF one
Of the uprights Of the seaf'old after he had
reached the platform.
LAST WORDS.
All the condemned made Q few remarks,
Of which only few struggling woIds were
audible to the spectators, and even the
Sheriff, who was on the platform, was ana
bic to give their substance. 1t Is under.
stood, however, that McHugh and Tully
neither asserted their Innocence nor guilt OF
the murder, the inference being that he
was not an actual participant. He had
stated to bis counsel several days before the
execution that he would call upon AcHuxh
and Tully to state whether he was guilty or
not, and II they connected him with the
crime he was willing to hang, but Hester
was not as good as his word, putting no In
terrogatories to his companions in crime.
After the hands Of the prisoners had been
pinioned and strap tied about their legs
above and below their knees, the white
caps were drawn over their faces and
THE DROP WAS SPRUNG,
the drop falling at ten minutes after eleven.
Hester struggled violently, but died first,
his pulsations ceasing in nine minutes,
Tully lived eleven minutes, and McHugb
twelve The remains of Hester were taken
In charge OF by an undertaken from Po.ts-
vile, and will be inferred at Shamokin.
r.F. Cuniff, Of Wilkesbarre, took charge
Of Tully's and McHugh's remains. Both
will be buried in the Catholic cemetery at
Wilkesbsrre.
"Kelley, the Bum" on the strength Of
whose testimony the culprits were eonvictea
was removed to the lookup under the
Court House before the execution.