The New York herald., 1878-08-26
"WHO HANGED EMMETT ?"
THE HISTORICAL QUERY ANSWERED AFTER
sEvENrY-FIvE YEARS OF INQUIRY

THE HISTORICAL QUERY ANSWERED AFTER
sEvENrY-FIvE YEARS OF INQUIRY.
DUBLIN. August l3, 1s7s
This has been mystery for Irish Historical students
for three quarters OF century. Tho hangman was
quite unknown to all the spectators OF the
OF tho young patriot HIS arrival and departure
SO well screened by the myrmidons of the terrible
SIR, the town major OF Dublin, that all the skin OF
Emmcts sympathizers failed to penetrate hts secret
Since that time one has claimed the infamous dis
tnction, and wnen, thirty years ago, Dr. r. X. Mad
den engaged the "Hisory OF the United Irish
menn all his efforts unable to hit the vei 1t
had been dismissed as ono Of the inscrutabls prob
lens Of history, like the identify OF the Man IN the
Iron Mask and it is safe to say thar even curious
inauirers had forgotten that there was a mystery
about the hangman OF Emmett But the mystery That
had SO long lain hidden has been suddenly cleared up
1'' THE QUESTION ANSWERED.
Last Monday, August 5. an extremely old man died
In the Workh0use at Bailina, Mayo county. aud two
days later was consigned TO paupers grave. HIS
name Barney Moran. He was a native OF Dublin.
and so long no able to tramp about he made
livelihood . professional itinsraut ballad singer.
He believed himself at the time OF his death to be
about ninety line years OF age On his deathoed he
made singular revelation to the doctor, master and
chaplain OF the workhousc He told them that he
May Is, l79s, accompanied Majors srr and Swan 10
tho house OF Mr. Nicholas Murphy, the fea ther
merchant, No. 153 Thomas street. where Lord Edward
Fitzgerald concealed, and effected the capture of
the ebel chieftain. Barney Morsn avowod tnat IN
that terrible business he faithfully discharged his
duty as 10y al soldier TO the British Grown.
BARNEY MORAN. ExEcUrIoSER
But his startling revelation was 10 como. This
that he also was the sxecutioner OF Rober, Em-
met This confession has been corroborated since
Moran's death by a most respectable gentleman OF
Balina, who states that for many years he
Of the unpleasant secret but was pledged not 10
dvuige It I'LL Moran was beyond the reach OF the OBJ
loquy sure to fall upon him. Moran's statement was
effect that he was on duty at POrt0bello bar
racks the evening Of September 10, 1905, when
emissary from Major Sirr came and offered him
nangman tor Emmett Barney Moran Was quite VIII
log on this occasion also TO prove his oyalty" by
vocation But tho history OF that awful time attests
that British soldiers In 100 many lost all
OF honor and took n.ndish delight in the perform
OF any blOody decd, the victim of which would
be an Irish robs or suspected person.
PLATFORM
And SO on the morning OF September 20, 1903,
Barney Moran (having been conveyed thnher IN
civilians cothes) stood on The platform IN Thomas
street, directly opposite ST CathariGes Church, with
Emmet beside him, p,nioned ana standing beneath
the gailows. The story runs that Emmet expected u
aud gaZcd about him long anu wistluly as II
trying nope the iurned faces OF owd
He protracted his arrangements as long as possible
the cxecutioner's question whether he ready, he
several times exclaimed, mot yet, not ye." AT
length tno executioner weary OF waiting, turned HIM
off, with the words mot ysp' coming from his lips
Moran admits that he was the who did this deed,
and after the hanging severed the head IRON the
body and held It up to the gazo OF the Spectators
with tho stersotyped formula .'rhis is the head OF
traitor" Alter the execution Moran was conveyed
by some OF Major Sirrs underlngs TO the caste and
tneu bach TO his military duty He kept the
cret, for well he know tho tempest of hatred and
abhorrence which would gather around his head
IL known what he had DONE His III got gains
did not prosper He quilted the army. and after u
wandering life Of hardsnip and privation Tor half a
century, exactly seventy five years after Emmets
death hts executioner has ound pauper's death and
a nameless grave. And thus thero Is one enigma the
less Tor the historical student