The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-29
HOOSIER HANGING
Double Execution at Indianapolis
To-day.
Special to the Star.

Special to the Star.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Jan. CT Is perhaps
not creditabIe feeling but very clearly
there is bitter disappointment among the
people because Guetig is not to feel the
halter draw to-day, along with Achey and
Merrick. 1t is even feared that the friends
of the girl who was so heartlessly murdered
by Guetig will endeavor in some way to
anticipate the laws delay, and give the
authorities some trouble in his case.
Merrick received the decision of the Su-
preme Court yesterday through his clerical
advisors, Revs. Bayliss and Tevis. He bore
the disappointment quite bravely, and last
night he signed his name to an affidavit to
what purports to be letter from his wife,
who, the defense claims, is still living, with
bold hand. Six of the murdered wifes
brothers have applied for admission to the
execution.
Achey's physical condition is very weak,
and strong opinion prevails that he will
be granted respite of sixty or ninety days,
but those who claim to know the Govern
or's mind give out-no such hope.
THE PREPARATIONS
The Sheriff has every preparation COM
plete, and says the scaffold in all its ap-
pointments works like clock-work. The gal
lows has been erected in an enclosure in
the Courthouse yard, and every part of it
is strong and compact. The trap work is
all composed of iron, and it
is not likely that anything will
give way, or that there will be any hitch in
the performance, unless the Governor in
terferes. This is the first execution in Ma
rion County for twenty-five years. and
there is a spirit of pride among the officials
to make it success. To prevent public
disturbance the police, city and private
will be under arms, and squad of Cincin-
natl police under Lieut.. Meyers will be
present to assist them if necessary.
THEIR CRIMES.
The crime for which John Achey paid
the death penalty is the murder of George
Leggett, we'll known gambler of this city,
who was standing in Chaplin & Cores sa-
loon, July 10th. 1S7S when Achey entered
and fired two shots at Leggett, causing
death in twenty minutes The cause of the
murder existed in a gambling operation,
in which Leggett and man named Brown
feeced Achey out of several hundred dol
lars. Achey's trial began November 4th,
1S7S and lasted three days, the jury decid-
ing that he must die, decision affirmed
by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
| The murder, SURPRISING in atrocity any
that has been perpetrated in this State, and
for which VIM. e. Merrick paid the pen
atty, was committed on the night of Sep
tember 14th, 1878, but it was not discovered
until Sunday morning, September 22d, 1878,
when two men living near Eagle Creek
came to the city with the information that
a dead body was lying among the logs and
brush bordering that stream. The Coroner
went to the spot and found the body of
Julie A. Merrick wife of the criminal, and
the remains of her newly-born infant, both
much decomposed. The evidence, all cir
cumstantial was full and complete. The
trial of Merrick began December I'd, 1878,
and terminated on the 18th, the jury,
after eleven minutes, deciding him guilty,
with the penalty of death.
THE GALLows
INDIANAPOLIS Jan. 29-Noon.-The prep
fMerrick were completed at an early hour
this morning, canvas being stretched around
the Jail yard, completely hiding the scaf-
| fold from view.
From outside the Jail an immense crowd
thronged the Market Square, the police
driving hundreds off the roofs in the vi
cinity. At II ;45 the Jail entrance was un-
barred, and ticket holders admitted to the
yard.
About one hundred and fifty, of which
about thirty-fve were members of the press
entered EySything was ready, and the
half-inch selected hemp ropes were hanging
from the beams.
At 1908 the prisoners appeared carefully
guarded by the police and deputies armed
with rifles and with fixed bayonets. Their
spiritual advisers accompanied the doomed
men.