The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-02-06
THE GALLONS.
Double Hanging at Indianapolis.

at Indianapolis at the same time-Wm.
b. Merrick and John Achey. From
local paper we CLEAN the following re-
port of the execution and the crimes for
which they suffered death
Achey claimed that his crime was not
premeditated, and closed by saying:
" The people want hanging, and I am
ready for it," Merrick asserted his in
nocence to the last. Both men dis
played wonderful GOODNESS, ana stepped
to their places on the trap without assist
ance and with no hesitation or tremor
visible. The arrangements of the
Sheriff were perfect, and carried out
without the slightest deviation or acct
dent. The necks Of both men were
broken.
Achey's CTime-The crime which
John Achey committed was less fend-
lsh than that of William Merrick. Geo.
Leggett, a well-known gambler of In
dlanapolis, and partner by the name of
Brown engaged in a gambling operation
with Achey, in which the latter was
feeced out of large sum of money
which had been left to him by his
mother, who died short time previous
". The loss preyed upon Acheys
mind, and he determined upon taking a
terrible revenge. On the afternoon of
July Is, 1878, he saw Leggett standing
in saloon on North Illinois street.
Without utteringa word he drew re-
yolver, and, aiming at Leggett, fired
twice in succession. One of the balls
struck him below the breast bone, and
caused his death in twenty minutes.
He was tried and condemned to suffer
death on the gallows. Great efforts
were made to secure a reprieve, and up
to the last moment his friends hoped
for success.
Me1ricRs Crime. Sept. %, 1878,
two farmers accidentally discovered on
the banks of Eagle creek, two miles west
Of Indianapolis, human hand between
the lnterstices Of asman log-heap. Upon
removing the logs the. farmers were hor-
rtied III finding two partially-decom-
posed bodies-one of woman and the
other of a newborn infant. The rustics
fled, and the police Of Indianapolis were
notified. For a long time, in spite of
their utmost endeavors, the mystery re-
manned unsolved. Finally it leaked out
that the wife of William Merrick, who
was quite we'll known as the proprietor
of a hvery-stable, had been missing for
some time. The clew was taken up, and
Merrick was arrested. His early history
was investigated, and it was found that
he had, in his early youth, murdered
his rival to the hand of girl he then
loved. The evidence of his guilt &C
cumulated fast, and at his trial the
whole story of his damnable guilt was
revealed.
On the day of her disappearance,
Mrs. Julia Merrick said to one of her
neighbors: "Mv husband has been
kind to-day, and he's invited me to a
carriage ride; do I look nice?" At
early dusk they drove away, the wife
feeling very happy. Later in the even
ing they stopped before saloon on In
diana avenue, and Mr. MerAack called
for glass of wine for his wife. The
saloon-keeper saw him pour into the
glass out of paper marked with
skull and cross-bones white powder,
mixing it with the wine. Merrick re-
turned the empty glass, paid for a glass
OF whisky for himself, and drove off.
They went into the country, and sew
eral transfers whom they met observed
that the lady was in great distress. A
farmer living upon La Fayette pike
heard noises in front of his residence,
and, upon going out, found a woman
lying on the ground in great distress
It was Mrs. Merrick Her husband told
the farmer that she was drunk, and
asked his assistance to Lift her into the
carriage.
It appears that she was poisoned with
strychnine, and that during her convul-
sions a babe was born. Both died.
With their bodies in the carriage, the
fiend returned to the city and tried to
dispose of them to the medical colleges,
but without success. He drove about
the city, stopping frequently at saloons
and drinking freely. Finally, he hit
upon the plan of coneealment under the
log heap on the banks of Eagle creek.
When the case was given to the jury
they remained out only thirty minutes
when they returned verdict of guilty,
and fixed his punishment at death.