Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-06
Robert Emmets Execution.

Recently an old man died in the work
house at Ballina, Mayo county, Ireland.
and two DAYS later was consigned to
manners crave. His name was Barney
Moran. He was a native OF Dublln,and
rs long as he was able 10 tramp about he
made livelihood as an itlnerant ballad
singer. He believed himself at the time
of his death to be about ninety-nine
wears Old. On his death bed he made a
SINGULAR revelation at the workhouse.
He told them he was one oil the band oil
soldiers who. on the night OF May 18th,
1889. accompanied Majors SIR and
Swami to the house OF Mr. Nicholas
Murphy, the feather merchant, No. los
Thomas street, where Lord Edward
FITZGERALD was concealed, and effected
the capture of the rebel chieitain. Bar
new Moran avowed that in that terrible
business he faithfully discharged his
duty as a lOval soldier OF the British
Crown. But his most startling revela-
tion WAS To come. This was that he was
also the eXecutiOner of Robert Emmett.
This confession has been corrObrated
since Moran's death by most respect
able gentleman of Ballina, who states
that for many years he was aware OF the
unpleasant secret, but was pledged not
To divulge it till Moran was beyond the
reach OF the obloquy sure to tall upon
him.
Moran's statement was to the effect
that he was on duty at POrtObello BAL
racks on the evening OF September 18th,
1903. when an emiSSary from MAJOR
SIR came and offered him considerable
sum If next morning he would Oiliclate
rs hangnan for Emmett. Barney Moran
was quite willing in this also to prove
his "Iovaltv' by work strangely out OF
Keeping with soldiers true vacation.
But the history OF that awful time attests
that British soldiers in too many cases
lost all sense of honor and took a tiend-
ish delight in the performance OF any
bloody deed, the victim OF which would
be an Irish rebel or suspected person.
And so on the morning OF September
2O,h, 1906. Barney Moran having been
conveyed thither in civilians clothes
stood on the platform in Thomas Street,
directly opposite II. Catheein's church,
with Emmett beside him, pihioned and
standing beneath the gallOwS. The
story runs that Emmett expected res
cue. and gazed about him long and visit
fully as if trying to read hope in the up
turned faces of the crowd. He protract-
ell his arrangements as long as possible.
Even with the halter around his neck,ln
answer 10 the eXecutioner's question
whether he was ready, he several times
exclaimed, "Not vet, not yet, At
length the eXcutiOner, weary OF waiting,
turned him oil with the words, mot
vet" coming from his lips. Moran al
mits that he was the man who did this
deed, and after the hanging severed his
head from the body and held it up to
the gaze of the spectators with the stero-
typed formula; This Is the head OF a
traitor.
After the execution Moran was con-
viewed by some of the Major SIR under
Hngs To the castle and then sent back To-
his military duty. He kept the secret,
for all knew the tempest OF hatred and
adherence which would gather round
his head were il once known what he
had done. His ill-gottcn gains did not
prosper. He quilted the army ami after
a wandering life of hardship and priva-
cation for half century, exactly seven
tv-tve years after Emmet'S death. his
exc utioner has found a pduper's death
and 4 name eSs grave.