The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-01-23
THE GALLONS.
Il Respite Arrives 20 Late-Xistory
ofthe Crime. dc,
MAucu CnusK. Jan. Is. 70.

4
On April goth 1878 the Jury 10
the case Of Charles Sharpe, charged
ut Mauch Chunk with completely in
the murder Of George X. Smith on
November 13 1864, returned ver-
dict Of murder in the first degree
THIS is tho murder for W h ch
Mcdonnell was nvi ted on
the 18th Of April, the crime being
one OF the first Molly Mcguire ont
rages recorded in Pennsylvania. The
lprisoners elected to be tried separ-
ately. Smith was coal operator at
Audepreid, aud although he was a
highly respectable man, BIO was much
disliked by the Buckshots," as the
present "Mollio Maguires" we're
then called. As body they resists
ed the draft, and IL is supposed that
Smiths only offence was pointing
ont to the officers Of the government
individuals who had so resisted. Ou
the night Of the murder about eight
o'clock. three men with blackened
faces, aud wearing the garb Of min.
ers, presented themselves at Smiths
door and insisted upon an interview
with him, saying they had a letter
from the superintendent Of the lie
high Valley Railroad, Mr.. Smith be-
ing sick in bed, Mrs. Smith refused
TO permit. them to go up stairs, when
one OF them fred q pistol. A crowd
OF men who bad been lurking out
side burst open the door immediate.
ly and poured into the house,
wounding Mr.. Ulrich, ono OF the
inmates, AID knocking Mrs. Smith
down. Smith, who was known to
DO fearless man, left his bed and
came down stairs to defend his
home, but he was soon surrounded.
Some one put a pistol 10 the back
OF his bend and fired, and Smith fell
dead. The "Bucksbots" then fled.
Not one of them was arrested. nor
were they ever suspected until the
disclosures brought about by the
trials since 1875, and it was not un.
til fourteen years after the murder
that these two men we're arrested.
They we're tried Mt Mauch Chunk
last April, and yesterday these two
persons expiated their crime on the
gallows. Great exertions we're made
to obtain reprieve from the
Governor, 30 as to have their case
reviewed by higher court.
The condemned men slept quietly
Monday night. Mcdonnell left
orders upon retiring to be called at
midnight for prayer. AT that hour
Sharp Was fast asleep. Neither Of
them eat any breakfast. The two
priests. Fathers Brunce and Huinan,
arrived about seven o'clock, and
mass was said in Mcronnel's cell iu
the presence Of Il number OF rela-
tiyes OF the doomed men At half
past nine the doors Of the prison
were open TO those who had pnsses.
and the corridors we're soon well ill.
ed With q mixed crowd. II was a
serious time, and the Sheriff rave
strict order TO bis assistants TO allow
no levi,y on the pn,t of the crowd.
At 1925 the Sheriff knocked on the
doors of tue cells us o signal that he
YVES ready.
The condemned mon did not ap.
pear for some time, but when they
did they did not show the lcnst fear,
The prisoners. the priests. policemen
and tho Sheriff went upon the Scat
fold. After short service tho
Sheriff said. flames Mcdonnell,
have you anything 10 say before i
proceed furhrr1" Mcdonnell r..
piled, speaking in firm voice, Il am
az innocent Of tho murder of Smith
ns the child unborn. ] have already
told the only crime / was cngnged
in referring to the Burps murder.
II am sorry | ever alienated myself
from tho Holy Catholic Church. I
forgive everybody
IN reply to the SherifI's question,
Sharpe said he was innocent of the
murder Of Smith. lie said he had
intended to have read q statement
written for him by Mr.. Boyle, Of
the Coal Gazette, but lie would not.
and asked that gentleman TO be sure
to publish it. The men then were
shackled, and tho priests kissed them
soodby.
Every effort was made by the
counsel OF the doomed men to save
them from the gallows. Monday
night they endevored to persuade
the Governor TO grant q respite to
the condemned men, to enable them
to make application to the Supreme
Court for special writ Of error
The Governor snid he would let
them know in the morning what
action he would take. He did. bit
it was too late. When the repriye
arrived at Mauch Chunk the execu-
tion had taken place--the men we're
dangling at the end of the hang.
mans ropes in the agonies of death |
The Governors message granted a
respite until Monday next, but the
law had taken its course.