Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-01-25
TOO LATE! TOO LATE!!
TWO MEN HUNG WHILE A RE.
PRIEVE WAS WAITING AT
THE JAILDOOR.
Execution of llo.Iie Maguires.

DOnnell have been broken. n teie-
graphic reprieve has just arrived, but
about one minute too late. The crime
for which they have been executed was
the murder Of Geo X. Smith on the
night of Nov. 5, 1868. Smith was a
coal operator at Audenred land, although
he was highly respectable man, be
was much disliked by the "Buckshots,"
as the present MolIie Maguires were
then called. a singular fatality has
followed the participants in the Smith
murder. Long John" Donohue, who
is supposed TO be the man who present
ed Mrs. Smith with the letter, was shot
at Tuscarora. "Yellow Jack" Donohue
was hanged at Mauch Chunk. Jack
Ket oe suffered the same fate last month
at Pottsvile, and today Sharpe and
Mcdonnell have expiated the crime
upon the galows.
MAUCH CHUNK, Pa, Jan. l4.-What
was thought would be one of the quiet
est executions which ever took place IN
Mauch Chunk has proved the most
exciting. a reprieve from Gov. Har-
tranlt arrived here one half minute after
the drop fell-just thirty seconds too
late to save their lives. Tie condemned
men slept quietly last night. Mcdonnell
left orders upon retiring to be called at
midnight for prayer. At that honr
Sharpe was fast asleep. Neither OF them
eat any breakfast this morning. The
priest, Fathers Bunce and Heinan, ar
rived about I o'clock, and mass was
said in McDonncll's cell in the presence
of a number OF relatives Of the doomed
men. At halt past nine the doors OF
the prison were opened to those who
had passes. and tie corridors were soon
well filed with a mixed crowd, who
examined the ropes, witnessed the at
taching Of them to the scattoid beam
and the other preparations. 1t was
serious time, and the sheriff gave strict
| orders to his assistants to allow no leTi'y
on the part of the crowd. At lO:2o
The sheriff knocked on the doors OF the
cells as asignaI that he was ready. HE
Condemned men did not appear for
some time, but when they did, they dld
not how the least fear. The prisoners,
the pricsts,the policemen and the sheriff
at once went upon the scaff"ld. Alter
short service the sheriff said: "James
Mcdonnell, have YOU anything to say
before proceed furlhel?" Mcdonnell
replied, speaking in J firm voice: Il am
aS innocent OF the murder Of Smith as
th,. child unborn. ] have already told
Of The Only crime | was engaged in, re
ftrriLg 10 the Burns murder. l am
sorry | ever alienated myself from the
Holy Catholic Church. l forgive every
body"
In reply to the sheritf's question,
Sharpe said lie was innocent Of the muir
der OF Smith. He said he had intended
| TO have read statement written for
him by Mr.. Boyle, of Coal Gazette, but
he would not, and asked that gentleman
to be sure to publish it.
The men were then shackl'd and
every one left the scaffold but the
doomed men. The sheriff took hold OF
the rope attached TO the spring and
awaiting a signal from Father Bnnce
before the drop fell and shouted to the
doorkecper. In moment a white
handkerchief fell from the latter's hand
and the sheriff pulled the drop. The
fall was over three feet, and the men
came down heavily. Mcdonnell seemed
to die instantly, but Sharpe struggled
violently. A reprieve was received IN
Mauck Chunk by telegraph at 1887 and
the manager OF the Western Union
Telegraph Office rushed to the Jail with
it. He rang the bell violently about
half a minnie. Mrs. Mcdonnell and
her children were also al the door weep
ing loudly, but the doorkeeper did not
seem to understand that the dispatch
was a replieve. 1t was from Gov. j.
F. Hartrauft, and granted reprieve
until Monday. There was great excite
ment i'm the town when the news OF the
repritve was made known. The friends
of the prisoners took charge of the
bodies which were put into collins III
the Jail The Sheriff said he had no
idea that a reprieve would be granted
by the Governor, nor did any of the
authorities here anticipate such con
tingency.
The Sheriff was about to put on the
white caps when Sharpe said he wished
to leave his thanks with the Sheriff and
the officers of the Jail. Mcdonnell
simply said the same The men then
kissed their crucitixes passionately, and
the priests whispered words of consola-
ton in their ears, as the white caps
ere drawn over their heads.
HARRrsBURG, Pa, Jan. 14.--Gov.
Hartranft who returned from Washing
ton early this morning finally agreed to
extend the time for the execution of
Sharpe and Mcdonnell to the goth inst,
but the news of the execution in answer
to his Geographic reprieve Of course put
an end to all turthre efforts to save the
men. No hopes were entertained for
final pardon, and the Governor would
only grant reprieve for few days.
The Governor did not reach his office
until a quarter before ten O'Clock this
morning. After hearing the attorneys
plea for a respite, he decided about |
1880 TO grant it. The telegram was
then written and filed in the telegraph |
office at 1885 and sent at 1886. No |
further reason for the delay in issuing |
the respite is given, but that the fact
that the Governor did not reach his |
Office until the time above indicated