The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-11
New York BarbariSm.

hO NOuSiIS, -hINiitN ~ oAo -htAs /
Reilly, belonging to highly respectable
Irish families, had engaged themselves to
be married, although it was contrary to the
articles of their common church. Tho pro-
fessed and there is no reason to doubt, did
love each other very much. The girls faith
II. on learning, through an intercepted let
.er, Of the engagement. forbade 1t and de
Jared the marriage could not take place
- long as he lived to prevent it. The
threat would seem to have driven Tracy out
IF his mind, for on tine night of Septem-
Der 18th. the Young lawyer followed Miss
Reilly and a companion Miss Mullen home
from Il m%iiliner shop and shot the object of
f his Elections t~hroughJ The temple. He
was convicted, twice re~pited and his case
presented before the Board of Pardons, but
I refused to interfere.
TRACY'S APPEARANCE.
Tracy was twenty-nine years Of age. of
very Intellectual appearance. His forehead
vas exceedingly large and prominent. al
most abnormally so. He stood about five
feet ten inches high ana was slender Of
build. Possessed OF a thorough education
in languages and the scieEces.a a. we'll as nav
ing a general knowledge Of history and the
arts. he could converse with great resdiness
upon almost any subject. The special ac-
compiishment which attracted most people
y him was his wonderful execution on the
piano. He sit for hours playing the most
most. melancholy music: at times varied
with the widest transr1rtatiOnS and haT-
monies: again. the muse would die away
into same plaintive, simple melody-partly
original. partly adapted from a remember
ed operate aria-until, suddenly rising. he
would seize his hat and rush from the house
10 walk the streets. or N the woods, alone.
~ -. ~. = l-~,,.,> -, H. 90.
the queer boy" His ability as a writer o:
verse was exhibited in the ambitions work
printed in Mondays Hra}R. and is also
Shown in the poem which follows. In his
daily conduct in life he was impracticable
and visionary. ami il. as it is just said. the
people of his village did not understand
him. | think it mag with equal truth he
said that he never at any period of his lilo
understood himself.
MUSINGS BEFoRE DEATH.
Written on the night before his exec2-
sad. solitary thought, keeping thy watch,
Thy solemn watch, within the sick mans mind,
Commanding with his lonely soul. on Thee
Wrapt in thy dark magnidceuce 1 call
At this still midnight hour, this awful season,
When on my bed in wakeful restles.ness
I turn me YEARLY; when all but me
Are sunk to rest in sweet forgettulness.
| alone wake TO watch the sickly taper
THAT lights me to my tomb. Yea, It's the hand
OF death l feel press heavily on my vitals:
Slow. sapping the warm current OF existence.
Yes. l must die. 1 feel that l must die.
And ntty years hence who Will speak of me?
On. none. Another busy brood OF mortals
VIII spriug up in the meantime and not one
VIII hold me in remembrance 1 had hoped
For better things. 1 had hoped I should not leave
The earth till l had gained a scholars name.
But fate DEGREES it shall be otherwise.
No more OF human hope the wautou vagraut,
regret all. Now other cares eugross me.
And my tired soul, with cumulative haste,
Looks TO it God
December ), 1879. ANDREW TRACY.
ii EXECUTION.
The corridor was very dark, two burning
lamps suspended from the railing in else
proximity TO the gallows failing to dispcrsc
the gloom. The jurors ranged themselves
beside tine Scatfold. Spectators were asked
- rcmovc their hat and not to speak to the
prisoner. who had made the request. The
Sheriff descended the iron steps from the
third tier. followed hy Tracy and the three
priests. who prayed uni~nterruptedlv during
The long route, the murderer distinctly re-
peatin4 after them and hearingup h%eroical-
". Under gallowS was the coffin.
Tn murderer was. however. too much
absorbed in supplication to see this terrible
picture, tie not only descended two Nights
Of steps without exhibiting any tremulous-
ness hUt assembled the Scatfold in the same
Courageous manner. He was seated on a
chair clothed in Il black gown. and the
priests embraced him and whispered words
"f consolation into his ear. In a few mo-
ments he was requested To rise. which he
did with a~lacrity. The Sheriff then asked
him whether he had any dying declaration
to make. to which one of priests replied
that he had nothing at all to say. which re-
ccivcd the assent OF Tracy. The condemn
cd then indicated that he had forgiven and
now loved all mankind.
PRECIPITATED TO THE GROUND.
The Sheriff and his deputies bound his
arms and legs. After the priests had kissed
iin and babe him farewell a black cap was
placed on his head the priests PRAYING for
divine favor on the condemned. The ~culprit
shot through the opening like an arrow. The
spectators were Mortified at the scene which
met their gaze, the knot having opened and
Tracy having been thrown with great force
on the tagged pavement of the corridor. For
a momen all were dumbfounded by the I'M
expected accident, which had almost Knocked