Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-06-15
TIE ROPE ROUTE.
Henry DE Eu>n;> i Hung After u Re-
narkabie Career in all Parts of the
World.

markabIc Career in all Parts of til.
| World.
Last week Henry De Bosnys was
hanged at Elizabcthtown, Essex
county, for the murder of his wife
De Bosny- was Il most extraordinary
criminal. He was about 50 years OF
age. and, according to his own ac
count. was born in Portugal. Whel
he was very young his parents re
moved to France and he was edll
Gated at Communal school. the
seminary of St Brieux. His eluca
tlon was thorough and extensive. and
he could write and speak English
French. Italian, Spanish, Greek, and
Portuguese. and could less perfectly
speak and understand several Other
languages. While yet mere lad he
sailed with north polar expedition
under Leclaire, and was gone nearly
two years, from February, 1913, io
October, 1880. In 1854, with his
father and brother. he volunteered
for the Crimean war, and served in
the French army in the Crimea for a
couple of years A few years OF
peace followed. in which De Bosnys
completed his education, but on the
breaking ont of the war with Austria.
in 1889. he joined MacMahon's army,
i'll which he saw few months serv-
ice, sailing in the Autumn to China
with the French contingent Re
turning to France he joined the
French expedition to Mexico in 1861,
and after few months joined the
Mexican side, becoming Captain of
guerrillas under Lopez. In this serv-
ice he was severly wounded in an en-
gagement. He came North, and,
being cured of his wound. enlisted in
the Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers
in 1863 He was wounded at the
battle of Gettysburg and discharged
from the army. Returning to France
he was married. but after two
months matrimonial experience
sailed on another arctic expedition.
After an absence of two years he
returned to this country, where he
led a rowing life until the outbreak
of the Franco German war. He. en-
tered the French Army, rising by
successive promotions until he be
came Colonel under Cen BoTrbaki
He served all through the war with
varying fortunes. at its close escap
ing to Marseilles, whence he shipped
for America.
On this side of the ocean his career
was much less brilliant He fell by
degrees until he became tramp,
wandering about the country and do
ing odd jobs of work as painter or
farm laborer. Two years ago he
appeared in the little village of Essex
engaged as farm hand. After a
brief courtship he married Elizabeth
Wells, a widow, much his senior in
years, who owned small property.
On Aug l, 1882, Mr.. and Mrs. De
Bosnys were seen driving out of the
village. and after. a brief interval
DE BosnyS was seen continuing the
journey alone The woman not max
ing her appearance, search was made,
and it resulted in the finding of her
mangled and lifeless body concealed
under mass of leaves and rubbish
near the side of the road. De Bos
nys was arrested on suspicion. At
the trial in March lie was i'll, and had
to be carried in and out of the court
room. The evidence was so strong
that the jury took only 10 minutes to
agree on verdict of guilty. He
broke down when the sentence of
death was pronounced, but soon re-
covered control of himself. He
passed his time in Jail making trans
latons from Greek, in making draw
ings in which there were signs of
artistic skill, and in original English
compositions, including an autobi-
ography and poem to the memory
of Gen. Custer with whose command
he was when the General was killed.
The night before his execution he
sold his body for $40 with which he
purchased n SUIT of clothes De
Bosnys slept soundly all night and
awoke in CHEEKY humor. At 8
o'clock he inspected the gallows On
arriving at the steps the Sheriff
offered to assist him in ascending,
when the prisoner said, II can go up
quicker than you," and ran up the
steps. He took the moose in his hand,
and, after examining it, he expressed
the opinion that it would not work
well, and requested the Sheriff to soap
the rope. Then, taking his position
on the trap, he looked around him
and said: 'Is this where l stand7 l
hope my head won't strike that fence
when go down." On being asked
how he felt. he replied with a laugh:
''There are many men more sick to-
day than | am" He returned to his
cell, and to the priest who attended
him he protested his innocence. The
procession to the gallows formed at
Ills o'clock. De Bosnys, before the
black cap was drawn over his face.
said: "Gentlemen, l thank you for
your many acts Of kindness. l am
innocent of the crime for which the
law has condemned me to death. If
there was blood on my knife it was
not my wife's blood. Idle innocent"
Under Sheriff Jenkins adjusted the
moose and De Bosnys took his place
on the trap. Tx Sheriff Olcott put
on the black cap, and at II :32 o'clock
Sheriff Jenkins said: MAY the
Lord have mercy on your SOUL" and
sprung the trap. De Bosnys' neck
was broken by the fall. Life was ex-
tinct i'll II minutes, but the body was
allowed to hang half an hour.
Minister West has laid before
Secretary Frelinghuysen a communi
cation from the British Government
to the effect that English agents or
detectives have been sent to this
country to watch the movements of
Irish agitators and to discover, if
possible, whatever shipments of ex-
plosive materials may be made from
American ports for England. Secre-
tary Frelinghuysen has assured Mr.
| West that this communication would
| H., hronrbt tn fbo Droe;l lo,t o,l @l,o