The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-08

the father he ate his breakfast, consisting Of
poached eggs, toast, and coffee, with apparent
relish.
Shortly after so'clock his WIFE her two sis
tiers and brother and two children called to have
their last interview with him and bid farewell.
ney, the brother-in-law, Bernard Fossett and
Ted Sweeney were admitted, and all were
allowed to converse with him in the corridor.
AS reporters were not admitted inside, we are
unable to give any particulars in regard to the
At 1905 Gaffney's relatives took their final
leave and passed out Of the jail all weeping bit
terly.
AS the above passed out, the Rev. Fathers
Malloy and LaniGan went in, two of the Sisters
having previously entered. The Rev. Father
Nash also arrived shortly after went in and
joined the Others
At 1920 the prisoner was taken from his cell,
and conveyed to one of the debtors rooms, up
stairs, where the last religious ceremonies, pre-
vious to his appearance on the scaffold, were
performed
THE CROWD.
As early as half-past o'clock crowd com
menced to gather upon the streets surrounding
the Jail and in the yard: but upon the arrival of
the police consisting of twenty-five men, under
the command Of Captain William Wolfe, of
precinct No 3, they were quickly compelled to
leave the yard and sidewalks.
A MOVE TO THE sHER1FF's OFFICE.
About quarter before II all those in the Jail
and yard were ordered, by the sheriff, to repair
to his Office. Shortly after arriving there the
roll of those summoned to attend as witnesses,
twelve in number, was called, as follows
Stephen NJ. Radcliffe, George zent,
Edward o VsIsntin. Tr % p w jackson
John Grener, Henry g. Sill,
John r. Zero, g. w. Decker.
The physicians summoned by the sheriff were DR..
William q Phelps and Prof VIM. H Mason, M D.
At 11:20 the witnesses, officers, reporters and
others-to the number of about 100 in all-were,
by order of the sheriff. formed in procession,
and marched back to the Jail
THE DOOMED NAN COMES FORTH
At Is minutes before IL o'clock the attention
of all was turned toward the portal of the Jail,
whence issued the sheriff and under sheriff, with
the priests following, the latter accompanying
the prisoner, who walked with steady step, and
mounted the stairs TO the scaffold without finch
ing About his neck was the fatal moose, the
black cap was on his head, black gown about
his body, and small erucifx in his hand
He was accompanied upon the scaffold by the
reverend fathers, officers limerick, Fell and
Powell, and Undsrsheriff Smith.
Amid breathless silence, Under-sherif Smith
then read to the condemned man the death war
rant
After the reading of the death warrant, Gaff-
ney SAID II beg pardon for the crime for
which suffer, and beg pardon of all persons"
He then repeated something after the priests,
but in so low a tone that none savU those who
stood Immediately about him could catch the
words
The prisoner than manifested strong desire
to address those present, but the clergymen
seemed as strenuously to oppose Finally he
was permitted to speak, when he said:
Gentlemen: will tell you the TRUTH He went
on them to repeat substantially the confession given
before. Having repeated his former assertion that
Farrell gave him the pistol with which he shot Fahey
he said: Gentlemen, this is God Almighty truth !"
. He then declared that his friends had com
PEELED him to keep his mouth closed, and would
not let him make statement which might have
saved his life. He then made some allusion to
his wife and children, and to the friends who
had abandoned him and stolen his money! He
said he greved for his wife and little children.
II hope and pray to God that you will believe
me and forgive me.
THE GAP DRAWN DOWN.
At four minutes to IL while the priests were
chanting the solemn services, the cap was
drawn over the doomed mans eyes by Officer
limerick, and his arms and legs pinioned.
THE DRoP.
At two minutes to IL o'clock the signal was
given by Officer limerick from the scaffold; it
was repeated by the officer standing in front to
the sherf-the latter pressed the lever and the
trap dropped. His neck was broken and lie
struggled very little. There was q slight
twitching of the shoulders and hands, and this
was all Even after he dropped he continued to
hold the small crucifx in his left hand.
AFTER THE DROP
Five minutes after he fell the pulse was 145;
at eight minutes it was 70; at ten minutes it
was SO, and in another minute it had ceased al
together. rs
After hanging twenty three and half min
utes the physicians announced that the heart
had ceased to beat, and he was pronounced dead.
The sheriff then cleared the yard, the body was
cut down and delivered to the undertaken, who
placed it in
THE CAsKET,
which was very elegant, made of rosewood, and
lined with white velvet and merino. There
were eight silver hsndles, and the plate bears
the representation of a cross and the following
inscription;