The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-16
THE PRISONERS SPEECH.

the jury could only bring in one verdict,
guilty"
THE PRISONERS SPEECH.
Your honor, l have but little TO say.
At this fearful moment l have no incll-
nation to find fault with your rulings.
nor do l wish to censure a jury to whom
| did not object. | am ready and will
ling to submit to the laws of my cOun-
try, but, oh, gentlemen, | do wish tc
rescue from the tongue of Islander the
memories of poor Henry and Maria
Francisco. when the last of our bodies
have returned to their primary elements,
and when our spirits shall have winged
their flight TO the God, to whom they be-
long. That l am to die for the innocent
and romantic Maria l am glad. l glory
in the thought, but were | known, and
my acts known to all men as they were
known to God and Maria, you would not
sentence me to die" The Judge pro-
nounCed sentence of death, and Francis
co was removed from the dock. In due
time the governors warrant for the ex-
ecution was received by Sheriff Andrew
Scott. Strong efforts were made to
kprocure a new trial or a pardon. Mount
ed messengers were dispatched to the
governor, and spared not whip or spur
until they presented him with the petit
tons OF the people. To all these 10
answer came, and the day fixed for the
execution drew near. One night a state
messenger rode into Erie, the bearer of
an important dispatch to the sheriff.
Your correspondent has just seen this
dispatch, taken with all the documents
of the case, from the musty pigeon hole.
in which it has lain undisturbed for fifty
years. Upon the envelope the follow
ing words are still distinguishable !:
Life and death. Deliver to the sheriff
at any hour of the day or night 1t was
a respite for two months. During that
time Francisco prepared an account of
his career. II the motive which nduc-
ed the suicidal act. This has beer sa-
credly preserved by Judge Galbraith,
and never given to the press. He tells
OF his early life, his first marriage with a
Miss Carpenter, his discovery of falsity.
separation and divorce. Three other
wives were married in Buffalo, N. Y,
two of whom died, and the other ATTAIN
ed a bill of divorce. His married atflic-
tons weighed upon him so heavily that
three times he sought death. but found
it not. In Erie he met Maria Dunn.
hen not sixteen years old. They be-
came greatly attached to each other, and
were married. Mrs. Dunn protested
against the marriage; but gave the
couple part of her house. still standing
on Peach street. Mrs. Dunn learned OF
his previous marriages, and, fearing that
her child would follow in the footsteps
of her predecessors, she tried to separate
them. Life became uncomfortable to
both, and they concluded to put it out
of any ones power to separate them by
dying together. Having procured the
poison, they each wrote a letter, de-
claring Al intention to seek peace in the
grave, which was denied them here.
The wife's letter is very touching. L
told my husband l would not live with
out him. and we have agreed to die to-
gether,' she says. and continues /:
Those who have caused this will now
feel that their malice cannot reach my
Henry. They will not triumph over US,
nor will we be humbled. Forgive US,
gracious God, for violating thy laws
Forgive us this act of suicide. Mary
Francisco" Then the middle-aged man
OF four previous wives, and his fresh and
innocent girl-bride, knelt together at
their bedside and commended their souls
to Heaven. Disrobing, they retired to
bed and swallowed the poison.
In the meantime, great hopes
of a pardon were entertained. The
respite was regarded as a favorable
sign. and the sheriff prayed at the
family gatherings, night and morn
ing, that he might be spared the
horror of doing execution upon the body
OF his prisoner, whom he regarded as
innocent of murder. OF the two men.
the sheriff appeared the most deeply at
tected and distressed. Francisco had
to become comforter. and often Joined
the christian official in his PRAYER for
God to incline the heart of the governor
to mercy. more on account of the
sherltf's sake than his own. The two
months had nearly expired. and the peo-
! pie were almost frantic with excitement.
\ week before the term of the respite
was up another state messenger arrived.
The sheriff broke the seal. trembling
with excitement. The nextm moment the
message dropped from his hands. 1t
was another death warrant. commanding
him to take Henry Francisco and hang
HIM until he was dead. on December
Both. 1882 Francisco received the
tldlngs calmly, bot was at last over
come by the sheriff emotions. The
two men, Francisco, and hi. execution
er, clasped hands and gazed at each 9TH
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