The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-08
PATRICK MORRISSEY,
Died Sept. 8, 1922 s.
Aged % years.


I At half past 10 o'clock all those who had as.
sembled inside the jail were summoned to the
sheriffs Office, This was done to avoid confusion,
and to provide that none should re-enter the jail
save those who had tickets.
Meanwhile Father MallOy. assisted by the
Rev Fathers Quigley and Lanigan. remained
with the prisoner in the debtors room up stairs
engaged in religious devotion.
BACK TO THE JAIL.
+. At half past III o'clock, the sheriff with his
deputies and assistants and those who had been
summoned as witnesses, repaired tothe Jail, the
whole number present being between sixty and
seventy. t,s sss sai .sus ts5- ssls
At il.48 Morrissey went the rounds Of the
Jail and bade the prisoners good bye He stopped
at the cell Of Gaffney and earnestly requested
permission to embrace him. Gaffney was led
out into the corridor when an affecting scene
utes later the sheriff, with the under sheriff,
Mr.. Smith.and che deputies, entered the jail for
for the purpose Of
BRINGING FORTH THE PRISONER.
&: AT 1E57 the prisoner appeared. coming from
the. entrance of the prison First came the
sheriff, then the prisoner, clothed In. black
shroud with the fatal moose about his neck
with the sheriffS deputies on either side; then
the priests, led by Father Malloy in his robes,
and all chanting the death service.
The witnesses and others surrounded the scat
fold, while the prisoner. accompanied by the
prIeStS anu OHcefS limerick ana Harneu as
cended the stairs with a firm step.
All being in readiness Under Sheriff Smith
read the death-warrant
During the reading the condemned man kissed
his hand in adieu to some friend standing near
the Jail door.
The sheriff took his place at the foot Of the
gallows. with his hand resting on the lever at
.ached TO the trap. At this time Morrissey was
conversing in a low tone with Father MalIoy,
and from the few words which our reporter
could catch, it seemed that Morrissey was insist
ing upon making an address to those present,
while the good father was endeavoring 70 dis
suAde him therefrom, and urging him to read a
paper which had been handed him. This Nor
rissey finally did in firm voice.
Morrissey then repeated prayer after the
father, and the latter afterward prayed in Latin
In answer to q question put to him by Father
Malloy, but which was not heard by those below.
Morrissey said: "lam ready to go now" He
then took leave of the priests and officers kiss.
ing the hands Of the former and shaking those
Of the latter. He then spoke out, saying: Good
by, Mr.. Harris; good by to ALL" and afterward
said, May Jesus intercede for me- ask him
to intercede for me- Good bye. God bless you
al. Then noticing reporter Of this paper: by
whom he had been frequently visited, he called
him BY name and said; 'Good-by Mr.. .s
These were the last words he spoke.
At 1908 his hands and feet we're pinioned by
Officer limerick, and at IL % the black cap was
drawn over his eyes. AT 10 the signal was
given, the sheriff pressed the lever, and the soul
less body Of the niatricide hung dangling in the
breeze that caused the canvas overhead to rise
and fall like waves of summer sea; while those
who had been summoned to witness the legal
doing to death of a fellow being gaxed pityingly
upon the CHASTITY spectacle, or turned away their
heads TO hide the emotions they could not over
come.