Daily Republican., 1885-07-16
TfE EN- ECUTION OF TAYLOR.
The End of n Despesado 1n Phil
ati ieI pbia This Morning.

| The execution of Joseph Taylor tool
| place shortly after 10 O'Clock thi,
| morning, in the corridor of Moyameu.
sing prison, Philadelphia, and was wit.
messed by the usnal number of persons.
The crime for which he forfeited his
| life was the murder of his keeper,
Michael I. Doran, In the Eastern Peui
ten tiary, by beating in his head with a
bobbin and bar of iron, OF. the morn
Ing of May 3lst, 1884.
he was executed On the same scatfold
upon which McGainis, Bri ggs, Treuke,
t!oersen an0 Kane paid the penalty OF
their crimes within the past sixteen
months, ,and it stood in the sane spot on
which it stood on those occasions.
Although Taylor had Mother money
nor friends. he was ably defended Z mr.
Ing his trial, and every possible proof
adduced to show that he was in ilsane
at the time the act was committed, but
b is previous record, which showed that
his vices dated from his babyhood, and
that he commenced a career of crime
when but 10 years of age by stabbing a
boy companion, bad its effect upon the
court and jury, and d verdict of iS.7-de er
in the first degree was rendered. He
was but 2o years OF age, but during his
short life he stabbed seventeen persons,
and shot twenty. eight, in addition to
the crime for which he paid the extreme
penalty.
The crime for which he is incayce
rated when he killed keeper Doran
was committed within twenty -four
hours after he had concluded term of
three years for stahbing q policeman
and special officer.
After his conviction, he maintained a
sullen and indiffer snt mood, and re-.
fused to allow any clergyman to come
near him or TO receive spiritual advice
On more than one occasion when min
listers of the gospel approached his
cell he drove them away with curses,
bat last Tuesday, when James r. Ash.
ton, Chaplain of tho Eastern Peniten.
tiary, who knew him when he was a /
prisoner in tina, institution, visited
him, he seemed pleased to see him,
and listened quietly to his prayers and
exhortations.
After the reverend gentleman had
gone away Taylor was asked If he |
would allow another minister to VISIT
him. He replied that he did not care,
but would not refuse to see them if any
Should call. Soon afte7ward he added |
II would like some one to come and
explain the Bible. never believed in |
1t except once, when l was quite
young" When asked if he felt pre-.
pared he replied Yes, l feel that it's
all right. l am going TO Heaven. There
10 only one request have to make; |
would like to see my little daughter.
She is nine years of age, and where she
is don't know. / haven't seen her for /
a long time not siace l was frat sent
to. the penitentiary." He requested |
that he should be furnished with some
fruit, which was subsequently done by |
superintendent Perkins. He was handed |
a cigar after meal time. He pulled the |
weed with avidity, remarking: "Ah,
that's good" Az he con neither read |
nor write he has never asked for books |
or paper.
Last Saturday a long letter was re-
ceived by his counsel from a convict i'll |
the penitentiary, who stated that he |
had known Taylor for years, and that
his wife had been granted a divorce on |
on the ground of his insanity.
Application WAS Immediately madeI
to Governor Pattison for n reprieve on
the ground of insanity, after having
discovered testimony, but he on Tues
day telegraphed to District A torney
Graham asking whether insanity had
baen part of the defense, and Il reply
was sent that insanity was the main
defense, that experts and other wit.
nesses were examined, but failed tol
convince either the Court or the Jury,
and the Governor then decided to let |
the law take its course.