The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1885-07-24
HANGED AT LAST.


Joseph Palmer, One of tho Murderers Of
Kirk in Cincinnati, Pays the Penalty of
His Crime-His Last Hours-The Cele-
brated Case That Brought So Much Dts
aster and Woe to the Queen City.
CINCINNATI, O., July l5.-Joseph Pal
mer, the accomplice of Berner in the
murder Of w. FL. Kirk, was hanged at
lo:o7 1-2. At l0:45 he was pronounced
dead. The body was taken charge of
by Undertaken Mulyihill. He was brave
to the last.
Yesterday Palmer ate, drank, and was
merry. Last night he slept we'll, and no
dreams troubled his mind. At $3.50 he
awoke of his own volition. He remained
in bed, however, until nearly six o'clock,
when Father Brady caused him to get
up and dress himself. Lighting the
candles on the little white altar In the
cell, the Reverend Father and the con-
demned man knelt down and passed
half an hour in prayer, Palmer joining
in very heartily. At seven O'Clock he
ate breakfast; after finishing he lit a
cigar, and thrusting him hands in his
pdutdloOu pOChcbS, puCcu lclbuIcly
up and down the cell, putting his cigar as
calmly as If he were free man. At
eight o'clock, when the Sheriff read the
death warrant, Palmer halted and lis
| tened. When it was concluded he merely
bowed his head and resumed his walk.
In few minutes he was dressed, and
proceeded to the gallows with Sheriff
Beresford and thirty deputies. The pro-
cession reached the gallows at 1906.
Palmer stood firm and said nothing. Al
l0:07 l-2 the trap was sprung. He died
of strangulation. In thirty-two and one
half minutes he was pronounced dead BY
Coroner Carrick.
The crime of Palmer, as the partner o.
William Berner, was in its consequences
the greatest crime of the present day in
Ohio, or any other State. On Monday
afternoon, December oath, Palmer ant
Berner were working together In Kirk
stable, at No. 32S West Ninth street
Both boys knew that Kirk had larg
sums of money al all times, and they hal
planned to rob and kill him, If necessary
Kirk came In at four O'Clock that after
noon.
what do you saY7" whispered Berne
to Palmer.
'sIt's CO." replied Palmer, and with
out word of warning Berner hit Kir
with heavy hammer. He fell an
moaned. Palmer followed up with sew
eral blows with club. Then rope wa
tied about the neck and pulled tigh
enough to bulge the eyes,. The pocket
were emptied and $245 found. This wa
divided, Berner getting the bigges
share. Hay was thrown over the body
and at dark the boys drove up with
covered wagon, hired from Chas. t. Hay
man. The body was put in and taken t
the ravine near Cummiusville, where
was found two days later.
Berner was tried in March, 1884. Hi
defense was conducted by Tom Camp
bell and M. F. Wilson. Against all tn
convincing testimony, q miserable jur
brought In verdict of manslaughtel
The result is known by everybody, an
lhe days of riot and bloodshed that fo
towed will never be forgotten. 1t is nc
necessary to tell of the days when mo
fought the State troops and beat dow
the jail doors.
After all this excitement Palmer wa
, tried with the grim walls of the RUNE
Courthouse frowning upon him. 81
was convicted on June oath and ser
fenced to hang October 10th. He wa
RlFeu feSpiee Wy lie DiStrict Sourt,
order that an application for new tris
might be heard. 1t was refused, and hi
date of death was again fixed. He wa
defended by Scott Symmes, who took tn
case to the Supreme Court. Palmer wa
. given another trial, which resulted
his conviction and sentence to han
July 18th.
, Palmer was almost white, and man
, tested brutal disposition ever since hi
arrest. During the riot he saved his lii
from the mob by claiming that he was
white man and that Palmer was upstair
! He was only nineteen, and thorough
tough citizen.