The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-22
JOE PALMER, ONE OF THE BLOODY
KIRK MURDERERs, HANGS
Dying, - He Lived, Hardened. Cold, I'm
feeling and Unrepentant wreteh-Ihs
Dignity Of the Law ~ Last Pre-
served in Ohio Notes.

| =
CINCINNATI. July 16.-That hardened and
unrepentant wretch, Joseph Palmer, has
been hanged. He died as he had lived
brazen, bold and without feeling. Never
has he exhibited the slightest sign that
| would lead to the belief that he possessed q
| human heart. During his three trials be
laughed and joked, and never for a moment
seemed to realize that his was the most seri-
| Gus ofense known to man. When he was
| convicted and stood up to receive the lust
| sentence of the law he was stolid and totally
| unmove1
What wonder that there was no sympathy
for such man! What wonder that there is
| q sigh of relief, row that he is hanged, and
that it is known that at least one of the Kirk
murderers, the infamous partner of the more
infamous Berner, whose escape from justice
brought on the riot and its attendant evils,
has been justly punishedl
Palmer yesterday ate, drank and was
| merry. He slept well Nc dreams troubled
his peaceful mind Palmer awoke of his
| own volition at $50 O'Clock. He remained
in bed, however, until nearly O'Clock,
when the arrival of his spiritual director,
Father Brady, caused him to get up and
| dress himself. Lighting the candles on the
little white alter in the cell, the reverend
| father and the condemned man knelt down
and passed half an hour in prayer, Palmer
| Joining in very heartily.
At 7 O'Clock Jailer Williams sent up his
| last breakfast. 1t was most substantial
meal and Palmer enjoyed it After finish
| ing his repast Palmer lit cigar, and thrust
| ing his hands in his pantaIoons pocket, paced
leisurely up and down in his cell, putting
| his cigar as calmly as if he was q free man.
At O'Clock Sheriff Beresford and Chief
| Deputy Frank Kelly entered his cell with
| the death warrant. Palmer halted in the
middle Of his cell while the Sheriff read it.
| After its conclusion he merely bowed his
head ami resumed his walk.
After the sheriff and his deputy had de-
parted number Of Palmer's fellow inmates
came in to bid him good-by. He received
them all with the same easy, good-natured
way that has CHI aracterized him since his in
generation in the Jail
Each in his turn was created with smile
and kind word. Especially kind was his
reception of Antonio Bacciocco, who has
been his friend in confinement. At $40
Jailer Billy Williams brought up the clerk
from Mabley's with the suit of clothes in
which he was to be executed.
'Try these on, Joe, and see bow they fit"
Sdlu MT. w llilamS.
"An right answered Palmer, as he at
once prepared to undress.
Hadn't better change my underclothes,
too2" asked Palmer
Certainly, you had, replied the jailer,
and Palmer made the change.
The clothes fitted perfectly, and Palmer
expressed his approval of their quality.
The procession to the gallows from the cell
was as follows:
Sheriff Beresford and Deputy Frank
Kelly, Jailer Williams and Deputy Tom
Taylor, Criminal Bailif Joe Moses and Exc
cution Deputy Taylor, with the prisoner,
accompanied by Father Brady, thirty dep
uty sheriffs and bailiffs, two by two.
Hamilton county has had its last hanging
The death of Palmer on the black scaffold
leaves it relic of an old law which has
been in force for many generations.
The future executions will be held in the
peni tentiary at Columbus, and it is con-
sidered a relief to Cincinnati, and more to
smaller towns in the state where morbid
curiosity brings in crowds Of every fiber and
inclination.
Probably thinking this their last chance,
the crowding of people about the doorways
of the famous jail, indicated in respectful
manner the interest in a fellow-beings sud-
den and strained departure from this world
of woe and ropes
Mr.. Palmer was not in the least disturbed.
He walked the floor of his room, his hands
behind him, his thoughts being such that he
did not talk
His surly, disagreeable manner was never
more manifest. He did not soften in de-
meanor or acquit himself with good grace.
There was no sympathy in the crowd which
waited for his march to death. There was
callous joking in the yard and in the cor
L.
that sBerner- ought to be with him
After the reading OF the death warrant
Mr.. Kelly took charge of matters down
stairs. Sheriff Beresford was also on hand
to see that his deputies took charge Of every
thing properly
His own duty was the most unpleasant.
tI have an unpleasant duty to perform,
Palmer said Mr. Kelly, as he went into the
|. cell, accompanied by Sheriff Beresford, Joe
Moses and Deputy Geo. w. Long.
| Father Brady was also there to administer
the last consolation. Palmer got up with
that peculiar look in his eyes for which he
has always been noted.
He came forward half way to meet the ex-
ecutors of the law. he turned to give one
look to Father Brady, whose lips were NOV
| ing in prayer, crucifix in hand.
| The drop fell at 1907 and Palmer swung
| off to his death. The body whirled around
| but the writhing did not indicate great suf-
| fering.
| The crime Of Palmer, as the partner of
| William Berner, was in its consequences the
| greatest crime of the present day in Ohio or
| any other state. The suggestion of the far
cical Berner trial and the resulting riot re-
| calls to every citizen of Ohio the murder of
| William Kirk
Two days after the festivities of Christmas
| in 1888 Kinks body was found in the snow
and mud of q ditch near Cumminsville.
| Adam Fisher was the first to find the re-
mains, and he reported it to the Cummins-
| vile police. A handkerchief was tied over
| the eyes, a rope was drawn tight about the
neck, and two terrible wounds in the skull
above the forehead showed that death had
been caused by murderous blows.
The body was removed to Habigs, and af-
| terward identified as that Of VIM H Kirk,
| sand dealer and horse trader, living at 81
| Elizabeth street Some foolish theories Of
micide were soon dispelled by circumstan-
tial evidance that caused the arrest of Joe
Palmer, who had formerly been a hcstler in
Kinks stable.
Later William Berner was arrested on the
sharge of completely. Both men made con-
LESSONS in twcnty-four hours
On Monday afternoon, December "A,
| Palmer and Berner were working together
| IN Kinks stable at No. 32s West Ninth street,
| Both boys knew that Kirk had large sums OF
money at all times, and they had planned to
rob and kill him, if necessary. Kirk came In
1t o'clock that afternoon
"What do you sayF' whispered Berner to
Palmer
ITS co. replied Palmer, and without q
word Of warning Bernar hit Kirk with
heavy hammer. He fell and moaned- Pal
,-,,- fr,J1rro3 mr., xritl, s1xoraJ Ilorxr with