Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-19


the Clergyman to Administer the
Last Sacremant--The Doomed
Mems Neck Broken BY the Fall.
NEW ORLEANS, March 12--At 7:S0.
this morning, when the keepers made
efforts to arouse Ford and Murphy,
hey could not wake them up. After
examination by physicians It was con-
clnded the me had taken b~elladonna.
At $50 Murphy bad rallied a little, but
Ford was still unconscious.
During the excitement in the prison
attendant upon this revelation, Mrs.
Ford sat In the ante-room in company
with MuFphy's sweetheart. and the
utmost care was exercised TO keep
them ignorant OF what had taken
place. The reporters and all In the
prison were requested to remain quiet
and display as little mystery as
possible. Tnis order was well executed
ard the intelligence was withheld
from the unfortunate ladies who sat
weeping. To describe the scene would
be impossible, suffice it to say that it
was heartrending. At an early hour
crowds of people began to congregate
on the thoroUgnfares leading to the
prison. There was death like silence
prevailing in and around the
institution, and the mOurnful
aspect of things told that
something dreadful was in c~ontempla-
ton. There was no demonstration
at all in the prison. Everything was
as quiet as the stiffness Of death. AT
1879 Rev. Father O'Callahan who was
tie spiritual adviser Of Ford and MUIR
ply, presented himself at the gate Of
the prison for admission and was es-
corted to the condemned cell where
the men were gasping for breath. His
face betrayed signs Of regret that the
men deviated from the course laid oul
for them BY him. He prayed f~ervently
In Pat Ford's vest pocket the fol
lowing letter was found:
anew ORLEANS, March Il, 1850, /
"At Night. !
ITO the Good sisters Of Mercy and all my Re
ligiOus friends:
II cannot bear the terrible disgrace
/ bring on my innocent offspring; ]
don't deserve the terrible ending. My
enemies have trinmphed this time. Ba.
ker and Cunningham / leave YOU my
curse; the balance my blessings. !
have been respondent to-day; / will
answer all to my God, good friend
and "minos;" DR.. Holland and 9. II
Parker, your time next. Dear sisters
forgive me, as well as all, good. bye.
Up. II. FORD
Governor McEnery this morn.
ing received a telegram from
Sheriff Butler, Of Orleans par
ish, saying: "Ford and Murphy al
tempted suicide this morning BY pois
oning and are in a stupor and coma
tose condition. The doctors believe
to be a failure. but cannot say hol
long il will take to return them to con
sclousness. Should they not be RI
vived previous to the hour fixed shall
/ execute the warrant notwithstand
ing?"
The governor replied: eyes, 60 o.
with the execution; carry out the wal
rant"
At noon a reporter called at the Of
fee Of Gen. Cunningham, Mrs. Pa
Ford was there, appeared deeply al
fected. In answer to a question MI
Cunningham said: Il know of no laV
which can prevent the execution; th
law l think is silent on eventuality o
sickness or self. poisoning Of con
demned. The warrant has to be ext
cuted and its staying is now purel
and only a matter of sentiment"
The attorney general then remarked
"that his duty had been done. and b
had nothing more to say about the VI
fortunate men,"
At 1910 o'clock Sheriff Butler, al
companied by several officials, proceed
ed to the condemned cell, where th
bodies Of the doomed men lay still vi
der the physicians care. The appi
rently lifeless form were CAREFUL
: lifted from their recupbent pos
lions and borne In the arms Of the ag
tated deputies to the scaffold. Ami
aprofound silence the ghastly bodie
were carried up the steps to the plan
Of the horrible platform and held i
erect position while the fatal moose
were drawn over and around thel
necks. No sign Of life was observabl
in either of the men. When the la;
sad rites had been performed, an
when the trap was sprung by an III
seen hand, and the bodies launche
into eternity, a hush fell upon the Ii
tie group Of unwilling spectator
awful and heartrending in its intens
ty. The trap was sprung at 1875
pm.
Finding the men unable to sit !
chairs, the ropes were lengthene
!; somewhat In order to reach them !
the half recumbent position on Ii
gallows. The rain last night cause
the ropes to stretch so that when th
drop fell Murphy's feet touched th
pavement ana Ford's feet came veE
!, near touching. This, however, did NJ
. interfere in any way, as the necks {
! both men we're broken by the fall. A
1890 last night service was held
the chapel by members Of the St. Vii
cent de Paul society. AT 2 o'cloC