The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-13


Are Swung on at the Appointed Time.
New ORLEANS, La, March 3.-rat II.
Ford and John Murphy, the two condemned
murderers Of Capt a. II. Murphy, We're
found in their cell Friday morning at 800
O'Clock by Sheriff Butler in AN unconscious
condition, The men had passed the night
in conversation with priests, sisters OF
charity and newspaper reporters. Mrs
Ford visited her husband at 9:l5 p. IN. both
seemed to be more composed than thoy have
been for weeks After religious exercise in
the chapel, the men began chatting with
their friends until a. m. Pat Ford declared
that Murphy tired on him first, and John
Murphy asserted that he was only at the
scene of the murder by chance and took no
part in it, A letter was received by Pat
Ford from eX-judge Ford, now in the peni
tertiary, bidding him an atfectionats fare
well Pat wrote a brief note in reply.
At 3;50 the men retired to their cells ana
went to sleep A death-watch was put ON
them, but he did not keep them in sight At
$50 O'Clock the stertoruus breathing of Pat
Ford attracted attention, and sheriff Butler
was sent for He found both of the men
lying on their backs Ford appeared to be
III Il choking condition and every effort to
arouse him proved unavailing, Murphy
was calmly sleeping and when he was shaken
by the sheriff he opened his eyes and glar
ing around, sank oil again into IA deep sleep.
He was aroused once more and when asked
how he felt, replied: "Very bad A tremor
passed over him and b. again sank into IN
consciousness
DR. Bertrand, the prison surgeon,
was summoned and pronounced it II
case Of morphine poisoning. Other
physicians We're hastily summoned ami the
proper antidotes applied. Search was made
of the cell and two small pieces of white
paper which had evidently contained the
drug We're found on the floor. In Tat
Ford's vest pocket the following letter was
found:
'sNEw ORLEANS, March lis at night -
To the good Sisters OF Mercy and ali my re-
ligious friends, | can not bear the terri
bic disgrace | bring on my innocent Off
spring. don't deserve this terrible ending
My enemies have triumphed this time
Baker and Cunningham, to you leave my
curse, to the balance, my blessing. | have
been Respondent to-day. l viii answer all
TO my God-good friends, and ~Minos7 DR..
Holland and C. H. Parker, it is your time
next, so dear sister forgive me rs well, and
all goodbye. f. H. FoRD."
DR. Holland is the Episcopal minister VINO
wrote articles under the signature Of
"NlinoS, denoJncing the governor for re
preayinE the men. Mr. Parker is the editor
of The Pi,ayune
At ll;SO doctors were still trying to
arouse the men, but had not succeeded
They expressed the opinion that Ford would
die from thu effect of the poison, but still
had hope Of Murphy recovery.
A dispatch was sent to tho governor
by Sheriff Butler, of Orleans par
ish, saying that Ford and Murphy at
tempted suicide this morning by swat
lowing poison They are in
stupor ami in comatosa condi
ton The doctors believe the at.
tempt a failure, but can not say how long
it may take TO restore them to COTS ,ious-
ness. Should they not revive before the
hour fixed, shall execute warrants not
withsta nding7
The governor replied: Eyes; get on with
the execution. Carry out the warrants
A few minutes before noon Ford began to
show very slight signs of returning CON
ciou-ness and Murphy was IN semi-stupor.
The sheriff determined TO hang the men at
Hij, whether they were restored to con-
clousness or not At that time no change
had ta.en place in their condition, and the
deputies conveyed the men TO the atold,
adjusted the ropes and sprung the trap
promptly at the time appointed. No at
tempt was made to dress the IN, n for the
execution. They were laying in their cots
in trowsers and understands and in this
condition they were lifted and set in chairs
and their limbs pIniOaei On reaching the
scnltold they were taken out Of the chairs
and placed on the trap in a sitting position
The only sign OF life shown by Murphy was
opening and closing of his eyes. Ford gave
no sign of life whatever, except the color in
his cheeks. The trap was sprung as soon as
possible. The drop was eight feet and the
necks OF both were disloruted, deattl' result.
ing instantly. Tbs bodies were cut down
after hanging twenty five minutes
On the morning Of Dec. J, 1884. Cart.
Capt Murphy was directing the labor Of
some fifty Or sixty men at work cleaning
the Claiborne canal The captain was
seated on the doorstep of n house at the
corner OF Cbliborne and St Ann streets
with no thought Of danger, when TWO men
stepped around the corner, and without q
word of warning, opened fire on him.
Murphy ran into the middle Of tho street
drew his revolver and returned the
fire. Each Of his aSsailants was duuhiy
armed, and, not being able to stand the tire
from four revolyers, Capt Murphy tunel
and fled up the street and around the corner.
followed by his assailants At the corner
he encountered two more men who had been
stationed there to intercept him, and they
opened TIRE also. Murphy then continued
down Claiborne street. his purSuers increas-
ing in number at every stride When be |
turned into Dunain street no less than
half dozen men were in hot chase,
all firing rs they ran, and the dis
charge of their fisSarms created conster-
nation and wild alarm On Dumain street
he was finally brought TO the ground Two |
OF hi- assailants then walked up turned the
body over and fired bullet after bullet into |
IL, until life was extinct, and the body d |
horrible sight TO behold. A large crowd of |
excited citizens had by this time congre-
gated, hut the small army of murderers |
turned from their victim and disappeared |
as mystcIIouSy as they had come. The |
murderers hal great political influence, and |
1t was long, hard fight to secure their con |
vichon, which was accomplished with the |
aid OF a citizens aw-and-orier committee |
The bog Escaped Death.
ERIE, Pa, March ia singular and |
fatal accident happened, Thursday, near