St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-13
A GALLOWS HORROR.
Ford and Murphy Hanged at New Orleans
While Unconscious From Dose Of
Belladonna.
The Deadly Poison Conveyed to Them by
Some Person Unknown to the
Sheriff.
A Thirteen-Ycar-Old Boy Hanged by
Mob for an Atrocious Attempt
at Murder.
Three Attempts Made to Slay Youns
uoosier who Courted a Girl An
other Wanted.
rxDinted Their Crimes.

Ford ana JOln murphy NclO hdhSCu III tliO
parish prison to-day for the murder of A.
ended as tragically and sensationalIy
as it has been throughout, for
the men were carried to the gallows
inSensible from the poison they had taken
and hanged while apparently dying. 1T
was race between the gallows and poison,
but the first won by a few minutes. Stories
had been current on the street for some time
that the two murdererS. who nave
hosts of friends and SympathiZers, would
never hang; that they would be rescued
during the excitement of the carnival and
when all New Orleans was watching the
Rex parade; or if rescue failed they
would die by their own hands. About
2:30 Il. M, after the deVotlohai
exercises, Ford declared that he was tired
and expressed desire to retire to his cell
and rest They were left alone in the cell,
but deputy sheriff remained at the door
to watch them. The two men
SANK TO SLEEP
at once. They were visited every fifteen
minutes by the deputy sheriff, who found
them still sleeping. There was an unwill-
ingnesS TO disturb their slumbers but at
7:3O o'clock. when they were still ap-
parently asleep. it was thought best to
begin the work of the day. When
Capt. Rogers saw the men he was much
startled by the loud breathing of Ford. lie
closely scanned them, and saw at once that
something was the matter Sheli1 Buuer
was notified and came to the CELL Ford
and Murphy were lying on the broad OF
their backs, Ford breathing very loud, and
apparently choking or strangling to death.
and covered with a red rash. All
efforts to arouse the men was una
vailing Murphy opened his eyes.
but the other man gave no sign whatever OF
life. Drs. Bertrand and Beson were sent
for and pronounced it case of poison
either by morphine or belladonna, and at
once administered an antid0te.
EFFORTS TO AROUSE FORD
were unavaiing, but Murphy was aroused,
and when asked how he felt. replied,
VERY bad" A tremor passed over him
and he again sank into LnconSciousness.
Two pieces of paper were found in the cell
which had evidently contained bella
donna. In view of the tact
that the condemned had attempted
suicide. Rev. Father O'Callahan, in accord
ance with the rules of the Catholic church,
refused to administer the last sacrament to
them. The preparations for the hanging
began at 1908 p. M, when the yard and
corridors Were cleared of prisoners. Both
men were lying in their cots. Murphy
was in the same semi-cOnSciOuS state, and,
although his eyes wandered in all direc
tions. he could not understand what was
going on. Only once did he return to his
senses, and then he held out his hand to
Ford and endeavOred to shake hands with
him. This was only for an instant, for he
once more lost consciousness, nOtwithstand-
ng the fact that the emetcs administered
20 him caused him to vOmit the poison,
which was of a greenish hue. At 1890 the
arms and legs of the men were pinioned
while they were still in recumbent posi-
ion. Six witnesses were sworn in by
Sheriff Butler and
THE DEATH WARRANT
was read to the senseeSS men. They were
carried to the scatfold. At 1910 p. M,
inding that the men were unable to sit in
chairs, the ropes were heightened some
what in order to reach them as they lay in
half-recumbent position on the gallows.
The rain last night caused the ropes to
stretch 50 that when the drop fell Murphy's
feet touch the pavement and Ford's feet
also touched it. 1t only took a few
minutes for the eXecutiOner, rObed
in his black domino and wire mask,
to adjust the rope and black cap before he
returned TO his cell, followed almost in
stantly by a sharp ''swish' of the AK as il
cut the ropes. Then the bodies of John
Murphy and Pat Ford shot through the all
to come up with a sudden jerk. The drop
was about eight feet. The bodies Were
allowed TO hang twenty-five minutes anC
were cut down at 1:l5 p. N. The same
jury which witnessed the hang
ing viewed the bodies, and
Assistant Coroner Jones gave
verdict of death by hanging, which dislO-
Gated the necks of both men. The bOdie:
ha oh fAf hNrf 10 fa
Sheriff Butler. in an interview, stated tina
he had taken every precaution to avoid wha
had happened. He had taken precaution
not only against the admission of persons,
but also against any attempt a
rescue. When the last dealt
warrant was received he had
without giving the condemned
any reason for the act, remand everythin!
from their cell. This was done for fea
that poison or some other means of takin:
life might be secreted there. He also re
fused to allow any cigars or other luXurie
to be sent to them by persons outside. Ill
said rigid investigation would be made as L
how the poison was conveyed to them
Ford's wife and Murphy's sweetheart wer
in the Jail previous to the execution, bu
were kept in ignorance of the mems cOndi
tion. In Ford's vest pocket was found tn
following letter:
FoRD's GOODBYE.
NEwORLEANs, March ll.-At Night-To tn
Good Sisters of Mercy and All Ny Religion
Friends: / cannot bear the terrible disgrac
bring on my innocent offspring. 1 don
deserve this terrible ending. My enemie
have triumphed this time. Baker AM
Cunningham, l leave you my curse
TO the balance l leave my blessing
have been despondent to-day. will an
swer all to my God. Good friends and mino.
np L ic ft1r
next So, dear sisters, forgive me, All we
as all. Goodbye. p. II. FORD.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The murder, which took place Dec /, 1SS
was a cowardly one, duplicating Patric
Ford. John Murphy, Judge Thomas j. Fore
w. E Caulfield and w. H. Buckley. Th
Judge was a leading Democratic political
and recorder of the lower district of Ne
Orleans. He had quarrel with A. II. Mu
phy likewise a Democratic leader, sportin
man. amateur pugilist and workhous
seeper. Judge Ford. taking with him b
brother Patrick and three police officers {
ais court. waited in ambush and closed
apon Murphy, who was in charge Of wor
louse gang of laborers. The assassins crel
ION their victim, sheltering themselves
he shadow of the buildings, and opened iii
lpon him at short range. All attacked hiI
out Pat Ford and John Murphy fired the thr'
fatal shots. Immediately after the killiI
eading city officials, friends OF Ford, orga
zed such plan of intimidation OF Witness
;hat although the crime was witnessed
Icores of people, hardly any could at first
found to testify. In consequence the graz
ury spent thirty days in examining the cas-
Inc men were brought to trial on Jan.
1883, and the trial occupied ten days. Aft
the jury had been locked up three days it WI
discovered by the court that the accused al
friends of the accused had been freely cor
munlcating with the jury through the depu
sheriff in charge, and that the foreman there,
was offered a pecuniary consideration fl