Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-07-21
DACEY HANGED AZ NOON.
Execution of q Notable Character o
Woodstock, Ill.

| DACEY HANGED AT NOON.
| Execution of q Notable Character at
| Woodstock, III.
WOODSTOCK, Ill.,, July 16.-James
Dacey, the murderer of Aid. Michael
Gaynor, of Chicago, was hanged here
at 1886 to-day. He made no speech
and was moderately composed, though
during the morning he screamed al
most continuously, and had his limbs
bound to prevent his making an as
sault on any OF his attendants.
Probably no such exciting scene has
ever transpired in q murderer's cell as
was enacted here last evening. Real
izing that his last hope had fled,
Dacey became the next thing to raw
ing maniac. His father confessor was
with him at the time, endeavoringto
prepare him for the end, but his efforts
were in vain, and just as Dacey was
making q dive for the priests
| throat, the latter fled from the
cell. Dacey then seized a large club
and q pair of scissors and declared his
| intention of killing the first man that
approached, meanwhile giving vent to
| the most horrible imprecatiOns and
| blasphemies. Finally, by strategic
| movement, he was gotten out into the
| corridor and as a full stream Of water
from a hose was turned into his face, he
was seized from behind by half q dozen
stalwart bailiffs and hoored. Mana
cles were then placed on his wrists, his
feet were tied tightly together with
ropes and he was placed upon g. cot In
the cell. For hours he filled the air
with curses and vows of vengeance,
but about 10 O'Clock nature asserted
itself and he fell asleep. He refused to
take breakfast or to put on the suit
which had been provided for him.
| At 1870 A. NJ. Dacey advanced to
make another attack on the deputy
sheriffs when they entered the cell and
clothed him in a black suit, but he
was induced by Fathers Burke, Clancy
and Ryan to submit. The priests,
after conference, resolved not to ad-
minister holy sacraments on the
ground that Dacey was not in proper
mental condition to receive them and
confined themselves to prayer. He
persistently refused ali nourishment.
James Dacey was a well-known ward
| politician IN Chicago, professional
| striker" OF the most approved type. he
came here in the 7O's from Buffalo, n. Y
In 1888 he was president OF the Chicago
| Laboriug Mems Union, and worked both
hiE position and the organization tofurther
| the political ends of anyone who was will
ing to come down with the lucre. Every
| election found him acting as judge, super
| visor, etc., in the interest OF the gang. Aid.
| Gaynor was the Democratic representative
of the Ninth Ward in the City Council. He
was extremely popular among his constitu-
ents, and month before the murder had
| been elected for asecond term. About that
| time his colleague, Aid. Foley, died, and an
election became necessary to fill the va
| cancy. The nominees were one Mahoney,
| who was supported by Gaynor, and John
| Murray backed by Dacey. On the night
| before the election both sides worked hard
and it was thought that Dacey's man had
| the inside track. About midnight Aid.
| Gaynor, with some friends, entered a sa-
| loon on Halsted Street. Dacey was sitting
at table with some members of the cleo
ton committee. Gaynor, who was in
| jovial mood, invited all present, and Dacey
| in particular to drink at his expense. Da-
| cey brusquely refused, and went toward the
| door, as if with the intention of leaving the
place. Instead of doing SO, however, he
nuSSlOu 6tIC, uId"lHs d
bulldog revolver, fired dead blank at Gay.
nor, who had taken seat at the table,
| The bullet entered the back OF the
neck and passed into the brain,
and, with the ejaculation, MY
God, I am shotp' the unfortunate man fell
to the floor. He was taken home, and died
two days later. After the shooting Dacey
tried to escape, but was prevented by the
| people in the saloon. The news spread like
| wildfre, and in a few moments there
was a mob on the outside clam
oring for Dacey's life. A lynching
was imminent, but two wagon loads of
officers arriving OPPORTUNITY upon the
scene, the murderer was taken to the Des-
PLANES Street station. This place in turn
was beseiged by the mob and Dacey was
finally removed to the other end of the city.
Dacey was tried in Henry County in
June of last year, his lawyers being
afraid to take their chances in the city.
The evidence showed that the victim had
for years been benefactor to the murderer
and had oftentimes saved him from starva
ton. The jury convicted him in short or
| der and he was sentenced to hang on May
IA. The supreme court upheld the verdict
and sentence, but at the instance of friends
of the condemned the governor granted a
respite in order that his mental condition
might be inquired into. This was done
few weeks ago and the Jury after listening
| to the testimony of a score of medical ex-
| perts pro and con unanimously agreed that
Dacey was sane.