Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-13
AT THE CELLS.


Yes, 90 on with the execution. Garry out
I sac warrant.
AT THE CELLS.
NEW ORLEANS. March 12.-At 1880
. O'Clock this morning, when the keepers
Of the jail made efforts TO arouse Ford and
Murphy they could not wake them up.
AFTER examinations physicians conclud-
ed that the men had taken belladorna. AT
H;3o O'Clock Murphy bad rallied a little
but Ford was still unconscious.
Preparations for the execution began at
l2:V3 o'c ock, vnen the yard and corri-
doris were cleared of prisoners. Botn men
were wing 10 their cots. Murpny " as in
the same semi-cOnscious state and al
though his eyes wandered i'm all direc-
tons he could not understand whas was
going on.
ONLY CONSCIOUS ONCE.
Only once did he give evidence OF sensi-
nflity, and then be held out MS hand to Pat
and endeAvOred u shake hands with him.
but II was only tor an instant. for he once
more relaxed into unc0nsciousness, and
TINS notwithstanding emetIcs caused him
10 EJECT the poison. IL was OF greenish
nue., and after careful examination was
pronounced 70 be powdered. belladonna
Al 1888 O'Clock the arms and legs OF the
Two men were plnioned while they were
ln a recum bent position. six witnesses
"
Geatn warrant was read TO ears without
hearing and to ewes without sight.
CARRIED TO THE GIBBET.
The men were carried to the scaffoId at
l2:45 O'Clock. II was a miserable specta-
Gle. At the gallows they we're placed IN
a sitting position with their backs to the
wall 10 give them support. Nearly all
present invOluntarily turned away from
the sickenlng sight, some even having to
nerve themselves against a fainting I'll
and to hold fast to the balcony rail for
support. Fortunately there was not long
10 wait.
CUTTING THE ROPE.
1t needed only minutes, or seconds
rather, for the eAecutiOner in domino and
mask to adjust the ropes and black cans.
lie then as quickly re-entered his cage.
Almost instantly the sharp swish" OF
his ak was heard as it cut the rope, and
simultaneously the trap fell. The bodies
shot downward : feet, rebOunded with a
jerk and then fell back stretching the
cords 10 their utmost tension. Death was
instantaneous. The bodies were allowed
to hang . minutes and were then cut
down at 1:l5 O'Clock. The same Jury
which witnessed the hanging viewed the
bodies and gave a verdict of death by
hanging. The necks OF the two men were
dlslocated. The bodies were taken charge
Of by the Ford family.
HOW THE NIGHT WAS PASSED
AT 1880 O'Clock this morning religious
services we're held in the chapel BY mem
bers Of the st. Vincent DePaul society.
At O'Clock tee men became unusually
calm. At 2:30 O'Clock Ford said ne was
tired. and be and Murphy went TO their
cells, accompanied by ire Deputy SherifTs
and reporters. They entered the cells.
5ade all goodnight, and were left alone.
Tue men appeared 10 be sleeping sOundly
Al 80 O'Clock. when called. Efforts to
arouse them revealed their condition.
They were both lying on their backs.
Ford was breathing very loudly. Muir
ply appeared as if I'm a calm sleep.
tord's sterterlous breathing was continu-
Gus. He could not be aroused.
MURPHY CONSCIOUS.
Murphy became conscious. He was
asked how h. felt and replied "VerS bad
A tremor Immediately passed over him
and he again became unconscious. The
attendants thought the rigOr of death was
approaching and near at hand. Two
pieces OF paper were found in the cell
which had evidently contained s. drug.
The terrible condition Of the men from
effects Of the poison taken and the emetics
administered prevented Rev. Father Cal
lahan from giving them the last sacra-
stated that be had taken every precautiOn
% guard against just what had happened.
He bad made provision not only against
the admission Of persons but also against
any attempt at rescue.
GUARDING AGAINST POISON.
When the death warrant was received
he had, without giving the condemned
any reason for the act, removed every
thing from their cell. This was done for
fear that poison or some other means OF
taking life might be secreted He also
refused to allow any cigars or other
Injuries to be sent them by persons out
side. A rigid Investigation will, he said,
be made as TO how poison was conveyed
to the men. 1t seems that the rain last
night caused the ropes TO stretch so that
when the drops fell Murphy's feet touched
the pavement and FOrd's feet almost
touched 1t. This circumstance. however,
did not in anyway add to the horrors at
tending the executions, as the necks OF
both men were broken by the fall.
FORD's LAST LETTER.
In Ford's vest pocket was found the
following letter:
NEW ORLEANS, March II, 1856, at night.
To the good Sisters OF Mercy and al my
religious friends: l cannot bear the terrible
disgrace ilring on my innocent offspring. /
don't deserve this terrible ending. NY enc
mics nave tflum phed THIS time. Baker and
Cunningham, / leave yOu my curse. 10 balance
my blessings. Ihave been Respondent to-day.
] viii answer all to my God. good friends,
and mines DR.. Holland and Z H. Parker.
10 is your time next. SO. dear Sisters, forgive
me ~ well a. AL. Good bye! p. n. FORD,
PROMINENCE or TIKI PRINCIPALS.
Patrick Ford and John Murphy were
two Of the seven who we're charged with.
the murder Of Capt. T. j. Murphy on Dec.
l., 1894 The Board of PardOns refused Oh
Saturday, Feb. -. 70 recommend that
their sentence be committed TO imprison-
ment for life. The trial at which the mon
were convicted of murder and Otherstof
the seven we're convicted OF a lesser
crime. was the most important and hard.
est fought criminal trial ever Witnessed
in Louisiana. rr
The central figure in the tragedy was
Judge Thomas /. Ford, late Recorder or
the city OF New Orleans, and now under
sentence OF twenty years in the penltep-
tiary. Ford was one OF the smartesf aid
shreWdest Of the city politicians. Helad
worked himself rapidly TO the 'front.', uA-
III he Was "boss" OF the Fourth ward
With large following OF devoted adnaif.
ers, some OF whom were willing 10 Com.
nit even murder in his behalf, he was
filed with ambition and proclaimed bis
intention 70 be the next Mayor ot New
Orleans. gH1 n
HIS STUMBLING BLOCK. n
Wfhara tryua nrea thorn Ii. hfa a,T. -. I