Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-19
ITO be continued. ]
Resume Of the Ford and Murphy
Case,

Resume of the Ford and Murphy
Case.
In our telegraphic columns will be
found the report Of the execution of
Pat Ford and John Murphy, at New
Orleans yesterday. The following is a
brief history Of the crime for which
they paid the death penalty, taken
from the New Orleans City Item:
On Monday evening, December j,
1884, A. H. Murphy, Familiarity called
Gap Murphy" one Of the keepers Of
the police jail, was shot and killed at
the corner Of Claiborne and st. Philip
streets. The parties accused of the
crime were arrested; some on the same
day Others on the day following. After
laborious sessions and hearing of 104
witnesses, the grand jury. Alex Nc
Connel, foreman, rendered the follow
ing finding:
For willful murder: Thos. j. Ford,
Patrick H. Ford, VIM. E. Caulfeld, w.
Buckley, ]. Baptiste Faveto, Charles
Bader, a true bill, Louis Cerisse, not a
true BILL"
The trial commenced on the 9th Of
January 1885, and lasted several days
hearing of witnesses occupying from
January S0th to February 9th. On
that day Judge Ford read a confession
or statement denying that he had
participated in the killing or that he
knew anything Of it; and Pat Ford also
made a confession admitting having
killed Cap Murphy. The jury retired
Friday afternoon, and on the Monday
morning following reported a mis-
trial.
The second trial was resumed on
February 10Th.
The Ease was closed on February
9th, argued on the 28th, and the jury
retired at 11:30p.m., and at 1855 re-
turned with a verdict, as follows:
"Thos. ]. Ford, w. Il. Caulfeld,
VIM. H. Buckley, guilty of manslaugh.
ter; Patrick Ford, John Murphy,
guilty"
The verdict was recorded at 11:58
NJ. 1t was 1905 when the jury was
polled.
Motion for a new trial fled March 5,
1885, on the various points and issues
presented during the trial, and for the
reason that the verdict was null and
void, the same having been rendered
and recorded on a Sunday. This was
overruled by the court. On Tuesday,
March 10, 1885, Judge Baker sen.
fenced Patrick Ford and John Murphy
to be hung for murder, and Thomas j.
Ford, w. e. Caulield and w. Fl.
Buckley to 81 fine and twenty years at
hard labor for manslaughter- Motion
in arrest of Judgment was oveE1uled.
Motion for suspensive appeal was
granted returnable to the supreme
court March q.
The supreme court in a very lengthy
and elaborate opinion refused applica-
ton for new trial and also set aside the
grounds upon which a reheariMg was
asked, and affirmed the decree Of the
criminal district court.
The last death warrant for their exc.
cution was issued to Criminal Sheriff
Butler by Gov. McEnery, under the
date Of Merch /, 1886, and it was read
to them in the evening. The previous
death warrant was dated Sept. 8, 1885,
and fixed the date Of execution for
November Is, 1885, but on November
ii, of that same year, the governor is
sued an order ~saspending the execu-
ton and granting a reprieve Of thirty
days.
On the 18th of November, 1885, his
excellenCy again passed a death war
rant annulling the reprieve, and di-
recting the execution to take place on
the 18th of december, 1885, but the
latter warrant was again annulled and
the condemned men reprieved for a rea.
sonable time to give the board Of par.
doDs time to act on applications for
Communication of sentence. The BOARD
met and decided that the law should
take its course. The governor then
directed the criminal sheriff to execute
the sentence of death, fixing the date
for Friday, March IL, 1886.
Found in a Woman's Stomach,
Troy, Mo, March 8.-One Of the
most remarkable naSna IN yna4onio