Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-13


profound silence the ghaatly bodies were
carried M the steps 70 the platform,
They were held In an erect position while
The fatal nooEos were drawn over and
around their necks. No signs OF life
were observable In either Of the men.
when the last sad rites had been per.
formed. and when the trap was sprung BY
an unseen hand and the bodies were
launched into eternity, hush fell upon
the little group OF unwilling spectators.
The ira, was sprung 1851 p. m.
Al 1880 q. M services were held IN
the chapel by members Of the ST. Vincent
dc Paul society. Al o'clock the men
became unusually calm, 10 much so That
they seemed hardly 10 realize the fact
that fearful doom was awaiting them.
| Al 2sg0 o'clock Ford said he was
tired and Murphy and he went TO
their cells, accompanied by the deputy
sheriifs and reporters. They entered the
cell, bade the reporters good night, and
were left alone. Tho men appeared 20 ne
sleeping soundiy AT a. m, when efforts
20 arouse Ford were unayaillns, but Muir
ply WAS aroused, aud when asked how he
iclt, replied, Every bad.p trcmor
pissed over him and he again sank into
uncOnsclousncss. Two pieces Of paper
were found In the cell, which
had evidently contained bclladonna. In
view ~ the fact that the men had at
tempted suicide, Rev Father O'Callnbnn,
\ Ia accordance with the rules OF the Cath
ollie church, refused 10 administer the
/ last sacrament to them. The prepare
lions for the hanging began at go p.
M, when the yard and corridors were
cleared Of prisoners
Both men were lying ON their cots.
| Murphy was In The same scmi-uncon-
scious state, and although his eyes wan
dclcd In all directions he could not un-
dersthnd whit was going on Only once
did he return TO his aenses, and then he
held out his hand 10 Ford, and cndcay-
orcd TO shake hands with him THIS was
only fora moment for he once more lost
con- ciousncss Notwithstanding the fact
that the ometlcs administered to
him caused him to vomit the
poison, which was OF n greensh
hue. At l2:85 the arms and legs OF the
men were pluloncd while they were still
! In II recunbont position Six wltnessts
were sworn In by Sheriff Butler and tile
death warrant was read to the sonselcss
men They were carried 10 the scaffold
at l2;A5 p. m. Finding that the men
were unable To sit in their chairs the
ropes were lengthened somewhat In order
to reach them as they lay In half re-
cumbent position on the gal
lows The ralu OF last
night caused the ropes TO stretch 80 that
when the traps fell Murphy's feet touched
the pavement, and Ford's almost touched
10. IL only took few moments for the
oXecutloner, robed In his black dominica and
wire mask, TO adjust the ropes and the
black caps before he returned TO lis coll,
followed almost instantly by n sharp
"swlsh" OF the AK as Il cut the rope
Then the bodies OF John Murphy
and Pat Ford shot through the mir ID
come up with sudden jerk. Tho drol
was about eight feet, The bodies wera al
lowed to hang twenty-five minutes, and
were cut down at ~ p. IN. The sun,
Jury which Witnessed the hanging re
Viewed the bodies, and Assistant Coroner
Jones gave u verdict Of death 10y hanging
which dlslOcated the neck OF both me1
The bodies will be taken charge OF b.
the Ford family Sheriff Butler
IN an interview states that he had tikci
every prooautiou tu avoid what had hap
! pcncd. lie had taken precautions no
only against the admission of persons
hut also against any attempt at rescue
/ when the last death warrant was re
colvod he had, without giving tn
condemned men any reason for thi
| act, removed everything from thei
cell, This was done for fear that poison
or some other means OF taking life, Nigh
/ be secrotod. lIu also refused to ullo,
1 any cigars or any other mxuries TO b
, sent to them by persons outside He SAT-
< n rigid Investigation would be made as /
[ how the nolaon was cnnNoYed % the mon