The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-03


ruption, perjury and bribery. Five of Ford'S
witnesses were indicted for perjury. and dep
uty sheriff and two of the jurors for bribery,
making fifteen arrests that had already grown
out OF the crime. Public opinion was now thor
oughly aroused at the danger that would result
from 80 bold defiance of the law. The evidence
clearly demonstrated the guilt Of the accused
men. yet 1t seemed impossible to convict them.
Over these difficulties the zeal and energy of the
District Attorney-who although Ford's dearest
friend never halted in his duty backed by pnb-
lie opinion finally triumphed. The jury wheel
was watched, an eye was kept on the new jury,
while the indictment of the perjurers had most
satisfactory effect on the witnesses and, as the
Fords had already spent nearly all their money
IN the hrst trial, they were i'll prepared for the
second. On this to the surprise of oil, YER
dict of guilty was obtained, which sentenced
John Murphy and Pat Ford one the cousin and
the other the brother of the Judge to be hanged,
and the Judge himself, his clerk, Caulfeld and
Officer Buckley to twenty years at hard labor in
the penitentiary.
The Fords did not surrender their hopes even
on conviction, and made desperate efforts for
pardon Again their influence was used, and it
was thought for time that it would prevail. A
petition for their pardon received the signatures
of 1000 of their former followers and many
good people who opposed capital punishment
Every influence that could be brought to bear
the Governor and the board of pardons was used,
but in vain. The committee Of one hundred
sort OF vigilance mittee-whose duty it is to
see that the laws are enforced and obeyed. ap-
peared in opposition to the Fords before the
Board OF Pardons, with appeal so eloquent
and strong against their pardon, that it appar-
emily settled their fate. In vair the Fords prom
ised political influence and threatened their en-
nifty. The force of public opinion was too
strong. and pardon was refused. This was
Nov. 9, 1885, The hanging had haas a--a g. e.,
Nov. b. When the news that the pardon had
been refused reached the condemned men wall
of anguish and frenzy went up from them. They
had counted so confidently on escaping that they
could not understand this failure. They had
been tricked and deceived, they said, had been
promised pardon, and had made no preparation
for death.
'For Gods sake, give me time to pray for my
sins!' Pat Ford screamed; and his mental suffer.
ing and agony was so intense and genuine that
the Governor granted months respite.
Finding public opinion still arrayed against
them, and little hope prospect of pardon,
the Fords now made their last desperate move
In the trial OF the case the evidence showed that
Captain Murphy had been killed by Pat Ford;
indeed Pat took the stand himself as witness,
and acknowledged the killing. This was the
reason why he was found guilty, with capital
punishment. Judge Ford, on the other hand,
established an alibi by unimpeachable witnesses,
but as it was proven that he organized the con-
spiracy against Murplys life he was found
guilty of manslaughter. What, then, was the
surprise of the public when the Judge came for
ward few days after the respite with a confes-
sion in which he acknowledged that he was the
murderer Of Murphy, and that his brother, SEN
innocent of firing the fatal shots
1t seemed impossible to believe this
story at first A dozen witnesses hat seen Pat
Ford kill Murphy; he had confessed it hims elf:
dozen others had seen and talked with the
Judge at the engine-house, half dozen
squares away at the time of the firing Yet the
truth of the last confession was soon recognized
and acknowledged by all and confirmed by new
evidence. 1t was true that Judge Ford was a
quarter of mile away when the firing began
He ran TO the scene of the fight, and came sud
denly face to face with Murphy as he was flying
from his pursuers. He it was that killed him on
the Impulse OF the moment and walked away
amid the smoke of battle So quickly was it all
done that when the Judge rejoined his friends
they had not owing to the excitement, noticed
his absence. The two brothers were of nearly
the same age, and bore wonderful resemblance
to each other, and it was not strange that wit
nesses should have mistaken the one for the
other AS for Pats confession, it was piece Of
brotherly devotion and sacrifice He admired
his younger brother so much that, to protect
Tom. believing the popular feeling to be di
rected mainly against Tom. he had shouldered
the crime himself and sought to save his brother
While the Judges confession was accepted as
true, 1t did not produce the effect expected of it.
In vain the friends of the condemned men plead
ed that it would be judicial murder to hang
the man who had not committed the crime, aud
reply was that the confession came too late. 1t
looked like a conspiracy between the two broth
ers. Pat claimed the murder on the trial and
saved his brother. Tom acknowledged it after
ward only to defeat justice If Pat had not fired
the fatal shot that killed Captain Murphy he
had been in the party of assassins who pur-
sued him. and was consequently guilty of MUIR
der.
Nevertheless, tho condemned man did not
abandon the hope that the infinite wealth of re-
Aff tn Id.
possible scheme was tried. The wife and little
children of the condemned man begged for his
life OF the Judge who sentenced him, the Attor-
nev general, and every else in authority.
Petitions for mercy signed by members of the
Legislature. and high officials poured upon the
Governor from ali portions of the State, and
delegations of friends waited on him to ask for
mercy
The constant tension seemed to prey on Pat
Ford whose mental condition became pitiable
with hopes deferred
"Only don't hang me-, he pleaded. ''Send me-
to the penitentiary for life will never ask or
seek q pardon. l will serve my life sentence out
thou. ~. e Sccc.nnlaint Save me only from the
disgrace of hanging"
Judge Ford always attributed his conviction
to the exposition. The murder of Murphy oc
CURED just before the exposition opened in
1884. 1t created great deal of unpleasant COM
ment in the Northern press, and editorials and
paragraphs gave a very bad picture or the
conuiuon VI auairS prevailing neEo, wHote Aio
was unsafe, it was said and one was as likely
as not to be shot down at midday on the public
streets.
II was sacrificed to the exposition said Judge
Ford. ''Fbe people of New Orleans wanted to
appear particularly virtuous, to parade before
the world the fact that crime was punished here
Immediately and forcibly. The killing OF
Murphy happened to occur jus. then. and l and
my friends were the victims of this sudden popu-
lar outburst"
The number of persons that have been drawn
seven men charged directly with the crime, there
were placed under arrest i've witnesses for per-
jury and two were detained to compel their testi-
mony. One deputy sheriff and two jurors were
indicted for perjury, and finally the members of
the City Council were imprisoned for refusing to
provide for the pay certificates of the witnesses.
The contest over the Ford case has had much
the same purifying effect here that the riot had
in Cincinnati, by which the courthouse was