Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-13
HANGING C0RPsES.
Ford and Murphy Swallow Bella
donna In Prison
AND ARE HUNG APPARENTLY DEAD,
Their Ghastiy Bodies Being Held Up
While the Nooses are
Adjusted,


teriere in the case Of Ford and Murphy, the
report has been freely circulated that tho
men would never be hanged, and the ap.
parent uncertainty ofths sentence being
carried into effect did much to increase the
excitement that has existed since CAPTAIN
Murphy WAS murdered. An uneasy feel
ing was manifested in all quarters last
night, and this morning the excitement
became intense when il was made known
that the prisoners had attempted to potion
themselves.
At 5:3O o'clock this morning, when the
keepers went TO arouse the condemned
men, it was found impossible to wake them
up. Physicians were summoned at once,
and after an examination they concluded
that the prisoners had taken balladonns.
Efforts were at once made TO resu,ci,ate
the men, and at $50 Murphy had rallied
little, but Ford was still unconscious.
GARRY OFT THr WARRANT"
A Baton Rouge special says The
Governor this morning received q telegram
from Sheriff Butler, Of Orleans Parish,
saying: Ford and Murphy attempted
suicide this morning by swallowing poison.
They are in a s,upor and in eomatots
condition. The doctors believe the a.
tempt failure but cannot cay how long il
may take to restore them 10 conscious
ness. Should they no, revive before the
hour fixed, shall execute the warrants
Notwithstanding
The Governor replied AYES, get on
with the executions. Garry out the war.
rants
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
At 1910 o'clock Sheriff Butler. accom-.
panied by several subordinate officials pro-
ceeded to the cell Of the condemned, where
the bodies OF the doomed men lay siiIl ap.
parently lleless, under the physicians care.
The men were carefully lifted from their
recumbent positions and borne in the arms
Of the aRita,ed deputies to tho
scsiod. Amid profound silencs tho
ghastly bodies we're carried up the steps
to the plank on the horrible platform and
held in erect positions while The fatal
nooses we're drawn over their heads and
around their necks. No tign OF life was
observable in either man when the last
sad rites bad been performed. and when
the trap was sprung by an unseen hand
and the bodies were launched into eternity
hush fell upon the little group Of unwill
ing spectators. The trap was sprung st
1881 p. In.
THE CRIME
which was expa,ia,ed With the lives Of Two
men to-day was not On ordinary murder.
1t was q deliberate assassination. ~ cold.
blooded one as can be found in the 90.
mails Of the Commonwealth.
Captain Murphy, the victim, wss the
Superintendent OF The city work house.
Withhl be bad the reputation Of being .
dangerous customer TO deal with. In the
summer Of 1854 be was arrnignsd in the
court presided over by Recorder Ford,
upon the charge Of bru,ally asssuliug Q
female inmate Of the institution. The
charge was fully proven. and In ipfictipg
the highest fine allowed by the law, the
Recorder took occasion 10 ceDsure the de-
tendaut in singing terms, which so in
censed the workhouse superintendent that
before twenty. .iour hours had elapsed he
had publicly posted Recorder Ford a. Q
liar, thief and perjurer Ford csu,ed the
indictment Of bis dsfamer upon Q charge
Of criminal libel Before. however, ths
case could come IN trial, Ford decided TO
take the lax into bis own hands.
ANBUsCADLD AID SLAUGHTERED.
On The day OF the murder Murphy Was
working workhogse gang On the Clay.
borne canal. Shortly before noon be was
seated an some steps overlooking the work
and converting With two iriends, when
three men approached from tho opposite
aide Of the street. They vers poinisd out
10 Murphy a. Fori's pours officer. Almost
Immediately three other men turned into
st. Philip street. and advanced on Murphy.
0ns wEs Judge T. J. Ford; the second
Officer Pat Ford. his brother; the third
Officer John Murphy, his brotber.in.lAw.
When the six men bad approached 70 With
in few yards OF Murphy and his friends,
three Of tie numb.r pulled rsvolveg
from their coat pockes and opened 6r,.
Five OF tho shots vent vide Of the marx.
but tho six,A wounded one Of Murphys
friends in the arm.
Murphy Immediately drew his revolver
on the band Of assAssins, but, missing his
mark, took TO his heels. Pat Ford started
in pursuit, firing hap hazard ~ be ran.
Just ss MURPHY wss sbout 70 turn . corr.
er By which hs might have sluded bic pur-
saers, ore ofths bullets s,rutk him in The
back and vent tt5oagh hts heart. Scarce
ly had be dropped to the ground when 90.
othes Of the gsng reached the spot ssd
emptied bis revolver into the bead and
breast Of the dying man. Then the mur.
deren fed. An examination developed
the fact tha. no less than eleves bullets bad
entered the bcdg