The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-17
SUFFERED THE PENALTY,
JAMES DRCeY HUNG FOR THE MUIR
DER OF ALDERMAN GAYNOR.

The Doomed Man Spends His Last Mo
nents In Having and BIaspheming At
tempt 70 kiil His Spiritual Adviser-A,
Insanity Dodge That Didn't Work-Th
Crime
WOODSTOCK, Ills, July l1-James Dace,
was hanged here at l2:4s p m. Friday 70
the murder of Alderman Gaynor in Chi
eaog- For four months Dacey has show
partial insanity, either real or. as th,
doctors seem 10 think, feigned His out
| buFts OF passion bave been terrible. and h
has refused to recognize old friends Sine,
the jury pronounced him sane his condition
has been gradually becoming worse. Lately
he would only take food from the priest
and he guarded against any intruders will
d club which he bad constructed out Of on,
of the posts of his bed
| Thursday he was wildly furious all day,
| and late IN the afternoon he made mur
| derous attack On Father Clancy, his spir
| ituai adviser, who has hitherto been able
TO manage him when nobody else could ap,
proach him. The good father was rescued
by two deputies, who, by the sheriff's di.
| rection, handcuifed the furious man and
then strapped him to a bed in the northeas,
corner cell of the Jail Here he raved and
howled using the most terrible blasphemy
he could command. The curses of his Gre
ator he invoked on the two guards who
sat within a few feet of him, on the report
ers who had come to sea him executed. on
the sheriff, and, more frequently. on
his own life. He would listen to no one,
and words of pity he received with curses
Il know that | am going to he'll" he ex-
Claimed once, rising as far up as be could
on the cot Il know it. am glad of it.
Never since | came here have been at rest
All me, you Cd d-n = -, if you have
pity Oh, you filth of HI to torture ne
so! Why don't you kill me-" He gave no
signs of remorse-only bitter defiance
OF his keepers ard maledietions on his enc.
mics
During the first part of tho night he raved
continually About 8 o clock Father Clancy,
his spiritual adviser, came in Dacey was
cursing in a terrible manner at this tina,
and he directed his frightful rawlings at the
venerable father The latter grasely told
Dacey that the governor had refused to in
terfere in his behalf, and that he must die.
pacey quoted at this, and offered no obec
tons when the priest told him to prepare
fer DEATH He growicd bis assent sullenly,
and, turning on his back, slept for a time.
Bacey broke down late Friday forenoon
and manifested great contrition. He asked
rather Surke to pray for him, and he
joined in the prayers offered He also
asked for his brother, whom he has hitherto
regarded As his enemy, and expressed a do
sire to make his peace with him lie was
led, in fact, fairly carried, to the gallows.
The priests did not administer the last>sac-
rament, as they did not believe him sane
The scene on the scaffold was a trying one.
Fathers Burke, Ryan and Clancy were
with him to the last.
Dacey's brother Palrick, who had been
hanging about the town for week past
went 10 Chicago thursday night and told
some one that he was going to bringh:crowd
anu that Jim should never. hang. His
threat soon spread, and the sheriff and his
deputies watched every train that came
from Chicago during the night. but Patrick
did not show up
he crime for which James nacey suf-
tered the extreme penalty of the law was
the unprovokcn murder of Alderman CAV
nor, of the Ninth ward of Chicago. on the
night of May Is, 1854, in South Halsted
street saloon Owing 10 the death of the
colleague oil Alderman Gaynor, special
election became Necessary to fill the va
cancy- There was considerable rivalry be-
tween the friends of The candidates. Cav |
nor supported one and Dacey the other On
The night prior to the election Alderman
6aynor and party of friends happened IL |
the saloon, and, according to custom of |
ward politicians, invited every one to |
drink. Noticing Dacey, with whom he was |
acquainted, tho invitation was addressed to |
him particularly. Dacey brusquely re- |
fused, and started to go out doors, when he |
wheeled, drew a revolver. held il |
,icSe to Gaynor's head and fired. The bullet
inferred at tbs base Of the skull and
lodged Ill the brain. Gaynor died two days
alter Dacey was arrested, and 10 prevent
} ynchnS by Alderman Gaynor friends was
ecretly removed to sub station in the
'utshlrts of the city. So great was the
ceiling against Dacey i'll Chicago .tnat a
'hange of venue was taken to McHenry
ounty, and in June, 1854, he was tried and
ound guilty of murder and sentenced to
lang May II, 1856 Governor Oclesbv
'ranted respite in order that his mental
ondltlon might be determined and he was
declared to be a sane man.
lacey came to Chicago from Buffalo in
hs ~ S, he was formerly sailor OIL tho
axes lie became ward politician and
striker on the west side and freaueptly
cted as Judge and supervisor of elections.