Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-04

Two white mep of prominence are
tn be hung in New Orleans ON Friday,
March 18th. We refer 70 this pointediy,
b.scause tt 10 seldom that white men L
have been hung In the Gulf States OF
the South, since the civil war. That
extreme punishment seems only tot
have been reserved for black men, and
for them the gAllows creAked often, no
matter whether they have q fair trial
or not, or whether they had trial IT
all q mere suspicion Of guilt was
enough. Bat now In New Orleans nj
change takes place Not only are the
two men white who are to hang week
from tomorrow, but they are men OF
prominenca, men who occupied high
positions Of trust and responsibility.
Even now it IL doubtful II these two
men had been brought 10 the galiovs,
were 1t not that one warning political
faction had triumphed over the other.
OF the murder, it was one Of the most
deliberate and savage Of any which
has been perpetrated In the country for
many years OF the guilt Of the con-
yicted men there Is not the least doubt,
Tor the murder was committed In one
III. most public thoroughfares OF the
city, and in the full blaze Of daylight
Captain A. H. Murphy, the muir
iered man, was q Democratic politician
and street commissioner Of New Or
leans. Hts murderers were Patrick
Ford and John Murphy. Thomas Ford
another engaged in the murder, wa
Judge of the Recorders Court Of tn
city. He only escaped the gallows b,
being convicted OF manslaughter ant
sent to the penitentiary for twent,
years. Though there are two Murphy
and two Fords named, 1t does not Ap
pear that they were relations OF eac
other.
One day while Captain A. 81. Muir
ply, resting from his toll, was sittin
ON the front steps OF q dwelling, Il
murderers came along the street., ant
withou. q word of warning, opened ii
upon him. He jumped TO his feet an
txied to get away after emptying b
pistol, but he was brutslly shot dow
and murdered, while an innocent spe
tator was struck with . flying bal
The assassins apprehended no troubl
for was nos one q Judge, and the othe
his political friends II q Judge coul
not clear his friends OF murder, VIII
no doubt reasoned the murderers. Pa
Tic, opinion, however, was too ssroI
AgAinst the murderers.
The murdered man had . strong Il
lowing of friends, and for once gre
crime was brought to trial Pub
opinion, however, proved too strong
benefit the assassins, though one
them wore the ermine. All that tn
could do was 70 cause the disagreeme
of the first jury by the shameful n
we'll known method OF packing
Jury. They thought that they had
capped, but public determination TO hs
jaziicA done Was too strong for the
and smother trial resulted in their &C
Vicdon.
The Judge was sentenced, as stated
twenty years imprison ment, and 2
rick Ford and John Murphy to
hung. But the assassins even Ii
mover supposed that such a sente
would be executed, Patrick Ford C
fessed that he killed Captain Murp
but when the latter was convict
Judge Ford, who was sen ten ced TO
penitentiary, and who could not
hung, confessed that he was the q
who killed Captain Murphy.
confession came too late, and all
Judge Ford receives from 1t is
credit OF not only being convicted
sassiD, but of being voluntary
Bot the main thing is tina; reason
asserting her sway In New Orleans
matter whether judges or pleb
are sent u the scaffJld. Upon
New Orleans Is 10 re congratuli
and 1t is TO be hoped that this is a I
ing point for better government
that city.