The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-02-03
DR1sooLL HANGED
The Leaderof the Gang Dies ON tho
Gallows.

Gallows.
NEW York, Jan. 28.-Daniel Driscoll,
leader of tho .swhyo' gang. who muir.
dercd s'Brcczie" Clarity, was hanged In
the Tombs prison yard at 7:24 this morn
ing. Driscoll spent most of the time last
night in writing letters of farewell and
chatting with the death-watch. He arose
early this morning, and attended by his
spiritual adviser, spent some time In
prayer. He ate o light breakfast, and .
short time after the sheriff read the death
warrant. TIC details of the execution
proceeded without interruption. Alter
hanging about twenty minutes the body
was lowered and delivered to the rela-
tives and friends of the deceased.
HISTORY OF CRIME.
With the execution of Dan Driscoll,
alias George Wallace, the criminal haunts
of Gatham are relieved of the worst char
acter in the police annals of that city.
HE was the most dangerous ruffian that
New York has cverknown, an We breathe
easier now that the breath is out of his
body" said a veteran police captain this
morning. Although but 80 years of age
he had spent more than one-half of his
life in prison. His specially in crime
was pocket picking, in which it is said
he had trained hundreds of boys and
young men. He wasarrcsted in 1870 and
and again in 1873 for picking pockets on
Broadway. andin each case served a term
in the penitcntiary for his crime. He was
the recognized leader and captain of
the notorious "Whyo' gang, which has
its headquarters In Baxter street and
varied his thcfts with stabbing and shoot
ing the enemies Of the gang. Up to juno
go, 1886, when he committed the crime for
which he hangs today he had been arrest
ed no less than twenty-six times.
Driscolis crime was the murder of Liz
zie, better known as Beczy Clarity, a
handsome girl of 10. She was of respect
able parcntagc but fell into evil ways,
and for some time had been the consort
of Driscoll with the full knowledge of
the lattcr's wife. At 4 o'clock on the
morning of juno 90. 1886, Driscoll and
the girl, both under the influence of
liquor, called at the furnished apart
ment house 1853 Hester street, kept by
John Mccarthy. There was a feud be-
tween the two men, Mccarthy having
elected Driscoll over u year before. The
latter sworc revenge and repeatedly laid
in wait with the intention of killing him.
Only the week before he had twice fired
Mt him without result and upon each oc-
casfon he renewed his oath. Mccarthy
saw the couple coming up the steps, and
fearing trouble cndcavorcd to close and
lock the door. Driscoll, however,
was too quick for him. He managed to
get his foot and shoulder between the
post and by sheer strength forced The
door open wide enough to enable the
girl to enter. Mccarthy now realizing
that Driscoll meant to kill him put his
hand to his hip pocket with the intention
of drawing his revolver. Quick as a
flash the girl threw her arms around him
and exclaimed with an oath, 'You must
not shoot" BY this time Driscoll,- pistol
in hand was in the hall, Mccarthy threw
the girl away from him just as a bullet
grazcd his head. A second shot was
heard and the girl fell with a shrek. She
had received the bullet intended for Nc
Carthy. The latter took refuge in an
adjoining room and jumped from the
window into the street. Driscoll OWNED
his intention and leaving the girl weltcr.
ing in her blood rushed out of the front
door and fired three shots ut the rctrcatine
man. None of them, however, took effect.
Then he took to his heels. About hall
a score of police officers and detectives
had been attracted to the scene and M
exciting chase ensucd. The officers fired
a dozen times, but Driscoll lodged tho
shots and finally succeeded in climbing
up tine ire escape to his mother room on
the top floor of the tenement house, 12O
Baxter street. Here he was found Il few
moments later and, although hot and
painting for breath, both he and his
mother declared that he hadn't been out
of the house all night. Meanwhile his
victim had been taken to st. Vinccnt's
hospital, where she died a couple of hours
later, declaring with her dying breath
that Mccarthy and not Driscoll was hcl
murderer. When the case cam to trial,
however. the latter was promptly con.
victcd, although some hard swearing wal
done in his behalf. The case was taken
to the court of appeals, but on Wednesday
last it wal finally decreed that the muir
dcrcr should pay the penalty of his crime
upon the gallows. An appeal to Gov.
Hill resulted in the granting of a respite
for three days from Friday last.