New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-24
DANIEL DRISCOLL HANGED.
HIS DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS.
MR. GERRY ATTENDED TO CoMrARE HANGING WITH
EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

HIS DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS
MIR. GERRY ATTENDED TO CoMrARE HANGING WITH
EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.
Daniel Driseoll was hanged in the prison yard
of the Tombs at 1880 yesterday morning for the
murder Of Beezy Clarity at No G3 Ilester-st. on
June 26. 1856 The execution carried out
without any bungling and reflects credit Sheriff
Grant
The last hours of the noted Whyo7 were passed
principally in religious preparations for death.
From midnight to l o'clock yesterday morning
lie sat at table in his cell putting the finishing
touches TO poem Of six verses at which he
had been working for several days in his spare
moments. The verses Were designed to express
his gratitude to of the Sisters of Charity who
had been constant in her attendance on him. The
first verse read as follows
Sweet Sister Mary H.
Your influence
Has saved me nom temptation
And II i saved,
God and thee
l owe my salvation
III" line regarding his being saved " from temp'a-
tion,' in the first verse, refers TO his desire TO
carve M his enemy. Warden Walsh. 1t was
Sister Many z. who induced him to give up the
knife he had obtained for that purpose
After finishing his poem" Driscon wrote four
pages Of letter paper his wife giving directions
as TO the disposition of his body. Then he
moved his clothing and lay down on his cot and
In few minutes was sound asleep.
GOODNESS or THE CONDEMNED MAN.
He awole at 40, got up and dressed himself
washed his face and brushed his hair as neatly as
If preparing for ball
Then Father GelinaS who had passed the night
in the next cell to be in easy call when
wanted Joined the prisner. For the first time
I'm his life DriScoll COME SSed to the DrcSt. The
latter praved with the doomed man until o'clock,
when Father Prendcrgast arrived and DriscOll was
escorted to the Chanel the south side of the
prison 70 receive the last sacrament. His route
TO the chap 81 took him in full view of the gallows
scarce twenty feet away with the eXecutioner's
dan Cling from the cross beam above. He ate
little piece of toast and drank Of coffee
when lac got back to his cell and then resumed
his pravins with the priests.
Al o'clock those who IN witness
the hanging began to arrive in the prison yard.
Among them were Coroner MESSENGER
Deputy Coroner Conway, Inspector Williams DIR
John B. G osby. Of No. sos West 4sth-st: Dr.
Joseph A. Coogan. Of No. 345 West 5eth-st.. and
the Jury which was COMPOSED Of newSnancr mon
with jhP execution of Commodore ElbridGe i.
Germ. wlr besides being lurvman was present
10 study the most humane method Of capital pun
ishmcnt
RFADING TIFF DrATn WARRANT
At 7:l5 Sheriff Grant. with fourteen deputies,
reached the prison and read the death warrant to
Drscoll, and when it was finished Atkinson the
hangman. entered Driscos cell and drew the
moose and black cap from his ovcrcOat pocket.
The Whvo7 did not shudder at the sight Of the
hangman. hut said coOlly:
"Ucllo, Joe Atkinson Make a quick job Of
this
The haugman placed the moose ar und Drs-
rolls neck and adjusted the black zap over his
head with dizziness acquired at forty eight pre-
vious executions. A stimulant was offered Dris-
roll. but he declined it. and the march to the
galows began The condemned mans face was
deadly pale as he walked between the two tall,
stalvar, priests and his lips moved in prayer,
while his eyes alternately sought the cruelty
held IN before him by Father Prendcrgast and
were lifted to the sky. lie wore. pair of light
yellow slippers and the black cutaway suit pre-
sentcd TO him by the state; The march to the
scarce thirty feet from his prison door. occupied
only a few seconds Drscoll. when nc got under
the rone, faced around with his back to the Elm
st. wall
THE "wHYo's" LAST WORDS.
There was no lSneeling down nor tedious pray
ing The Whyo" bent forward. kissed the
crucifx and prayed in low voice for about ten
seconds Then the priests stepped back. and
Atkinson fastened the moose to the fatal rope and
pulled down the blaclScap, shutting ont the world
words Of the whilom Whyo" leader and Sixth
Ward desperate were
Jesus save me-"
The hangman his work quickly done, thumpcd
IN the wooden box a signal TO the eXecutioncr:
There was response. Five seconds tina! seemed
like an age TO the spectators passed. Atkinson
again pounded the box vigorously and inpatient
" This time the axe fell. cutting the rope. ana
at 7:2s Driscolrs body shot up in the air. Death
was instantaneous. for his neck was broken
There were a few muscular contoronS which
ceased within six minutes. At ~ the body
was lowered into coffin bearing lar'scolIs name
his are thirty-three year and Tie date OF M,
death By his request -, c-retHV 'r.s> placed IN
The coffin 70 he buried WI h--1 ~ ''o>iy was
conveyed an a covered Va-. : - / 80 s-a>aF a. H.
Whalen', Mace ~ NJ tsf trart--r- vrf'A % Vas
,,Iooad i'm Ito r,'lsr F~f r-.- 1-t--f> ard ria
tiVes PRINTED o. 49, &C. -.--,o-- -..- ID. 'li.t"
in Cal,ar. to-r5o-e v Ills grave viii ae near