Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-18
JUSTICE IS SATISFIED.
MURDERER SWIFT HUNG DESPITE
 HIS SISTERS PLEADING.

The Doomed Man Ascends the Scafrold
 Without Flinching-His Mother and
 Devoted Sister Heart Broken and
 Prostrated at Their Failure to Save the Murderer's Life-IIistory of the Celebrated Case.
 HARTFORD, April 1S,--Justice in all its awful significance has at last been vim dicated. Yet no one can but have feel ings of sympathy for the heroic sister | who, even to the last sad moments ad- | ministered to the brother who was so soon to feel the full penalty of the judges decree.
 John H. Swift the youthful uxoricide Is no more and to the annals of Connec- ticut can be added one more vindication of honest justice. Swift's last night on earth was an interesting and painful one. Yet during the trying mo- ments and hours of farewell l none seemed more unconcerned than the intended victim himself. Be
 tween the hours of 5 and yesterday afternoon the Sisters of Mercy who have been constant in their attendance on the young man administered comforting words of assurance and served to strengthen the youth for the approach ing ordeal. Between 6 and : Swift's brother visited him and exchanged his last farewell. The painful scene can scribed. Father Corcoran of St Patrick's church, the faithful priest who has attended the condemned man, was with him from until and only retired to give way to the mother and sister. The part ing between these three is impos>il le of description. We draw the veil over the painful scene and with the bereaved relatives sympathize in their grief. ing be, for it were better so.
 | Father Corcoran remained with Swift { fter the departure of his relatives until II o'clock. Bidding him good night Swift retired to bed and endeavored to secure a little rest. A few hours was all that was allotted to him and at o'clock he arose and dressed himself. At 6 o'clock Father Corcoran entered Swift's cell and remained with him until :. At
 7:30. his breakfast consistsng of beef steak, baked potatoes, rolls, butter and coffee was served to him. He drank the
 coffee but sparingly ate the food After
 breakfast he asked for Father C. rcoran
 who came immediately and did not
 leave the condemned mans side until
 the end.
 At 9 o'clock a short service was held
 in the chapal connected with the jail, at
 which only Father Corcoran and Swift
 assisted. At 9:30 they returned to the
 cell and remained until the procession was formed for the gallows. Until that
 time Swift was continually praying with his spiritual adviser and with Fath-
 CT Brodcrck of St Peters church, who
 had come as an assistant to Father Cor coran. He expressed himself as perfect
 ly resigned to his fate, and only regret
 ted the awful crime and the disgrace and shame he had brought upon his family.
 Five minutes past 10 Sheriff Spalding
 entered the condemned mans cell and read the death warrant. Immediately his arms were pinioned. leaving his hands free clasping within them the cruciiix which had been presented by
 his confessor. At 1O:15 the prisoner came forth from his cell supported on either side by his two father advisers. Net he needed not that support physi- cally. The same indomitahle self-pos- session which had characte riZed his
 actions during the long months of his
 trial and imprisonment never left him, and with firm step he walked down
 the corridor from his cell and ascended
 the eleven steps leading to the scatfold
 and took his place on the fatal drop without tremor. The priests were with him and encouraged bim by prayers
 and kindly words to meet the awful fate before him bravely. Pale from long confinement yet without any fear
 of death John H. Swift stepped to the center of the trap. Father Corcoran
 asked him if he wished to say anything.
 He replied in a clear firm tone: No, father. He was then told to recite the acts of faith, hope and charity.
 Deputy Moore ad justed the moose about
 his neck and when the rope had not been
 properly placed, the condemned man by
 moving his head assisted the nervous sheriff ill the performance of his duty. Deputy Whitmore ad- justed the cap and at exactly
 sprung by Sheriff Spaulding, and John
 H. Swift had expiated his crime of wife
 murder.
 Father Corcoran and his assistant,
 Father Broderick immediately on the } springing of the trap recited the prayers for the dying and then descending the scatfold awaited the cutting down of the
 body. Would that 1 might assist at such penitent death as that young man died whenever called on, were Father Brod-
 erick's words, but God pity
 and comfort his poor moth, l CT and sister. Never once had the young man raised his eyes, from the moment he left the cell. His gaze was . fixed on the crucifix in his hands anG with the hand of Father Corcoran rest < ing on his shoulder he went to meet his !, God, and who can say but what he has received that mercy he craved. The r last words before the fatal moose tight ened were words of hope.
 7 At 10:40 the attending physicians, Drs
 Wainwright, Flaherty and Creary pro |, nOunced life extinct. Two minute. later the body was takel f down and given in charge of the under l. takers, Scott and Smith.
 A short funeral service was held il P the chapel at which only the relative: assisted. The mother and sister of th' s hanged man had awaited the terrible v suspense of the execution in the parlo |. of the jail and the grief of the strickel = relatives was something terrible. Wha k a brave, noble heroic, fight that bereavet
 sister made yet here all her trials, all he
 l anxietieS all her endeayors Mere at al