Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-14

The adage that HISTORY repeats ITSELF finds
veriication in the Schneider tragedy. The
doom that has been pronounced on Schneider
Is the dismal echo Of the first execution in
Washington. away back in ,he Infancy Of the
nation 5 capital, where the criminal paid the
death penalty for crime similar in many WAYS
10 Schneiders-the crime of wife murder.
In those early DAYS, about 1908. when Wash
ington was a city in name only. crime was Of a
miider character than now; so il was with feel
mgs OF profoundest horror that the inhabitants
learned that McGirk's wife was dead. and by
her husbands hand
Mcoiirk was a respectable bricklayer, save
when ''in his cups" living with his Young wife
on between 18th and 18th streets northwest.
returning home one night he seized his wife
VINO Was IN no condition to bear such rough
treatment, and in drunken frenzy beat her
orutally. Soon after Mrs McGirk died, and
Mc0lrk was committed to Jail on the charge q:
the murder OF his wife and child. and after
Jury trial wac condemned 10 be hung
THE GALLONS.
At the foot Of Capitol Hill, between Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland avenues. a rude sallows was
erected in full sight of the popuace. so that the
fate OF the murderer might be a warning TO
any one disposed 10 follow the example of crime
On The day appointed tor the execution Of the
sentence the prisoner, accompanied bv Father
Young, was placed in an open cart. and. sur
rounded by strong guard. and followed by
mob OF screaming, hooiing men. women and
children. conveyed 10 the place of punishment
Standing on the platform just under the
moose. which was soon TO end his earthly career
Me6lrk animated that he wished 10 speak
Permission being given, with one look at the
throng of eager, angry faces stretching away on
every side, he exclaimed: when a man :
character is gone his life is gone" Before any
one could guess his purpose he sprang up to-
ward the moose and succeeded in pulling it over
his head. Without waiting for Jack ketch" to
atiix the cap McGirk sprang of the platform.
Father Young shouted: "Don't take your own
life, McGirkF'
Jack Ketch tried to pull the man back upon
the scaffold. and succeeded 80 far ~ his feet
were concerned. but with a violent twist the
desperate man again jumped of. Some one be-
low had presence Of mind enough TO cut the
string which held the drop and il fell With one
last conyulsive gasp McGirk's soul took it's
fight.
THRICE DIsIyrERRED.
Although the criminal had received the full
est punishment for his crimes, public senti-
ment. in adherence of his deed. ran 80 high
that it was hard to find grave in which to hide
away the body. Holmeads graveyard, Just
north of the city, was the place chosen and the
body was there inferred, but persons having
friends buried in the cemetery seemed 10 feel
that Gods acre" was polluted by the presence
OF a murderer and suicide. SO in the dead of
night q band Of determined citizens. headed by
a Mr.. Sniveriy. armed themselves with spades
ano torches and set out for Holmead's To remove
the objectionable tenant. Arriving at the bury
ing ground they quickly disinterred the body
and removed il to ground near by belonging
to Col. Joseph Sourse, but were considerate
enough TO bury it. When the friends of
McGirk. for he still had friends. discovered the
dissertation of his grave they promptly re-
moved the body back to Its former resting
place. But the Sniyerly faction returned while
they were OFF guard. determined TO settle the
matter finally. so for the third time the poor
criminals body was dug up and borne some
distance east of the cemetery, where a sluggish
stream made its way through scattered clumps
of thorn.
There on the banks close TO the waters edge
a hole was dug. which filled with water as fast
as the earth was removed. and into this hole
the coffin was lowered. BY judicious damming
the course Of the stream was turned so as To
run perpetually over the poor sinners grave.
Whether his friends were unable to locate his
grave or whether they were discouraged by the
determined opposition L. not known, but this
lnterment was final. This account of the first
hanging in the District and its equally horrible
sequel were given bv Mr.. Christian Hines who
died a few years ago in the ninty-ninth year of
his age. DE was unfortunate enough to have
witnessed this first example Of capital punish
ment i'll Washington and, though a bov at the
time. he never lost the vivid impressions then
received. l. Z. v. Il.