Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-23
CALLED BY THE BELLS.
How Murderer Fitzpatrick Spent His
Last Sunday on Earth.
VISITED BY SISTERS OF CHARITY.
At the Sound of o Christian Anthem He
Fell to Praying.
LESS CHEERFUL THAN ON FORMER DAYS
VISITED BY SISTERS OF CHARITY.
LESS CHEERFUL THAN ON FORMER DAYS

Saturday Fitzpatrick spent the night in
deep slumber, but the day had scarce broke
before his eyes were opened. He Law for a
moment simply staring vacantly into space.
The look that rested on the condemned
murderer's face was that of one who in
his dreams has seen some awful
sight, and when awakening fears to
move lest it return. The morning light
breaking through the fog in the
narrow court yard only partly dispelled the
gloom of the prison and the big arc light
fickered dimly in the dome Yet there
was sufficient light to show he had not
rested well, though he afterward declared
he did. Just then the great peal of bells
high in the spire of old st. Peters rang out
its call to early morning mass. The sound
drove back the fleeting shadow of his dread
dreams. He started, and the bells pealing
out again, he knew it was a reality.
His Last Sunday on Earth.
His last Sunday on earth had commenced
and but two days of life were left him. On
other morns since his confinement he
had heard the bells and knew that they
foretold the coming day.
That these thoughts filed his mind was
shown by his involuntary exclamation,
while still half waking: "The hours run
races with each other" He knew it was a
call TO prayer, and without speaking further
he bowed his head before the little altar in
his cell. Then, bracing himself up, he told
the guard he felt better. and, though his
face belied his words. he said: 81 am ready
10 die, and might as well go now as any
other time
At times his native Irish wit rose above
the dread fate before him, and he exchanged
"a rx1F az IN f0l ~hof
time his good spirits seemed forced, and be-
tween the times he bowed in prayer he SIM
ply sat and looked. At times his gaze rested
on the solid stone floor of the aisle before
his cell. Often his eyes rested on one place
where bit of stone had been splintered out
and left the floor uneven. He seemed to
how long 'twould be before the feet ofweary
convicts like himself would wear it smooth
again.
Visitors Upon a Holy Errand
At last visitors were announced, and in
came two black-robed Sisters of Mercy,
one, an aged hunchback, and the other a
sweet-faced woman past the middle age.
They entered the cell and the death watch
retired while the holy women prayed with
the murderer, who was most oevout. He
seemed to tell them much of his past They
remained with him an hour and n half and
then Rev. Father Griffin, FitZpatrick's spir-
itual adviser, came. The guard again re-
I4L6u anu Ine IuuIueIeI dSdll COuleSScu anu
with the priest he again repeated prayers.
After they left, Fitzpatrick was a little
more cheerful fol Il time but soon again be-
came lost with his thoughts until Rev. E. r.
Donehoo ana Rev. Mr. Mitchell of the Main
Street NJ f. Church, West End, came to hold
the regular jail services. He was not out
like the others, but could hear all that was
said. If he listened, he showed it by no out
ward sign until the minister, by way of Illus
tratiOn, spoke of children p,aying
among the flowers. Then a pleasant
look stole over his lace as if the words re-
called some bright recollections of child
hoods days at his old mothers home. This
gone, there came again the same stolid,
fixed stare that broke only when the voices
OF the choir blended in a beautiful anthem,
and then he fell on his knees and prayed.
He did not move till long after they were
gone. After that within his cell he simply
sat and watched until the dav died out as
though trying to pierce the secrets OF that |
eternity on whose borders he has nearly |
entered.