The Portland daily press., 1898-01-08
MURDERER o'NelL HUNG.
Slayer of Mrs. McCIoud Persisted in His
Innocence to the Last


Evelyn McCloud, in auckland, January
8th, 1897, and sentenced to death, was
hanged in the Franklin county jail this
afternoon. The drop fell at lO.4l O'Clock
and the execution was accomplished With
out accident or any unexpected incident
save, possibly the pitiable condition of
the condemned man who seemed we'll
nigh helpless and in need of much assist
ance from the officials who attended him.
This was particularly noticeable as he
assembled the stairs leading to the scaffold
when he weakened visibly and seemed to
miss his footing on one of the steps, fall
ing back to the next one. He quickly re-
covered, however, and resumed his walk
upwards.
AS he reached the floor of the scatfold
and was assisted to the spot on the floor
on which he was to stand and meet his
death, he again lost control of himself,
and it seemed that all his strength had
left him. One of the deputies was COM
PEELED to hold him up, while preparations
were being made for the execution, and
his condition was such as to indicate that
without the officers assistance he surely
would have fallen.
The straps were soon adjusted, however,
and Rev. Father Sherry, standing direct
ly in front of O'Neil. reoited the prayer
for the dead. Between O'Neil and the
clergyman was o small cross. After this
prayer, Sheriff Chenery, wearing his high
hat and carrying his mace of office, said
to the prisoner: John o. Neil in obedl-
ence to the command of the Superior
court of this Commonwealth and on the
authority of this warrant to me directed,
which has been read to you, it now be-
comes my official duty to cause the
sentence of death to be executed upon
you. Have you any statement to make?''
O'Neil replied, II am INNOCENT. for
give all who have injured me and may
God have mercy on my soul.
The words were spoken in low voice
and could not be heard distinctly by the
spectators in the rear of the room. Up
TO this time the man had refused to for
give William O'Connell.
Additional straps were then placed
about his arms near the shoulders, and
also near his ankles, while Deputy Sheriff
Fowler drew down over MS head the
black CAP. The moose was adjusted, the
spring was touched by Sheriff Richard
son and the drop fell, just five minutes
after the prisoner and his guardians had
entered the room.
AS the body fell through the drop, there
was gurgle and slight moan, but that
was all. There were no writings or con-
tortions. AS the body swung underneath
the floor of the scaffold, DR.. Walter M.
Wright assembled a small step ladder and
placed his ear over the mans heart. he
listened with watch in hand at intervals
until nineteen minutes had passed and
half a second later he pronounced ONell
dead. The body was taken down soon
afterwards and delivered to relatives for
burial.
After the body of O'Neil had been re.
moved from the jail, Turkney Richardson
gave to one of the newspaper men present
letter which the murderer wrote at half
past six O'Clock this morning The mis-
siye was addressed to William O'Connell,
the "Circus man." and it is supposed to
be an answer to the question persistently
asked Of O'Neil by O'Connell as to where
they drank together, as alleged by O'Nell
on the night Of the murder.
The crime for which John O'Neil, Jr.,
paid the penalty today, was bhe murder
OF Mrs. Hattie Evelyn McCloud, q young
widow Of Shelburne Falls on the night of
January s, 1897. The murdered woman
lived about one and one-half miles from
the village, on what is known as the
Crittenden road. She went to the village
/ in the afternoon, leaving her little
daughter, nine years OF age, alone. After
making few purchases she set out for
home at about O'Clock Within quarter
of mile of her home, she was attacked
by O'Neil and dragged into the woods,
down an emhankment, raVlshed, and
choked to death. Her purse was then
rifed of its contents and the murderer
FASTENED away to the village.
The following latter penned by O'Neil
this morning was given to the press this
afternoon as o statement from him:
Greenfield. Mass, January T. 1885,
10 the Editor:-I see by your paper
that O'Connell has been sending pieces
to you for publication. wish you to do
me the same favor that you have him.
In regard to the testimony Of Davis,
Curtis and Scheneck, they did not testify
that said / drank with O'Connell at
6. 80 or at any other time that night.
Now, what I should like to have
O'ConnelI tell the public who did he buy
that pint of whiskey for at 4,30 that night
and whose money paid for it. am sure
it could not have been O'Connell's for he
had no money. If O'Connell will tell
who paid for that pint and who drank it
with him think the public would feel
better towards ME. want to thank
Sheriff Chenery and Mr.. Richardson for
their kindness towards me, also all the
officers connected with my trial and de-
tent1on.
(Signed) JOHN u NEIL, JR.
The body of O'Neil remained at the
undertaker's room until 3. 40 O'Clock when
il was taken to Shelburn Falls. The body
was taken to the house of the parents
where the casket was opened. All marks
of the hangsman's moose had been re-
moved in the embalming process, ana
O'Neil looked as if he had fallen asleep.
Tomorrow morning mass will be sung at
ST. Joseph's church and the body will
afterwards be brought on the train to this
town, the interment occurring in the
Catholic cemetery.
The absence of Rev, Father Balthazard
from the jail today is due to the fact that
he was i'll. Rev. Mark E. Porcell of
Greenfield, who took his place at the ad-
ADMINISTRATION with Rev. Father Sherry
the last rites of the church, did not feel
that his strength would permit him to
officiate at the scaffold. He walked with
the procession to the guard room and then
retired Rev. Sherry conducted himself
admirably under the circumstances.
The watch of DR. W. H. Wright, one
OF the official physicians, was seven
minutes fast which accounts for the
difference in the official time of the drop
and that given out by the press.
One of the remarks made by O Neil this
morning just before he left his cell was:
stTbiG IS nv last dav on earth and 7