The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-01-03
George {. Young, a Kenosha Pioneer,
Dies at His Home in Crawford,
County, Iowa.
RECALLS MANY HISTORIC EVENTS
The Deceased Was One of the Jurors That
Convicted John Nc 1affrey of Murder in
1850.-Only Hanging in Kenosra.

A letter has been received in this
city announcing the death of George
| E. Young, former we'll known resi-
dent, which occurred in Crawford
county, Iowa, about three weeks ago.
The deceased was 90 years of age.
| The death of Mr.. Young will be of
more than usual interest to the people
of this city, as it recalls one of the
most historic events in the history of
| Wisconsin. AS far as can be learned
Young was the last surviving actor in
the trial, which resulted in the hang
ing of John McCaffrey in this city in
August, 1851. The late John Lenehan
and George E. Young, now also dead,
were the only two surviving members
of the jury that convicted him.
Twice in the history of the state of
Wisconsin men have been legally
hanged and one of these was the hang
! ing of Mccartney. The event still re-
mains bright in the memory of early
settlers.
On July %, 1850, people residing in
the sparse1y settled regions about the
North Western Railway tracks heard
a woman shouting for help, but little
was thought of the affair. But the
cries continued until late in the night
and neighbors finally went to the scene
and found that 1aborer named John
Mccartney, was cruelty beating his
| wife. The man was finally taken
away from the woman, but later he
escaped from his captors and returned
| to the house and murdered his wife.
| The remains of the woman were found
the following morning in a cistern at
the rear of the house. 1t was claimed
at the time that he had drowned the
woman.
McCaffrey was arrested, indicted and
| tried at the May term of the county
court in 1851, Judge Wilton presiding.
| The prosecution of the case was con-
Quoted by S. P. Conway, attorney gen.
| era1 of the state, who was assisted by
J. r. Sharpstein, the states attorney,
and Fred S. Lowell, The prisoner was
defended by E. w. Evans and A. W.
Chatfeld. The jury, after long trial,
found Mccartney guilty and Judge
Wilton, for the first time in the history
of the state, pronounced the death SEN
tence. The governor signed the war
rant for the execution, which took
place on August p. The execution
was public and witnessed by a vast
concourse of people. On the scattold,
besides the prisoner, stood the sheriff,
DR.. Hays Mckinley, then editor of the
Telegraph, and other notables OF
Southport.
In speaking of the hanging the Tele-
graph issued at the time says: Scar
riages and teams from the country
came f1ocking into the city to witness
the execution of the condemned, and at
ha1f-past tea religious services were
performed at the court house, over the
jail, for the prisoner. They were con-
Quoted by the resident c1ergymen, at
which the officers of the law were IN
attendance. At II O'Clock a closed
carriage with the prisoner started for
! the place of execution, which was half
mile south of the city, and arrived at
the ground a quarter before 1 o'clock.
| The prisoner was supported by Sheriff
White and Deputy Sheriff Crocker,
attended by the city police and Keno
| sha City Guards. The prisoner walked
upon the platform with firm step and
| took a seat by the side of Catholic
clergyman. They Immediately knelt
in prayer for space of ten minutes.
The warrant of execution was then
read by the sheriff, after which the
| To
what the prisoner had to say. The
prisoner then faced to the south and
said in a low voice: i was the cause
of the death of my wife and hope my
fate will be warning to you all. l
| forgive all my enemies and all the
witnesses against even Mrs. Reed He
then shook hands with the sheriff
the rope was adjusted about his neck
and he was told that it yet lacked i've
minutes of the time, during which the
prisoner stood firm with c1asped hands,
but the movement of his lips showed
that he was in silent prayer. The cap
was drawn over his face and at pre-
cise1Y l o'clock the sheriff walked
across the platform and with a t1rm
tread stepped upon secret spring and
the prisoner was hoistef in the air.
After a moment or two there was a
slight shrug of the shoulders and he
continued to struggle for space OF
FIVE minutes, when he was pronounced
dead and the hanging was over"
j, Editorial1y the papers commented on
!, the hanging in such drastic manner
, that a short time after hanging was
, removed from the list of punishments
in Wisconsin.
INJURED IN MID AIR