Year: 1866

encouraged Il How he irst fecamc acauain ted with
Byrnes not known but his nnsup pectingl nature was
quickly taken advantage of, and The two were on nli-
terms It 10 PROBABLE shal he gave Byrnes 10 un-
dersand tat the pin was valuable, and this belief ex
cited the atter's cupidHy such an extent that he
committed The murder for lts possession.


EsrorTs IyEyRHEs' BEHALF


Ryrnes was ably defended by T. ID. Bemboton, but
to purpose motion for trial carried 10
the supreme Court appeal and strong efforts were
made 10 induce the Governor 10 grant Communication OF
the sentence 10 imprisonment for hfe Governor Low
after royrwing the testimony, said that he could see
nothing IN the facts which would warrant Executive in
terposition and that the questions OF law left with
the Supreme Court That tribunal sustained the rulings
of The lower Court and denied the motion for trial
and Byrnes accordingly sentenced TO be hanged Hs
and those OF his family, well many citizens
who opposed to capital punishment, untiring Ia
exeftons in his behalf up 10 the hour OF his death
the Governor although listening kindly 10 their ap
poas from sense of duty denied them the comnuta-
ton asked


From the time OF his until the of death
passed upon him. Byrnes assumed air Of bravado
ard braegadocio which did not gain him the sympathy
During the trial his face constantly ugly scowl
which directed the witnesses for the prosecution
in threatening and defiant His conduct in Jail
in keeping with his general STYLE until the sentence
of death passed upon him. Then, for the first tme
he betrayed emotion tears gathered IN his eyes and
himself up entirely to his spiritual advisers


PREPARATIONS FOR DEATH.


Ever since he sentenced Byrnes, has been almost
constantly attended by tho Catholic clergy and Sisters
Mercy The day preceding his execution his mother
and brother visited him in his cell, and remained with
him most OF the day. In the afternoon young lady


friend called upon him and had interview of about an
hour, company with two Sisters OF Mercy He slept
portion OF his last night EARTH and IN the morning
partook Of light breakfast His demeanor all the time
was quiet and calm without the slightest symptoms Q,
fear nervousness Fathers Gallagher, Arden and
Goney with him constantly until he was taken
from his cell TO the gaows


AS early MS noon those holding invitations 10 witness
execution began arrive and before O'Clock all
present that could be accommodated The county


Jail Is small but admirably arranged building of two
Stories and has OF cells either side, with pas
sage OF about twelve feet between them, upon which the
doors open the cells of the second story have corridor
about two feet VIDE and the end Of this cori-
that the gaows erected, which consisted OF
platform with trap in the centre beam overhead
being passed through two windows venators above
the upper Of celia The entire passage is well lighted
by skyighs overhead and the whole building is Kept IN
the beautiful order By half-past twelve the west
era sde the corridor filled, the other side being
Kept clear for the passage OF the condemned and his
escort


Al one O'Clock the prisoner supported by several
priests OF the Roman Catholic church and attended by
the Sheriff and his deputies, Issued from cel no on
the lower oor and passed out the main entrance and up
the stairs leading 10 the CORRIDOR along which the pro
cession moved 10 the other end OF the building The
prisoner dressed in a black frock coat vest and
pants and his hair carefully brushed, indeed he
looked II about TO issue forth for walk upon
the street: than ated for his execution His step
was firm he faltered for moment, when di-
reced to his place upon the trap and II evident
that he had screwed hs courage up bear the terrible
ordeal in a manly manner. His face only which
deathy pae CHASTITY even spoke the fearful struggle OF
the moment ana told of his mental suffering.


As he placed In position, the death war.
read by the Deputy Sheriff. the condemned all
the appearing as If engaged in silent prayer, hold
he forth from his pocket address, Of which the
following is copy, and read it in loud, distinct voice,
with scarcely any hesitation whatever


SPEECH on THE sCAFPoLD


My FRIrNDs-In a position as awful ms mine, with
death staring in the face about to enter world that
end and to bid last adieu TO time, it would



ments that remain 20 me wish merely 10 thank my
ends for the kindly interest they have taken IN my
behalf From first to last, before my trial well as
the final sentence OF the law was passed. have ex
perienced much kindness. May such Kindness be re-
BROTHER for the moral and religious training, which
in my childhood days they endeavored by word
sn and or he fond aatachmen with which they
chung TO in misfortune as In prosperity; to
Judge Pratt for his ever anxious and tender sym
pathy; 10 my lawyers for their earnest exerton in my
defence keepers for the enent indulgence with
which they always treated me; 70 the good Sisters,
whose frequent visits brought such consolation into my
lonely prison CELL and whose heavenly the
means of Willing away many weary hour; to my
my souls salvation 70 ALL my external gratitude is
due. On the merits of mycase ] shall not dwell Tho
sentence of the Judge has placed that beyond appeal


wish TO die at peace with men and hope TO find mercy
with God In a few moments shall stand before His
dread tribunal TO receive q sentence awful because
eternal May IL be eternal bliss And you, friends,
of your charity, pray for me that my Redecmer may
not observe my niquites but may have mercy upon my
soul


AT the conclusion the document handed to the
sheriff. and as he did So he remarked that official -
an pray for you in Heaven His hands and legs
then secured with strong leather straps the rope
adjusted about his neck, but being rather tight, he
turned the Deputy Sheriff. with scow and requested
IL TO be cased which DONE The black cap then
drawn over his face and the time the prayers
for the departing spirit read by the attending
priests. At thirteen minutes past one the trap was
sprung, and with dull thud, the body OF Thomas
Byrnes hung suspended from the beam overhead. Not
a motion of any kind, not spasmodc action OF the
muscle even visible; he fell fully twelve feet and
his death must have been nstantane Gus.


After hanging about twenty minutes, the attending
surgeons pronounced him dead The body then cut
down and removed to tho jail yard and after another
inspection, handed to his friends for nterment