EXECUTION OF O'DONNELL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4783, 19 January 1884, Page 4

EXECUTION OF O'DONNELL.

Patrick O'Donnell, the murderer of the informer Carey, paid the penalty within the walls of Newgate on the morning of December 17. The drop fell precisely at 8 o'clock. The previous night O'Donnell went to bed about 10, and remained apparently asleep till 5.30. At 6 the priest came, and the prisoner remained in prayer for some time. At the conclusion of prayers the sacrament was administered. O'Donnell partook of a light breakfast, and appeared to eat with relish. At 7. 45 the prison-bell began tolling, and a similar warning was sent from the belfry of St. Sepulchre Church, on Holborn Viaduct. Directly after the governor of the gaol with tho head warder entered, and O'Donnell was at once led to the pinioning-room, half-way between the condemned cell and the prison yard. Here they found the executioner, Binns, waiting, together with the Sheriff of London, three warders, and the prison doctor, and the execution was shortly afterwards performed. Outside the gaol a considerable crowd had assembled. They dispersed directly the black flag was hoisted. Twenty police were detained inside the gaol, and constables were posted around the walls outside. The body of O'Donnell, after hanging an hour, was cut down, and later on the inquest was held, with the usual verdict. The remains was interred in quicklime under one of the flags in the corridor known as Birdcage Walk. While being pinioned O'Donnell smiled, and seemed indifferent to his approaching fate. He expressed to the governor regret for the scene he had made in the dock after being sentenced. He walked firmly to the scaffold. His death was instaneous. His brother -was not admitted to the execution, but remained outside praying excitedly. The morning was wet and gloomy. The crowd around the goal was quiet. Strenuous efforts were made, especially by the Irish Americans, to procure a mitigation of sentence, or at least a respite; and delegations waited on President Arthur to ask that the United States' view in the matter should" be officially made known, which was accordingly done through Minister Lowell in London. For this action, as well as for the resolutions passed by the United States House of i Representatives, the New York Tribune ' and Post have only the language of strongest censure, and charge the President with yielding to Irish clamor, and thus putting himself in an absurd position. Outside the Irish-American element in the United States, there is no feeling in the matter whatever. Such American newspapers as discuss the sentence and its execution admit its justice.