INCIDENTS OF A NEW YORK EXECUTION.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 157, 31 January 1868, Page 3

INCIDENTS OF A NEW YORK EXECUTION.

A Now York paper describss the execution -of Jeremiah O'Brien, the murderer of a prostitute, Kate Smith by name, in PrinceStreet, over 14 months ago. The stepß of the prison door were crowded

with those who had the document necessary to admit them, and, as the gates were not •opened until about 20 minutes before 8 o'clock, they soon became clamorous for admittance. These gentlemen (thank God

there were no women among them) were by no means of the "rabble." They wore better dressed, better looking in ovary respect, and each 'bore in his hand or pocket a filled out certificate which made him, for the time being, a deputy-sheriff, to assist ■in "preserving order at the execution." The gate was finally opened at about 20 minutes nef ore 9, and then there was a general rush, much crowding, and considerable foul language. Tho possessors of tickets, or certificates, were looked upon byunhappy •outsiders as the" beloved of the Gods;" and several attempts were made to snatch their cards, in order to procure a good seat in the show. It was allthe door-keeper •could'do to take Up the tickets fast enough ; and in a few minutes the prison-yard was •almost filled with men. The gate was then >closed. Many of the outsiders thus excluded were indignant. One of 'them, an old gentleman with blue-jean over-all and ; a broken nose, exclaimed, justas the officers were pushing back the crowdof disappointed sight-seers, " It isn't fair, be Jabers ! Alderman O'Rafferty promised me a sate in the show. But I'll be even wid him yet !" A respectable female vendor of fruit, in the neighbourhood of the prison, offered the ' sergeantin commandabushelof freshpeaches to be allowed to go inside and see " the ■purty boy swung off." But the bribe, though tempting, was declined with a virtuoug smile. And the out side crowd were gradually pressed back for half a block, or more, where they were kept for more than an hour. The gallows was erected in the southwestern corner of the prison-yard. Ii is the same structure which destroyed Captain Beal on Govenor's Island, three years ago, Kennedy at Port Lafayette a short time later, Bernard Priory, and Wagner, the wife murderer, still more recently. A description of its loathsome operations is almost unnecessary. Suffice it to say that the scaffold used at the Tombs is supposed to be an improvement on the old conventional Istyle, In the old country, and in most of the States of this country, the old method 'of a noose above, a trap below, the springing of a bolt, and the horrible dance in mid air which gradually loosens the spirit into eternity is still adhered to. Here, insted of "falling down, the oulprit is jerked up. His halter is fastened to a suspended rope, "which is controlled by a heavy weight suspended by a mere thread in an adjoining inclosure. The " thread" is cut, the rope, with its living weight attached, is jerked high into the air ■; and the slack, or purchase is so great that either the man's neck or the rope must break.

The scaffold was coverd with an awning, -as the appearance of the wether gave indication of rain. Within a few feet of the rope were ranged a number of benches, with rough deal desks in front, for the convenience of the press. About a dozen bona .Jide reporters occupied one of these benches. The rest were filled with gentlemen, who intent on being as near as possible to the tragedy, filled the other seats, with make-believenote-booksbefotethem, and fictitious pencils over their ears, in order to elude the vigilance of the police. The yard was thickly crowded their being about 300 present in all, including the police. . . . .... At last Mr Kelly, the Sheriff, made his appearance, accompanied by his Chief Deputy and Mr Isaacs, the executioner. The Sheriff is a fine-looking man,andseems to hate the hanging portion of his office immensly. Isaacs is an urbane individual, ■with something of the appearance of a Washington Market butcher. He said, after the hanging of Captain Beale—"He ■was the bravest man that I ever saw stretched; I did my best with him ; if he had kicked three times more than he did, I would have called myself a jomrrieyman and cut my throat I" Both before and sinee that time he has frequently shown his loving hand and admirable skill. Hehad probably taken good care with his gallows before—in other 'words, he knew his ropes—for up on the present occasion he contented himself with feeling the suspended rope and going behind the encloseure to test the efficiency of the weights. The killing tools must have beet found in good order, for presently all returned to the prison gate and re-entered the cell of the doomed man.

The police immediately pushed back the crowd, and formed a long lane, through which the fatal procession should pass on its way to the scaffold. Some still continued to press against the instrument of death, -and a number thronged around the prison gate, in order to view the prisoner upon his first entrance in to the yard. While wating here there were a great many comments passed upon the event, and there was some brutal impatience expressed as to the non-appearance of the prisoner. At a few minutes past nine o'clock in the morning, there was a sudden swaying in front of the door, with the suppressed ex•clamation of " Here he comes \" and the prisoner appeared on his way to the gallows. The Sheriff led the way; the culprit followed, with the halter round his neck, and a friend walking by his side. They were also accompanied by George Isaacs (the executioner,) a Deputy Sheriff, Fathers Daranquet and St Francis, and Surgeons Hodgman, Anderson, Nealls, Atwood, and Bahan. With the exception of the prisoner, every one was as pale as death. They soon arrived under the rope, and the preparations for the execution immediately took plaoe. The prisoner was attired in white linen trousersand ▼est, dress coat, and light-colored kid gloves. He was short of stature, and looked alhnosb like a boy. He was beardless, and his features were inflamed and swollen, as though by much weeping. He had the general appearance of the regular New York *'rough" —the man who is most at home in scenes of violence and disorder $ but •certainly as he stood there with his rich, ■curly hair, and his trembling lips, and his ■downcast eyes, he looked too young and too beautiful to destroy.

Some criminals die <, game ; " some dio wincuigly ; andeome, again, pass off stupidly. Jerry O'Brien died stupidly; he had, weeks before' resigned all hopo of a reprieve ; he was in that stupid state of mind whore utter despair comes in a mechanical way, which is misnamed resignation. Only once did a gleam of animation, perhaps of hope, dart across his boyish face; hut it quickly died away, and gave way to the old blank despair.

The sky had been overcast all the morning and just as the culprit arrived under the gallows a slow.drizzling rain commenced, which did not cease until the close of the tragedy. He took a chair directly under the dangling rope, and listond tranquilly to the administration of the' Ordinances of the Roman Catholic Church, which consisted of the prayers -commencing " Our* Father" and " Hail Mary" and reading of the Creed, the recital of the confession, and the Acts of Contrition, Prayer was also offered fer the dead, O'Brien many times repeating the words, "Lord, have mercy on my soul !" "Lord, have mercy on my soul!" llie prisoner, through his spiritual adviser, announced that he was ready at about twenty mmutes before 10 o' clock. Mr Isaacs placed him under the 'drop, and adjusted the knot. There was a slight "click" heard, and every one knew that the criminal have but a few seconds to live IS?*? "l 0U any thhlg to sa^? " asked Jsaacs. lell them to pray forme—my mother, my sisters, my friends—tell them to pray for me ! x J

The black cap was drawn over the face ot the youthful criminal. He was hesitating on the bridge of tima, ere he was hurled from this side to the other. Only a few seconds of fife intervened. It was now raining heavily. Umbrellas were hoisted and the croud of spectators wore impatient and dripping, and waiting to be gone. The influence of capital punishment as a prevention of crime had an illustration in ah incident at this time. Just as this poor wretch was trembling on the verge of dissolution—with the black cap over his eyes, and his brain swooning or agonising for the fatal jerk—a well-dressedbut villainous-

looking man reached over through the dripping crowd, and in a suppressed wicked whisper, exclaimed to the man before him? "Look here ! I've told you to take that umbrella from before me throe times. If you don't do it this time "I'll kill you on thespot'" There was little time for comment; for at that moment the rope was cut, and with a sudden jerk, Jerry O'Brien was cast into the other world. After the execiition alarge crowd still haunted the vicinity ef the prison anxious to know if the 3iangW had reallv come off. ' " J