Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1883 — AVENGER O’DONNELL. [ARTICLE]

AVENGER O’DONNELL.

He Was Hanged in Newgate Prison at the Appointed Hour. Failure of the Efforts for a Postponement of the Sentence.

Patrick O’Donnell, the slayer of James Carey, the notorious Irish informer, was hanged in Newgate prison at 8:02 o’clock on Monday morning, Dec. 17. Despite the boisterous and squally weather, says a cable dispatch, a considerable crowd assembled at the prison at 7 o'clock in the morning, while hundreds of workmen who were passing by the jail waited to gaze at the black flak. Among the crowds was O’Donnell’s brother, who paced . to and fro opposite the flagstaff in the most dejected manner, exciting the sympathy of all present. The hangman’s arrangements were perfect and the execution occurred without a hitch. O’Donnell was calm and collected, but made nd statement on the scaffold. O’Donnell Was notified at 7:30 o’clock to make ready. He was perfectly" resigned and expressed great sorrow for his outburst of temper in the dock at the conclusion of his trial. He said he had felt the greatest animosity for the witnesses who appeared against him, but all such feelings bad now disappeared. After communion had been administered, Binn, the hangman, entered the cell. O’Donnell submitted to the operation of pinioning with a smile and without a murmur. The procession then moved toward the scaffold. O’Dpnneftwalked with great firmness and without the assistance of the wardens, who stood close around him. While standing on the drop ho looked around unconcernedly. Binns performed the remainder of his duty quickly. He ‘allowed a drop of -eight feet. The noose was placed exactly as Marwood used to place it. Binns pulled the lever of the trap precisely as the neighboring church clocks were striking 8. The crowd in front of Newgate increased rapidly, and shortly before 8 o’clock numbered 20,000 persons. The streets were closely packed, but the throng observed a quiet and orderly demeanor. The Irish element was not conspicuous. As the moment for the execution approached,, the crowd swayed up against the prison wall, and , the roadway, which had before been kept , clear, became blocked. The police, however, moved rapidly through the multitude and easily cleared the way. When the black flag was hoisted, announcing the tragedy at an end, there was no demonstration, although suppressed excitement marked many faces. O’Dohnell’s brother remained to the last, bitterly weeping, the center of a sympathizing group. Clouds began to break as the hour of 8 approached, and when the black flag was run up it was distinctly displayed against the rising sun. The people immediately dispersed after the hoisting of the flag. O’Donnell was firm as a rock to the last. Every one was much impressed with his nerve. To his brother, who was with him shortly before ” his execution, he said: “I killed James Carey, the infofmer. lam not sorry for killing him, and I never have been. Not only that, but all London’s weaith would not buy me or induce me to give any one away.” At parting O’Donnel shook his brother’s hand, exclaiming: “Good-by, old fellow; keep up your spirits, and don’t be downcast because of me.” e The steamship Assyrian Monarch, which arrived pt Gravesend the day before the execution, was seized by the London police, “as it was suspected Unit a number of men were on board who would, if permitted, make an effort to rescue O’Donnell or seek revenge by assailing some of the officials who prosecuted him. The detectives were about to search the passengers, but a number of Americans on board made such sturdy resistance that, they desisted. All the passengers were held, however, until after O’Donnell’s execution.

Efforts for a Reprieve. On the 12th of December Secretary Frelinghuysen telegraphed Minister Lowell stating that the House of Representatives had brought the case of O’Donnell to the President’s notice in the hope that the.latter might secure a reasonable delay of the execution of the sentence, and ascertain whether the prisoner was an American citizen, and whether there was error in thetrial?On .the Iftth Minister Lowell telegraphed to Secretary Frelinghuysen that he had received the dispatch and communicated its substance to Lord Granville, who acknowledged the receipt, and stated it would bo referred to the proper authorities. On the 15th Lowell received Lord Granville’s reply, in which the latter, after referring to Lowell’s communication. stated that, counsel for O’Donnell having submitted representations, he thought it advisable, on the prisoner’s behalf, that these representations and all other circumstances of the case had been carefully examined and considered in the manner usual in the case of capital convictions, and her Majesty’s Government found no grounds upon which he justified advising the Crown to interfere with the sentence of the law or its execution. Interview with Gen. Pryor. Gen. Roger A. Pryor, who was sent to England to assist in the defense of O’Donnell, was interviewed on his return to New York. He did not see O’Donnell after his conviction, but received a message from him, in which the condemned man expressed gratitude to the Irish-Americans fOr what they had done for him. “How did O’Donnell bear himself during the trial?” Gen. Prior was asked. ‘-Like a hero. He was intrepid, decorous and dignified. He was perfectly social throughout. Nobody ten feet away heard the Clerk ask why sentence should not be pronounced. O’Donnell certainly did not. I did not hear him, nor did Mr. Sullivan. If Mr. Lowell had gone to Mr. Gladstone a respite could have been gotten instantly. O’Donnell did not ask for a respite. He craved no favor Of the British Crown.”. Indignant Finerty. ” Hon. John F. Finerty, the fiery, untamed Irishman, who represents the Bridgeport district of Chicago in Congress, declared in an interview at Washington that the hanging of O’Donnell was an insult to the American people; that England had often tweaked our National nose, but that we never took offense, and that the stars and stripes, as protective of adopted citizens, was a “flaunting lie,” and was looked uyon as a sort of handkerchief by European nations. As a nation of shop-keepers, htsaid, we dare not declare war. as that would hurt commercial interests, and commercial interests must be maintained, even at the cost of the Nation’s honor. He desired an efficient navy, and demanded American representation in London —not by that “Duke of Dudes and adopted Scotchman," James Russell LowelL Victor Hugo’s Plea for O’DonnelL Victor Hugo wrote ta,Queen Victoria asking for the pardon of O’Donnell. In his letter he says that the Queen of England, who had shown more than once her greatness of heart, would grant O’Donnell his-life and accept the unanimous thanks of the whole civilized world. ’