THE EXECUTION OF JOE BRADY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3740, 11 July 1883, Page 4

THE EXECUTION OF JOE BRADY.

A correspondent gives the following account of tho last moments of Joe Brady, who was executed in Dublin on Monday, the 14th of May :— Brady, Avhen he parted from his relatives on Saturday, fell into a state of deep depression, ancl to one of the Avarders he said he felt as though his heart would break when his mother left him at her last and most melancholy visit, On Sunday evening his bearing became as before, almost cheerful, and quite resigned to his fate. In every way his demeanour since his conviction has "been exemplary. From that time he turned his thoughts entirely towards preparation for hereafter, ancl it is worth mentioning that the unfortunate fellow, by his gentleness aud tractable disposition, became a favourite with all the prison officials with Avhom he has come in contact. The chaplain of the prison, the Very Rev. Canon Kennedy, has been almost constantly by his side, and the eiiccts of his ministrations have been most marked ancl significant. Brady spent almost the entire morning in prayer. He rose very early, and remained kneeling for a lengthened period. AVhen the hour drcAV near, his fortitude seemed rather to increase. He had already heard Mass and partaken of the Blessed Sacrament, ancl when Marwood came to perform the first operation of pinioning ho found him resigned and gentle. It was just a quarter to eight o'clock when the executioner placed his hand upon the culprit. Tho pinioning of the arms Avas quickly effected. Brady Avoro the rough tweed suit in wliich ho had appeared in Court, and Marwood Avas obliged to button the front of it tightly in order to make the arm-straps secure behind—the unusually broad chest and extraordinary muscular development of Brady making the process apparently one of some little difficulty. The unfortunate man submitted gently, praying fervently all the time. The procession to the scaffold is always, perhaps, the most melancholy and aAvful of all the incidents of an execution. There walked first the sub-sheriff (Mr Ormsby) and the Governor of the Gaol (Mr Gilder), Dr Carte, Jr., and a couple of warders; then the condemned man, Cannon Kennedy, the Rev. Father O'Reilly (St. James' Church), followed by several warders. Brady's face Avas no paler than it avus by nature ; he kept his head bowed somewhat, Have twice or three times delivering- the responses to tho litany ho raised his eyes upwards. At the end of the Avest corridor the pinioning Avas effected. It was iioav within a couple of minutes of eight o'clock, and the sun Avas .shining Avith all the brilliancy of a bright May morning as the procession licarcd the centre of the courtyard. Marwood had in tho meantime hurried on to the scaffold, ancl iioav the rope hung loosely from the cross beam. AVhen Brady entered (lie yard his eyes glanced swiftly at the ghastly structure in front, and his prayers came quicker and the responses more emphatic. At the foot of the incline leading to the actual platform a momentary pause Avasmadc. Brady looked upwards for a moment, and then stepped upon the gallows. Ascending with a firm tread the fcAV intervening steps, the grating or trap door avus reached. Brady continued to utter the responses in a clear although now a subdued voice. _He looked around at the few spectators of the dreadful scene, smiled slightly, as one might fancy, by way of farewell, looked affectionately and Avith almost tearful eyes upon the priest, and at a gesture from Marwood, who stood on the left side of the platform, stepped a little forward so as to come almost directly under the rope. AVith the most marvellous rapidity tho excutioner clasped Avith leal hern straps the lower limbs of the victim. Brady drew himself up somewhat by a characteristic movement which those who saAV him in court AviU understand. In a second the Avhitc cap is placed over his head unci face, the noose of tho rope is placed around his neck, Marwood gives one hurried but searching look to the beam above, touches a lever close to his side—the floor gives Avay beneath the feet of Brady—his body disappear like a flash from view—a heavy thud is heard, and all is still and silent as the grave. The scene outside the prison was such as few avlio had Avitncsscd it arc likely ever to forget. A vast crowd, numbering many thousands of people, filled the roadway, down to the Inchicoro Tain Lino. As eight o'clock drew near, they concentrated themselves iit points from Avhich a view of the flagstaff could be had. This flagstaffsuggestive even by tho very newness aud freshness of the unpainted avoocl—stood besides the Avater tank at. the Eastern end of the prison wall. Tho sight Avas indeed a remarkable one. Thousands of people, of all classes of society Avith eves all riveted upon the one gloomy corner. A few seconds after eight o'clock a hand is seen to move at one of the halyards, and tho black flag ran up. A sound, which it is impossible to describe, rises from the mass of people. Almost every head is uncovered. A cry is raised, "Kneel down." Hundreds of people obey the mandate, and the spectacle is, iv truth, one that cannot fade from the memory. The words "May Cod have mercy on him !" arc heard ; the Avails and moans of sonic women rend the air. AVithin a short time the crowds have lessened; groups of people still gaze at the flag ; the dull sound of a bell reaches the spectators on tho road, and within an hour afterwards the district Avas almost deserted, save for the presence of the police and military.— Pilot.