EXECUTION AT NEW YORK.

Evening Post, Issue 141, 21 July 1865, Page 2

EXECUTION AT NEW YORK.

The execution of Robert Kennedy, found guilty of acting as a spy and of participation in the attempt to fire the hotels of New York, took place at Fort Lafayette on the 25 th ult., in the presence of many hundred spectators. On the morning of the hanging, the executioner, a Maine deserter, who for this work was pardoned his offence, waa placed in a box, where he could cut the rope without being seen, and, the hour having arrived, the officials proceeded to the room of the condem led. The officer of the day, l-irst Lieutenant Samuel W» Black, 17th United States Infatrtry, with attendants, stood at the door, while Colonel Burke, Marshal Murray, and Isaacs entered. Kennedy stood near the fire, with General Beall and the chaplain. Starting forward, he said, excitedly, " Oh, I know what you want ; lam prepared for it," and passed to the further end of the room for something, when he noticed the undertaker, Isaacs, and said, " I dont know you, nor who t.he ' you are." Beall restrained him. and Marshall Murray told him that it was time to be prepared, as the hour had arrived. "All right," said he, "I'm ready } I'm prepared for this thing ; tie my arms;" and then, after a moment's quiet, he shouted, " Thia is hard for you Yankees to use me so. I'm a regular soldier in the Confederate army, and have been since the war." To the reporter of the New York Times he said, " Good bye, old fellow ; you'll do me justice on that statement deferring to his confession), won't you ; you'll put it all in ?" Isaacs having bound his arms, placed the black cap on his head, at which he started, saying, "Am I to wear this thing to the gallows ?" He was told that he was, and as he was again about repeating something about the Yankees, General Beall interrupted, saying, "These gentlemen have nothing to do with that, Kennedy," and he stopped. The procession, under charge of Lieutenant Black, then marched to the gallows, upon the scaffold of which stood a backless chair, and near which were the reporters of some of the papers. For a moment Kennedy sat down, smiled, and then caught hold of his black cap, the end of which tickled his face, aud threw it spitefully on the board. He then stood up, while Captain Thomas H. French, 10th United States Infantry, Post Adjutant, read the long review of the case, recently issued by General Dix, in General Orders No. 24. Captain French read distinctly and fluently, but during the tea minutes he consumed, Kennedy frequently interrupted him, saying, "It't a— —lie,'* and laughing loudly and offensively. At its conclusion the chaplain read the appropriate service, and then, kneeling, offered a touching appeal in behalf of the wretched man, who refuscl to kneel, and seemed scarcely human in his lerity, while all around him were hushed with reverence. Isaacs stepped forward,butKennedy, placing his back against the upright plank, said, " Colonel, I wish to make a statement. Gentlemen this is a judicial murder. There's no occasion for the United States to treat me in this way. I say, colonel, can't you give me a drink before I go up ?" At the signal, Isaacs again approached to adjust the knot and pull down the cap, when Kennedy startled everyone present by suddenly shouting forth the stanza : — M Trust to luck, trust to luck, Stare your fate in the face, Sure your heart will be aisy If it's in the right place." The final note of which yet rang in the ear when the whirl of Lieutenant Black's blade gave the signal, and the brokennecked corpse of the incendiary was swinging in the air. His death was instantaneous. The body j moved gently back and forth for a few moments, was cut down, encoffined, and taken off.