SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS. O'DONNELL'S DOOM. HIS LAST HOURS ON EARTH.
n New York, December 16. — The Brooklyn "Eagle" prints a London cablegram in which it is stated that O'Donnell practically admitted he was an Invincible. Saturday evening he had an interview with his brother, and when the latter left the prisoner he was asked if O'Donnell had made any new statements. "He said," answered the brother, "he never had felt any regret for killing Carey, and feels none now. He also said he would make this declaration upon the scaffold, and that these would be his dying words." Being closely pressed, the brother made the following statement : "For fear anything might happen him between now and Monday, my brother sent for me and asked me to put before his friends his last statement. He intends, upon the scaffold, to say the following words : "I killed James Carey, the informer. I am not sorry for killing him, and I never have been. Not only that, but all London's wealth would not buy me or induce me to give any one away."
A Rescuing Party from America. The police to-night assert that the British Government is iniormed from New York that a strong and well-orgnnised- party, of American Invincibles lett 2\'ew iVork on November aboard the Assyrian Monarch, for the purpose of attempting the rescue of O'Donnell. This pai]ty, 3 the American despatch says, are desperate., and through allies in London have chartered a small and swift ste.ame.r in London to con-
vey their resetted fellow-man to sea. As ridiculous as any such idiotic scheme must appear to persons acquainted with the situation at Newgate, or any other English prison, still the Scotland Yard force have taken official notice of it, and posted a strong corps of special men at Gravesend for the purpose of arresting these Americans i when the Assyrian Monarch arrives on Sun- ] day. When questioned about the matter, the Scotland Yard Inspector said thafcj while the story about a rescue was regarded as ridiculous, the police believe ! that if an American party come at all their real mission would be one of revenge | against the officers and others engaged in the prosecution of O'DonViell, and that' every effort would be made to arrest the' entire party the moment the steamship landed. The Government has issued a permit- to the police to search persons and luggage and examine into the identity of every- passenger arriving aboard "the Assyrian Monarch, and undoubtedly some j arrests will be made, as the Government j believe their information from New York specific and reliable. Later. — The police boarded the steamer Assyrian Monarch Sunday, but no arrests were made, as there was no passenger list on board to furnish the names of suspected psrsona. Londox, December 16th. — O'Donneli < passed a good night, and continues cheerful. His appetite is fail*, but he enjoys smoking more than eating. He was visited this afternoon by Father Fleming and another priest, and was attentive to their exhortations. The strictest reticence is observed by the prison officials. A special guard of 24 men is on duty inside of the prison, day and night, and several detectives are stationed outside. The streets in the vicinity of the prison are empty and quiet. Some uneasiness being felt about Binns's drop, it was thoroughly tested to-day, and the machinery again overhauled. It seemed to work well. The exclusion of representatives of the press from the prison, and the difficulty of obtaining information, cause much dissatisfaction. The execution will certainly take place at 8 o'clock on Monday morning. Victor Hugo has written to Queen Victoria asking her to pardon O'Donneli. He says; "The Queen of England has shown more than once her greatness of heart, and the Queen will grant O'Donneli his life and accept the unanimous thanks of the whole civilised world.''
He Mounts the Scaffold with a Firm Tread. Loxdox, December 17. — Patrick O'Donnell paid the death penalty within the walls of Newgate this morning. The drop fell at precisely S o'clock. Last night O'Donnell went to bed about 10 o'clock, and remained apparently asleep until 5.30 this morning. At 6 o'clock Father Fleming came, and the i prisoner remained in prayer some time. At the conclusion of pi^ayevs the sacrament was administered. O'Donnell partook of a light breakfast and appeared to eat with i % elish. At 7.4.) the prison bell began tolling, and a similar warning was sent from the belfry of St. Sepulchre Church on the Holburn Viaduct directly after. The Governor of the gaol, with the head warden, entered, and O'Donnell was at once led to the pinioning room, halfway between the condemned cell and the prison yard. Here they found the executioner, Binns, awaiting, together with the Sheriff of London, three wardens, and the prison docto**. Binns bound O'Donnell's arms with leather thongs, O'Donnell submitting quietly. The proce«sion was then formed, the prisoner in the centre, and they quietly marched to the prison yard, passing so closely to the few spectators admitted that they could have touched O'Donnell but for the lattice work which separated them. The scaffold was quietly reached. The noose hun<r ominously from the cross -beam above. The scaffold was half boarded up, so that O'Donnell's attendants were seen by those pi'esent only from the waist up. Binns lost not a moment in placing the white cup over the victim's face and adjusting the noose, and a moment laterO'Donnelldisappeared, a quivering cord being all that remained to show where he had stood. The Governor and the doctor gazed a moment into the cellar-pit in which his body swung, and then turned away. Outside the gaol a considerable crowd collected. They dispersed directly the black flag was hoisted. Twenty police were detailed inside the gaol and constables were posted around the walls outside. While being pinioned O'Donnell smiled and seemed indifferent to his approaching fate. He expressed to the Governor regrets for the scene he had made in the dock after being sentenced. He walked firmly to the scaffold. His death was instantaneous, the fall being 8 feet. His brother was not admitted to the execution, but remained outside, praying excitedly. The morning was wet and gloomy. The crowd around the gaol was quiet. Binns performed 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 trap precisely as the neighbouring church clocks were striking eight. The crowds in front of Newgate increased rapidly, and shortly before eight o'clock they numbered 20,000 persons. The streets were closely packed, but the crowd preserved a very quiet and orderly demeanour. The Irish element was conspicuous. As the moment for execution approached, the crowd swayed up against the prison wall, and the roadway, which before was kept clear, was 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 was marked on many faces. O'Donnell's brother occupied the doorway opposite the prison, in view of the flagstaff, upon which his eyes were riveted. He was an object of the deepest interest. The crowd pressed so closely upon him that the police had to interfere for his protection When the black flag was hoisted, he removed his hat and remained some minutes, apparently praying, his features working painfully. He stayed at the same spot some time after the execution. To the people lingering around he said, in a hoarse voice, "My poor brother ! He has died bravely, as man should ever die !" This was received with cries of " Yes." He then de parted and the crowd disappeared.
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Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 33, 19 January 1884, Page 3
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1,287SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS. O'DONNELL'S DOOM. HIS LAST HOURS ON EARTH. Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 33, 19 January 1884, Page 3
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