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IT WILL BE 53 YEARS SUNDAY SINCE WAYNE COUNTY HUNG A MURDERER |
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from Lyons Republican Lyons, N.Y. Friday, March 21, 1913 |
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William Fee Was Put To Death in this Village by Sheriff Snedaker for the Brutal Murder of a Woman Near Montezuma - Only Man Who Ever Paid the Death Penalty in This County - History of the Crime and Execution Taken from the Files of the Lyons Republican |
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Sunday will be the fifty-third anniversary of the hanging in this village of William Fee, the only man who ever paid the death penalty for murder in this county. Fee was hung in the jail yard here on the afternoon of March 23, 1860. The Sheriff was Adrastrus Snedaker. In the Lyons Republican of March 23, 1860, there is a four-column account of the hanging and a history of the crime. Summed up the story of the crime follows: In the month of September 1859, the body of an unknown woman was found by the roadside on the Montezuma Turnpike about fourteen miles east of this village and near the eastern border of Seneca County Circumstances pointed to William Fee and Thomas Muldoon, canal laborers. They were arrested several days later, Fee in New York City and Muldoon in Pennsylvania. They were brought here and placed in jail to await trial. Fee was tried in February, Judge Knox presiding. It took four days to get a jury. They found him guilty and he was sentanced to be hanged. A few days later Attorneys Farrar and Martindale argued for a writ of error before Judge Johnson, Judge KNox having previously denied such a writ. D. Husbands, Esq. looked after the people's interest. Judge Johnson also denied the writ. Application was made to the Governor for executive clemency, but that also was refused. In addition to Attorneys Farrar and Martindale, mentioned above, in applying for the writ, Attorney B. C. Williams, now of Newark and the only man living who was concerned in the trial or the hanging, was associated with the defense. The following paragraphs are just the same as they were printed in the Lyons Republican, fifty Three years ago; THE SCAFFOLD The gallows was made of the 4X4 scantling and was 12 feet in height and about 5 feet across. Across the top was bolted a block of oak timber and about 6 inches square projecting about 2 feet in front. On the extreme front of this timber was inserted a grooved wheel and another a little back of the center. The rope was passed over these wheels; one end reaching within 2 feet of the floor and at the rear weights totaling 250 lbs were attached so that the slack of the rope, then adjusted about the neck of the prisoner would be about 3 feet 6 inches. The weight was held in its place by a stout cord which was to be cut at a signal by the sheriff. The rope and scaffold were put in the court house and thoroughly tested and during Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, its construction was being examined by hundreds of people. The Scaffold was taken down on Thursday and carried in pieces to the jail where it was erected in the north cell facing the east. The front was covered with smooth boards so that the prisoner when he entered could see nothing of the dreadful machinery within. THE ROPE The fatal rope was the one used in the execution of Ira Stout, at Rochester on October 22, 1858. It is 6 or 7 feet in length, 3-4 inches thick, and made of linen shoe thread, loosely wound. A noose is made at one end, the sliding portion of the rope passing through a genuine "hangman's knot." To this rope was attached a larger one of hemp, to which the weights were tied. THE GRAVE It is understood that the body will be buried in the graveyard one mile from Lockpit. A strict watch is to be kept for some time to prevent the body being stolen. Fee's desire had been to be buried on the bank of the river, but he sided to the wishes of his mother. The body is to be placed after the execution in a plain coffin, furnished by the sheriff, after which the friends of Fee will be at liberty to remove it for internment. THE DAY BEFORE Fee maintained his apparent indifference remarkably well yesterday, though at times he appeared to realize that the fateful hour was rapidly approaching. |
He remarked to the sheriff, who asked him to try on a new coat, which it was offered he should wear today, "Am I to be hung in a new suit of this?" The sheriff told him, "Yes." "Well," said Fee, "I shall be quite dressed up, ready to travel - I'll go downtown about half past four tomorrow." He remarked to another that he would like to live long enough to know how the big prize fight in England resulted. He asked a young man if he was coming to see him hung, and to the sheriff he said, "You will have a nice time tossing this old body about." MILITARY The Lyons Light Guard were detailed by the sheriff to preserve order about the jail. Scores of over-curious persons collected outside and many of these would-be sight were there from 9 o'clock until the execution was over. THE EXECUTION At about half past one the procession moved into the hall. First came the sheriff, next Undersheriff Knottingham, next Fathers Casey and Constant, the prisoner, supported by Officers Hovey and Arms, bringing up the rear. Fee was dressed in a dark colored coat, vest and pants. On his head he wore a turban white cap, so constructed that it could be be pulled down under his chin in front, hiding his features from view at the fatal moment. In one hand he carried a small crucifix and in the other a white handherchief. Then follows an account of matters preliminary to the execution, the reading of the death warrant by the Undersheriff, prayers and a statement by Fee. Fee, in a firm voice said: For the murder of this woman that I shall have to die, I die innocent of murder, and I give my best respects to Mr. Snedaker and Mrs. Snedaker for they have used me well as long as I have been here. He is a perfect gentleman and she is a perfect lady. Mr. Clark Toots (the turnkey) is a perfect gentleman. As for my enemies in this world, I pardon them with the greatest pleasure and hope that God will pardon me. I hope my friends will not throw any reflections upon my pardner, Tom Muldoon, when I am no more. There will be no relection on him-that my folks will throw no reflection on him." The district attorney asked Fee if he meant to be understood that Muldoon was innocent to which Fee answered: "Yes, they must not blame him for his being in my company." Then he said: God bless the whole of you boys that is all I have to say." The white cap was then drawn over his face, the rope adjusted about his neck, the signal given, and up in the air went the body of William Fee. He was carried up three feet, falling back of within two feet of the floor; the rope tightened about his neck as the body descended. This was about 2 o'clock. His death was apparently quite easy. He struggled but little, and not at all after the first five minutes. The pulse at the wrist ceased to beat eight minutes after the suspension and the heart, twenty minutes. The body was left hanging for half an hour. The exection was witnessed by a hundred persons. The entire arrangements were perfect and everything was conducted in the most orderly manner. Thus has perished a fellow being on the first gallows ever erected in Wayne County. God grant that we never be called upon to record a repetition of hte fearful scene that has been enecated here today! As told in these columns a few weeks ago, the scaffold for years was carted back and forth between the jail and courthouse as it got in the way. A short time ago Deputy Sheriff Cornelius J. Collins had a chair made of part of it. The weights used in the hanging are now, and have been for years, in this office. They are used to hold doors open in the summer time and when something good and heavy is required for some purpose. How they came to the Republican office nobody seems to recall just now, the other one disappearing mysteriously one day last summer. Suspicion pointed toward an out-of-town man who came here and cleaned our cellar of waste paper. He evidently picked the weight up and carried it off "without thinking." |
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