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THE BISBEE ASSASSINS HANGED.


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Galveston Daily News / March 29, 1883

TOMBSTONE, A. T., March 28 -- O. W. Sample, Dan Dowd, William Delane and Dan Kelly were hanged this afternoon for the Bisbee murders.

The five bandits marched up the steps of the scaffold without flinching. All declared their innocence and said Heath, who was lynched here February 23, was also innocent. They bade good-by to all their friends and expressed faith in the christian religion. They requested their bodies to be delivered to Father Gallagher. Nothing occurred to mar the sheriff’s plans. The murderers were all dropped off together and, excepting Dowd, died without a struggle. Over 1000 persons witnessed the execution. A large balcony had been erected outside, overlooking the jailyard, the builder intending to charge $1.50 admission. The mob became indignant and tore it down. In the row which followed seven persons were injured. One man had a leg broken, another his arm. The balcony would have seated 500 persons. With this exception everything passed off quietly.

James Howard was also hanged with the above murderers.

The criminals didn’t show the slightest fear at the near approach of death. After being shaved and dressed in new black suits, one of them remarked: Well, boys, if we haven’t lived like gentlemen, we’ll die like them. A few minutes before leaving the cells the sheriff notified them that he would permit them to go to the scaffold unshackled, but each would be accompanied by a deputy. Howard protested against this, saying he would prefer being tied and carried up, rather than to have the spectators think he was not game enough to mount the gallows without help. The others joined in the protest, but the sheriff was inflexible.

On the scaffold, the bandits recognized some familiar faces in the crowd and called out the names, cheerfully bidding them good-by. The nooses were then adjusted, when a second general protest was entered by all five, saying they were being choked to death on the scaffold. Howard requested the sheriff to move the knot further back, adjusting his neck to the noose. Not one of them apparently showed the slightest sign of regret.

The criminals were executed for the murders of Deputy Sheriff T. D. Smith, John Tappeiner, Mrs. Roberts and one Knolley, while robbing Castaneda’s store and raiding Bisbee last November. All died game.

 

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