Price, Eliphalet

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The Execution of Patrick O\u27Conner

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Volume 40 | Number 6 Article 3
6-1-1959
The Execution of Patrick O'Conner
Eliphalet Price
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Price, Eliphalet. "The Execution of Patrick O'Conner." The Palimpsest 40 (1959), 245-256.
Available at: https://ir.uiowa.edu/palimpsest/vol40/iss6/3
Che Crial and Execution of ‘Patrick O'Conner 
at the Dubuque (Dines in the Summer of 1834
[Eliphalet Price, an eyewitness of the hanging, wrote the following 
account in the early fifties. In October, 1865, the account was pub­
lished by the State Historical Society of Iowa in the Annals of Iowa, 
from which it is here reprinted. Price’s spelling of the name O 'Connor 
has been retained in the article. — T he E ditor.]
In giving a detailed historical account of the 
trial and execution of Patrick O’Conner, at the 
Dubuque mines, in the summer of 1834, we are 
aware that there are many persons still living who 
participated in bringing about a consummation of 
justice on that occasion; as well as many who were 
witnesses of the stern solemnity attending its clos­
ing scene; which may subject this reminiscence to a 
criticism which we believe will not extend beyond 
the omission of some minutia, which did not come 
under our personal observation.
Soon after the treaty between the United States 
and the Sac and Fox Indians at Rock Island in 
1832, which resulted in the extinguishment of the 
Indian Title to the lands embraced in the present 
State of Iowa, permanent mining locations and 
settlements began to be made in the vicinity of the 
present city of Dubuque; and at the close of the 
winter of 1834, Congress attached the country ac­
quired under the treaty, to the Territory of Michi­
gan, for election and judicial purposes.
245
t
246 THE PALIMPSEST
Up to that period no judicial tribunals existed in 
the country, except those created by the people for 
special purposes. Difficulties of a civil character 
were investigated and settled by arbitrators; while 
those of a criminal character were decided by a 
jury of twelve men, and, when condemnation was 
agreed upon the verdict of guilty was accompanied 
by the sentence. Such was the judicial character 
of the courts which were held at that time, in what 
was known as the “Blackhawk Purchase."
Patrick O'Conner, the subject of this memoir, 
was bom in the year 1797 in the county of Cork, 
Ireland, — came to the United States in the year 
1826, and soon after arrived at Galena, in the 
State of Illinois, where he embarked in mining 
operations. Having fractured his left leg in the fall 
of 1828, on board of a steamboat, in Fever River, 
it was found necessary to amputate the limb, which 
operation was performed by Dr. Phileas of Ga­
lena. In this situation O’Conner became an object 
of public charity. The citizens of Galena, and the 
mines in that vicinity, promptly came forward and 
subscribed liberal sums of money for his support 
and medical attendance and in the course of time 
he was enabled to get about with the assistance of 
a wooden leg, when he began to display a brawl­
ing and quarrelsome disposition, which soon ren­
dered him no longer an object of public sympathy. 
In this situation he endeavored to awaken a re­
newal of public charity in aid of his support, by
setting fire to his cabin in Galena, which came near 
destroying contiguous property of great value. 
This incendiary act, and the object for which it 
was designed, being traced to O'Conner, and ex­
posed by Mr. John Brophy, a respectable merchant 
of Galena, O Conner soon after, while passing the 
store of Mr. Brophy in the evening, fired the con­
tents of a loaded gun through the door with the 
view of killing Brophy. Failing to accomplish his 
object, and being threatened with some of the pro­
visions of lynch law, he left Galena and came to 
the Dubuque mines in the fall of 1833, where he 
entered into a mining partnership with George 
O’Keaf, also a native of Ireland. O’Keaf was an 
intelligent and industrious young man about 22 
years old, and much respected by all who knew 
him. They erected a cabin upon the bank of the 
Mississippi river, near the present smelting fur­
nace of Peter A. Lorimier, about two miles south of 
Dubuque; while their mining operations were con­
ducted in the immediate neighborhood.
On the 19th of May, 1834, O’Keaf came up to 
Dubuque and purchased some provisions, when he 
returned to his cabin about 2 o'clock in the after­
noon, accompanied by an acquaintance. Upon ar­
riving at his cabin and finding the door fastened 
upon the inside, he called to O'Conner to open it. 
O'Conner replied;
“Don't be in a hurry, I'll open it when I get 
ready."
EXECUTION OF PATRICK O’CONNER 247
248 THE PALIMPSEST
O’Keaf waited a few minutes when he again 
called to O’Conner, saying: "It is beginning to 
rain, open the door quick.”
To this, O’Conner made no reply; when 
O’Keaf, who had a bundle in one hand and a ham of 
bacon in the other, placed his shoulder against the 
door and forced it open. As he was in the act of 
stepping into the house, O’Conner, who was sitting 
upon a bench on the opposite side of the room in 
front of the door, immediately leveled a musket 
and fired at O’Keaf. Five slugs entered his breast 
and he fell dead. The young man who accompa­
nied O’Keaf immediately ran to the smelting fur­
nace of Roots & Ewing, about a mile distant, and 
gave information of what had transpired. In a 
short time a large concourse of miners was assem­
bled around the cabin, when O’Conner being 
asked why he shot O’Keaf, replied, "That is my 
business,’’ and then proceeded to give directions 
concerning the disposition of the body. Some per­
son present having suggested that he be hung im­
mediately upon the tree in front of his cabin, a 
rope was procured for that purpose. But the more 
discreet and reflecting portion of the bystanders 
insisted that he should be taken to Dubuque, and 
the matter there fully and fairly investigated. Ac­
cordingly O’Conner was taken up to Dubuque. 
And on the 20th of May, 1834, the first trial for 
murder, in what is now known as the State of 
Iowa, was held in the open air, beneath the wide-
EXECUTION OF PATRICK O’CONNER 249
spreading branches of a large elm tree, directly in 
front of the dwelling then occupied by Samuel 
Clifton. A large concourse of people had assem­
bled and stood quietly gazing upon the prisoner, 
when upon the motion of some person, Captain 
White was appointed prosecuting attorney, or 
counsel in behalf of the people. O’Conner being 
directed to choose from among the bystanders 
some person to act as his counsel, observed: 
“Faith, and I’ll tind to my own business,” and ap­
peared perfectly indifferent about the matter. At 
length he selected Capt. Bates of Galena, who 
happened to be present, and in whose employ 
O’Conner had formerly been engaged. The two 
counsel then summoned from among the bystand­
ers twenty-four persons, who were requested to 
stand up in a line; when Capt. White directed 
O’Conner to choose from among those persons 
twelve jurors. He accordingly chose the following 
persons, calling each by name:
Woodbury Massey, Hosea L. Camp, John Mc- 
Kensie, Milo H. Prentice, James Smith, Jesse M. 
Harrison, Thomas McCabe, Nicholas Carrol, 
John S. Smith and Antoine Loire.
The names of the other two jurors, who were 
traveling strangers, cannot after a period of thirty 
years be discovered. It was known, however, at 
the time of the trial, that six of the jurors were 
Americans, three of them Irishmen, one English­
man, one Scotchman and one Frenchman. The
250 THE PALIMPSEST
jury being seated upon some house logs Capt. 
White observed to O’Conner, “Are you satisfied 
with that jury?“ O’Conner replied, “I have no ob­
jection to any of them; ye have no laws in the 
country, and ye cannot try me.“
Capt. White continued, “You, Patrick O’Con­
ner, are charged with the murder of George 
O’Keaf, do you plead guilty or not guilty?”
O’Conner replied, “I’ll not deny I shot him, but 
ye have no laws in the country, and cannot try me.“ 
Three or four witnesses were then examined; 
when Capt. White addressed the jury for a few 
minutes and was followed by Capt. Bates, who 
endeavored to urge upon the jury to send the crim­
inal to the State of Illinois, and there have him 
tried by a legal tribunal. Capt. White replied that 
offenders had been sent to Illinois for that purpose, 
and had been released upon “Habeas Corpus,“ 
that state having no jurisdiction over offences com­
mitted upon the west side of the Mississippi River. 
After this, the jury retired, and having deliberated 
for an hour, returned to their seats, upon the logs, 
with Woodbury Massey as their foreman, who 
read the following verdict and sentence:
“We the undersigned, residents of the Dubuque 
Lead Mines, being chosen by Patrick O’Conner, 
and empanneled as a Jury to try the matter where­
in Patrick O’Conner is charged with the murder of 
George O’Keaf, do find that the said Patrick 
O’Conner is guilty of murder in the first degree.
EXECUTION OF PATRICK O’CONNER 251
and ought to be, and is by us sentenced to be hung 
by the neck until he is dead; which sentence shall 
take effect on Tuesday the 20th day of June, 1834, 
at one o’clock P. M.”
Signed by all the jurors, each in his own hand.
There was a unanimous expression of all the by­
standers in favor of the decision of the jury. No 
dissenting voice was heard, until a short time be­
fore the execution, when the Rev. Mr. Fitzmau- 
rice, a Catholic priest from Galena, visited O’Con­
ner and inveighed against the act of the people, 
denouncing it as being illegal and unjust. Immedi­
ately the Catholic portion of the Irish people be­
came cool upon the subject, and it was evident that 
they intended to take no further part in the matter.
Up to this time we did not believe that O’Con­
ner would be executed. It was in the power of the 
Rev. Mr. Fitzmaurice to save him, and he was 
anxious to do so. Had he appealed to the people 
in a courteous manner, and solicited his pardon 
upon the condition that he would leave the coun­
try, we confidently believe that they would have 
granted it; but he imprudently sought to alienate 
the feelings of the Irish people from the support of 
an act of public justice, which they, in common 
with the people of the mines, had been endeavor­
ing to consummate. This had the effect of closing 
the avenues to any pardon that the people might 
have previously been willing to grant. They, how­
ever, up to this time, would have recognized a par­
252 THE PALIMPSEST
don from the Governor of Missouri or the Presi­
dent of the United States. Application was made 
to the Governor of Missouri to pardon him; but he 
replied that he had no jurisdiction over the coun­
try, and referred the applicants to the President of 
the United States. President Jackson replied to an 
application made to him, that the laws of the 
United States had not been extended over the 
newly acquired purchase, and that he had no au­
thority to act in the matter; and observed, that as 
this was an extraordinary case, he thought the par­
doning power was invested in the power that con­
demned. A few days before the execution, a rumor 
got afloat that a body of two hundred Irishmen 
were on their way from Mineral Point, intending 
to rescue O’Conner on the day of execution. Al­
though this report proved not to be founded in 
truth, it had the effect of placing the fate of 
O’Conner beyond the pardoning control of any 
power but force. Runners were immediately dis­
patched to the mines to summon the people to 
arms; and on the morning of the 20th of June,- 
1834, one hundred and sixty-three men, with 
loaded rifles formed into line on Main street in 
front of the old ‘ Bell Tavern ” where they elected 
Loring Wheeler Captain of the Company, and 
Ezra Madden, Woodbury Massey, Thomas R. 
Brasher, John Smith and Milo H. Prentice, Mar­
shals of the day. The company being formed six- 
a-breast, marched slowly by a circuitous route to
the house where O’Conner was confined, while the 
fife breathed in lengthened strains the solemn air 
of the Dead March, accompanied by the long roll 
of the muffled drum. The stores, shops and gro­
ceries had closed up their doors and life no longer 
manifested itself through the bustling hum of 
worldly pursuits. All was silent as a Sabbath 
morn, save the mournful tolling of the village bell. 
Men whispered as they passed each other, while 
every countenance denoted the solemnity and im­
portance of the occasion. Two steamers had ar­
rived that morning from Galena and Prairie Du 
Chien, with passengers to witness the execution. 
The concourse of spectators could not have been 
less than one thousand persons.
The company having marched to the house oc­
cupied by O’Conner, now owned by Herman 
Chadwick, halted and opened in the center, so as 
to admit into the column the horse and cart con­
taining the coffin. The horse was driven by Wil­
liam Adams, who was seated upon the coffin, and 
was employed as executioner. He had on black 
silk gloves, and a black silk handkerchief secured 
over and fitted to his face by some adhesive sub­
stance, which gave him the appearance of a negro. 
The Marshals soon came out of the house, fol­
lowed by O’Conner and the Rev. Mr. Fitzmaurice. 
The two latter took a position directly behind the 
cart, while the former mounted their horses and 
rode to the front of the column, which now moved
EXECUTION OF PATRICK O’CONNER 253
254 THE PALIMPSEST
slowly to the smith-shop of Thomas Brasher, 
where the irons were stricken from O’Conner by 
Henry Becket. Our position in the column being 
in the front rank, following the priest and O’Con­
ner, we were enabled to observe the bearing of the 
latter. He seemed to have abandoned all idea of 
being released, and was much distressed, wringing 
his hands and occasionally ejaculating detached 
parts of some prayer, “Will the Lord forgive me?” 
he would frequently ask of Mr. Fitzmaurice, who 
would reply, “Whosoever believeth in the Lord 
Jesus Christ shall be saved,” together with other 
like scriptural expressions. After he returned from 
the smith-shop, the Captain of the company de­
sired him to get into the cart, when the priest ob­
served, “No, I wish to talk to him; let him walk.” 
Capt. WTeeler replied that he had orders to place 
him in the cart; but would go and state his request 
to the Marshal. Accordingly he advanced to 
where Mr. Madden was sitting upon his horse, 
who observed in a loud tone of voice, “No; if that 
gentleman wishes to talk with him, let him ride 
upon the cart with the murderer.” This was spo­
ken harshly and contemptuously by Mr. Madden, 
who, we learned afterwards, was deeply offended 
at some remarks previously made by Mr. Fitz­
maurice concerning himself, and imprudently took 
this opportunity to retaliate, which we have reason 
to believe he afterwards regretted.
The Captain of the company delivered the mes-
EXECUTION OF PATRICK O'CONNER 255
sage as he received it, though in a more pleasant 
tone of voice. Fitzmaurice bowed respectfully to 
the message, but made no reply. O’Conner being 
now seated upon the coffin, the column commenced 
moving forward, to quarter minute taps of the 
drum, and arrived about twelve o’clock at the gal­
lows, which was erected on the top of a mound in 
the vicinity of the present Court House. The com­
pany here formed into a hollow square, the cart 
being driven under the arm of the gallows, at the 
foot of which the grave was already dug. The 
Captain immediately ordered the company to 
ground arms, and uncover. Even many of the 
spectators removed their hats; while the priest of-, 
fered up, in a clear and distinct tone of voice, a 
fervent and lengthy prayer, parts of which were 
repeated by O’Conner, who, at the close of the 
prayer, addressed a few remarks to the people, 
saying that he had killed O’Keaf, that he was 
sorry for it, and he hoped that all would forgive 
him. Then pausing for a moment, he observed, “I 
wish Mr. Lorimier and Gratiot to have my—” 
here he was interrupted by the priest, who ob­
served, “Do not mind your worldly affairs; in a 
few minutes you will be launched into eternity; 
give your thoughts to your God.” The hangman 
now spoke to O’Conner and assisted him to re­
ascend the cart, when he adjusted around his per­
son a white shroud; then securing his arms behind 
him at the elbows, he drew the cap over his face,
256 THE PALIMPSEST
fixed the noose around his neck, and lastly, he re­
moved his leg of wood; then descended from the 
cart, and laid hold of the bridle of his horse and 
waited for the signal, which was given by one of 
the Marshals, who advanced into the open area, 
where he stood with a watch in one hand and a 
handkerchief at arm’s length in the other. As the 
hand of the watch came around to the moment, the 
handkerchief fell, and the cart started. There was 
a convulsive struggling of the limbs for a moment, 
followed by a tremulous shuddering of the body, 
and life was extinct. The body hung about thirty 
minutes, when Dr. Andros stepped forward, felt 
of his pulse, and said, “He is dead.” The body 
was then cut down and placed in the coffin, to­
gether with his leg of wood, and deposited in the 
grave. The company now marched in single file to 
the front of the Bell Tavern, where a collection 
was taken up to defray the expenses, when the 
company was disbanded. Immediately after this, 
many of the reckless and abandoned outlaws, who 
had congregated at the Dubuque Mines, began to 
leave for sunnier climes. The gleam of the bowie 
knife was no longer seen in the nightly brawls of 
the street, nor dripped upon the sidewalk the gore 
of man; but the people began to feel more secure in 
the enjoyment of life and property.
E l i p h a l e t  P r i c e


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The Execution of Patrick O\u27Conner

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