Edward O'Connor

Released
Date of birth:1819
Date of death:04. 05. 1863
Age:44† Deceased
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1800s
State:New York
Time Imprisoned:
1 Year 5 Months 20 Days
Support
Tenant Rights Anti-Rent War
Edward O'Connor

Biography

Delaware County, New York 'Calico Indian' convicted alongside John Van Steenburgh of the August 7, 1845 killing of Undersheriff Osman N. Steele at the Moses Earle farm in the town of Andes during an Anti-Rent rent-distress sale. Tried in Delhi, NY by Judge Amasa J. Parker in October 1845 and sentenced to death by hanging. After Governor Silas Wright signed his death warrant, sustained Anti-Rent pressure produced a commutation to life imprisonment in Clinton State Prison at Dannemora. Pardoned by Governor John Young in 1847 along with the other Anti-Rent prisoners. He was born in 1819 and died on May 4, 1863, sixteen years after the pardon.

Case

Clinton State Prison
Charges: Murder of Undersheriff Osman N.
Arrested: Aug 7, 1845
Incarcerated: Aug 7, 1845
Released: Jan 27, 1847
Sentence: Sentenced to hang on November 29, 1845. Governor Silas Wright commuted the sentence to life imprisonment on November 22, 1845, a week before the scheduled execution, after intense Anti-Rent organizing; Governor John Young pardoned him in January 1847 with the other Anti-Rent prisoners. Verdict as recorded: Yes — convicted of murder in October 1845 at Delhi, NY (Judge Amasa J. Parker), although the prosecution did not prove that he fired the fatal shot. Charges as recorded: Murder of Undersheriff Osman N. Steele (Andes, Delaware County, August 7, 1845)
Judge: Amasa J. Parker
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: New York

Related Cases

Smith A. Boughton Smith A. Boughton John Van Steenburgh Moses Earle Anson K. Burrill