Age-old Advice from a Condemned Man. 

A twelve-member jury of inquiry ended any hope Gaffney may have had, with a verdict that the murderer was sane. Informed of the verdict, Gaffney abandoned the ruse and admitted to his confessor that he had been faking insanity in hopes of avoiding execution. His hanging was set for three days later February 14, 1873.

There were meetings with officials, and friends. His wife and two of the children came to the jail, and Gaffney reportedly told his small son "Johnny, Papa's going to die, and I want you to promise me these things; that you will not drink any spirituous liquors, that you will never play cards, that you will never swear, and never break the Sabbath, that you will go to church and Sunday School, that you will not be out nights and keep bad company, as Papa has done."'

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