Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-09

bis cell, went thlther win MN. johnson wa.
clad in white flowing dress, edged will
black, with cap Of the same. When he en-
tered the yard, he appeared perfectly uncon-
cerned, and the only time that he had been
seen to tremble was when the halter was nd
iusted upon his neck, just before leaving the
prison. Johnson had repeatedly requested
that no address should be made by any of the
Clergy, either at the prison or al the place of
execution. The venerable DR.. Stanford, how
ever, chaplain of the prisons, considered II TO
be his duty, on praying with the unhappy
man for the last time, to make few remarks !;
and his address was Just, plain, and forcible.-
The Reverend gentleman dealt plainly with
him, and the tenor Of his remarks, evidently
showed thar he had little hope of change of
heart in prison. During this address, and the
fervent prayer which followed, johnson once
or twice esinced a little emotion, but he soon
rallied himself, shook it of, and looked as un-
concerned as before.
The military arrangement was not fortunate,
for il took them at least an hour after The
appointed time for moving, to clear passage
through the street To the prison. and TO the
gates of the prison yard. Indeed, from the
immense crowd and from the great number
Of cartmen who had been suffered to crowd
in with their horses and carts, fled with peo-
pie, we at one time feared that many would
inevitably be crushed TO death. The Shrek
ing OF the silly females. some of them with
infants, on the approach of the light horse
men, and who could not move unless horne
along by the crowd, was distressing
ever, the difficulties were in measure s,ir-
mounted by a quarter past twelve, when the
Sheriff and his staff. and the procession, moved
off for the place of execution. In the Wagon
with Johnson, were number Of the reverend
ri ts,r, sl,
Ogiiyir, and the Rev. Mr.. Onderdonk, the
two selected fnr the occasion by himself.
The sheriff very prIdrntly intended 10 keep
the place which hr had designed fur the exc
cuiion secret until this morning. But he was
thwar'rd in his design for, having ascertAinp1
where the gallows was made, people TO the
numhrr Of several hundreds, watched until
q O'Clock this morning, when il was taken to
boat, and transported up 10 the farm of Peter
Stnyvesant, Esq. and erected near the corner
OF l3'h street and the second avenue.
Thrprocessinn NOV edup Broadway to Bond
street. and such was the press of the multitude,
that they were one hour N prrinrming this dis
lance. They arrived at the place of execution.
at about 3 minutes past one o'clock After get
ting out from the Wagon. Johnson sat down nj
the steps of the ;alpws. when the appropriate
service was read by the Rev. Mr.. Ondrrdonk,
and an evfemporiLnrons prayer alfred by the
Rev. Nr, O.silvie. He then assembled the steps
acconnanied nv the Sheriff and MIR Lowndrs,
with whom he spoke some minutes. After the
adjustment of the rope, he kissed both their
hands through his cap; when the drop En- and
at quarter before two O'Clock he was launched
into eternity. and died with scarcely struggle
We have Just conv ersed with one or the clergy
men who attended him te the gallows. When
asked 10y this gentleman whether he was the
murderer "a bnd ac rnA fiant
not E; hut that she was accessory 20 the muir
der having stnnd at the door while the deed
was DONE Ia see that The Waterman MAS not
near" flp did not name the person who
struck the blow. After the prayers, johnson
was 81 Immediately asked whether he had
deceived us in what he had told us He
said he had told IN" truth that his Ministers
knew his whole life" On being further inter-
rogatrd at the gsllows. he declared that he
never committed any other murder.
Com .9dr
GdfrSn'Sm.-ThP sentence of the CURT
having determined thnt the body of Johnson
should be given TO the surgeons, the opportu
nifty was embraced Ia repeat some expert
ments which had bern made in Europe, To
ascertain the power of galvanism upon the
nerves and muscles after death A Voltaic
battery or greater force than is any where else
recorded. (S28 pair of plates Of 4 inchrs) was
accordingly prepared bv the Professor ~
Chemistry, In thu College of Physcans and
Surgeons, DR.. M'Nr,in, who conducted that
part 1T the experiment, white Drs. Mott and
S;ev'ns performed the surgical part. The
body was brought to the College theatre. a
hon' an hour after the execution of whirh
time il had hung three quarters of an hourl
and before rgdity or GOODNESS had ensued.-
The experiments were Immediately commence
ed, and were cnnen;ly snccrssrn All the
results recorded bv Or. IRE of Glasgow, in
the case Of the murderer Clydesdale, were
produced here, with the exception. owing TO
an accidental circumstance, the action of res
piration The arms, legs aud body, the mus
eles of 'hr face and neck, were strongly excit
ed and thrown into LonynIsive mOtOn-,he
heart also was made 10 contract and a upr-
Sous twitching Of the mouth, which was re-
marked in the man while living. REQUIRED on
the aprhrati"n of The charged wire. We are
promised a detailed description nf the expert
mems, which will not fail 10 interest scientific
men, as the manner ard success Of them re-
donnd to the credit of the profession here.
STATE NOMINATION..
We congratulate the democratic party on
me following nomination for Governor and
Lieut. Govf rnor. The number Of democratic
members present, and the unanimity which
prevailed, is the harbingpr Of safety tn the par
~, and cannot but blast the hopes of lis enc
Mrs
We have never commended for nten.-The
safety of the democratic party, and iis sys-
tems are what we have endeavOnred Uniform
" v" promote. We therefore give the nomi-
nation Of Samuel Young for Governor, and
Erastus Root for Lieut.. Cove nor, our most
cordial support, while at the same time we beg
leave TO concur fully in the honorable men
llOn tNi,ich