The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-15

neu' occupied The line oil BelyIdeie Road and sonc
had drawn up nearer TO the wall. The windows Of
many houses commanding view Of the death scene
were crowded by the occupants their friends and ac-
/ quaintances And an uniniormed traveller who had
| POSED that way might have looked on for an hour
ano had The galio~s escaped his eye, imagined that
national Jubilee about TO be celebrated and that
| the shrine OF obIalion was the Jail
but we revert to the more immediate details con-
necled with The criminal and the closing scenes Of
his liie We visited the jail at about o'clock in the
morning, and found our friend, Sellers, the warde1
with anxiety and fatigue expressed in his counte-
nance he having beenup the greater part of the night
with his prisoner.
| Horns Cen, 10 o'clock--Wc have just been admit
ted to the cell Of the doomed malefactor.. The Off
crrs have This moment knocked off the iron shackes
from his legs, having been engaged at it twenty
minutes Horn then turned TO the fire, stirred it up,
sat down. aud, warming his boots which stood at the
hearth, put them upon bis feet. Horn is now in con-
i yefsalon with the reverend gentlemen in attendance
| Messrs. SanderI and Neunann. He is evidently con
versng with freedom and ease Of mind and express
sion that denotes the most perfect composure.
We learn from MIR. Sellers, who was up with him
during greater portion of the night that he remain
ca engaged in reading and prayer until about two
O'Clock IN the morning, when he laid down for about
an hour and appeared to enjoy repose during that
time lie then rose and re applied him elf to deyo-
onal exercises during the residue Of the night He
declined taking any breakfast this morning breakfast
being the only meal he has taken for two or three
| Pocty
maintained perfect abstinence He was however,
persuaded to his morning meal again on Mon
day, which ne continued until yesterday, lest he
| should become too weak to sustain the trying scene
| Of this day unasssted.
! HaJEpast 10 o'ciock.-The Rev. S. Tustin chap
lain Of The United States Senate has entered the cell
by consent of the criminal and the reverend gentle
men attending, of course with no purpose Of taking
any part in the religious exercises
Horn has continued in intercourse with the priests
rant hair ind .s. E.-.x A
few minutes since Mr.. racy, the sheriff, came into
the cell, he having previously visited the prisoner
during tie morning
AT about 20 minutes before IL o'clock, Mr. Bersch
and young Henry Hellman came into the cell. The
prisoner directly took the hand of his son and said
Well, Henry and the youth replied Well, Faith
err" it seemed as much either could say for the
moment Horn, af,er interchangng salutaons with
Mr. Bersch, beckoned his to the table and took
up variety of papers and pamphlets tied in bun
dle which, nth carpenters rule, he delivered to
him; the package appearing rather loose, Horn took
up some books, saying there a piece Of paper
here somewhere" and having found it, took the bum
die again, carefully wrapped up, and delivered it to
his son.
They then retired to a corner of the CELL and had
some conversation together which we subsequently,
understood was in relation to the disposition Of the
body, Horn expressing desire that his son, next
OF kin, would make formal demand for it Of the
Sheriff. Mr.. Bersch was afterwards called up by
gether, Horn appearing exceedingly earnest in his
instructions, which related chiefly to The disposition
OF his body.
AZ the cfoss Of this conversation, Mr.. Laws, She
| Cook Deputy High Constable, appeared, tor eAs
purpose of arraying the criminal His shroud was
produced and he put it on composedy as if il had
been his daily garb, assisted by the officers, after
which his arms were pinioned by small cord pass
ing from each elbow joint, behind him, having his
hands free. This being accomplished, Rev. Mr..
Tuston took the prisoners hand to bid him farewell
he having called for the purpose of few minutes
conversation with him and his SON. MIR Tuston, on
parting, said TO him-'Keep your eye steadily fixed
on the of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only hope
of perishing mortals, and may God have mercy on
your soul.n The reverend gentleman then shortly
withdrew from the CELL and returned into town.
The Rev. Mr.. Neumann, with the prisoner,ithe oc-
cupied few minutes in prayer, during which the
tears cane freely from the eyes of the unhappy
The minutes now speed rapidly away, Horn enter
ing into spiritual converse with the priests, and
naming standing by their side, maniestng the most
wonderful fortitude, and evidently maryellously sus
tanned by the consoatory hope Of happiness beyond
the awful noon TO which The time was fast has
tening
At halfpast II, Mr., Tracy and Mr. Sellers came
into the cell aud intimaed to the prisoner that the
time had arrived lie instantly rose, and preceded
by the two gentlemen above named accompanied by
the priests and followed by MIR. Bersch Henry He'll.
man. his son, young MIR. Bersch, and those ia the cell
present at the time walked out through the long line
Of spectators extending to the gaows.
Having arrived at its foot Messrs. Tracy and Sol
lers, the two clergy men and the prisoner assembled
the steps hout any pause. On the scafold, short
prayer said, iarewes nterchanged Horn |
thanking each for their Kindness and then all retired
AT exactly % minutes before ~ o'clock the trigger
was drawn and the unhappy criminal launched from
the platform. lie struggled for about four minutes
when, 10 all appearance, he was dead
Ii is worthy Of remark that from the time that |
Horn appeared on the gallows, after the first mur-
muir was over the most decorous silence obscrv-
ed which peryaded that entire multitude until the |
awful moment which launched him from the scaifold |
The silence was hen broken BY the shrek Of fe |
males under the sudden shock which such an event |
could scarcely fail to cause TO woman's heart.
The execution in every particular was conducted
by the most marked and exemplary propriety, and in
vested with that solemny and dignity which should
invariably characterize the infection this the high
est penalty Of the law. The attention of the ward
Of the Jail TO the numerous aud diversified duties de-
yoving upon him, and the courtesy with which they /
were performed excited the warmest approval; while |
the calmness, dignity and appropriate apparel OF Mr.
Tracy, the Sheriff, who appeared in suit Of black,
wearing the sword the official badge OF his Office
and the prompt manner in which he executed the ,
most unthankfu minuti1 Of the painful duties OF the
day ELECTED universal remark in appreciation, as an
example for the fuure highly credItable TO the inn
portant Office he fills. In looking back TO the event.
we think we may adopt the remark Of an intelligent 4
friend pre-. emit" l venture tosay thai there never
was execution took place in the United States, il
in the world, marked BY so much dignity and pro-
prieiy as this
Exactly as the cathedral bell tolled the hour OF
noon, The body LET down and examined by Dir.
Dion Downs, physician Of the JAIL who pronounced /
4 dead 1t was then deposited in a neat walnut cof /
fn which had been placed previous TO the execution
within The frame Of the gallows the foot screwed
down and borne Into the house In the next instant
he rope, by which the execution had been perform
ed, cut into fragments by the crowd, anxious TO
secure portion Of the precious relic.
The coffin was conveyed into the room above the |
guard-room Of the jail where the surgeons had ma le
every preparation Tor the galvanic experiments usual
upon such occasions. But here many persons had |
assembled, and the convenience was so restricted,
that but for the ncessani aud determined oxertions OF
Mr. Sellers and the officers present, very few Indeed
would have witnessed the nrnceedines. The carnse