The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10

run the criminal up the same distance that they g,
| down.
AT one o'clock the Sheriff entered the cell Of tn.
convict and dlrected him to dress. The hangman's
livery, which consists Of white muslin pantaloon.
bound with black braid, frock coat of white muslin
bound with black, and = cap bound with the same
material with black silk tossel at the top, ther
put on by the criminal without his uttering, word
The Sheriff then placed the halter about the neck
and he did SO, slight convulsive gulping OBJ
served, but he appeared more affected, much
as those that witnessed the preparation. The crimi
nails arms were then tied behind him by the elbows
and the Sheriff gave the word to move.
| As he left the cell, Eager asked permission t.
shake hands with Babe the pirate, and with Saun
ders, the only two prisoners with whom he has had
last request. Babe was then led along the corridor
and Eager shook hands with him, saying, "good
bye you must soon prepare to follow me"-and to
Saunders he said pretty much the same thing: Babe
did not evince. so much feeling as one would sup,
pose person in his peculiar situation would do, and
Saunders did not appear to feel much. Everything
being in readiness, at precisely twenty minutes past
one o'clock, the criminal, supported on the left by
High Sheriff William Jones' in his cooked hat with
his sword grt around his waist, and on the right by
Deputy Sheriff McDonnough, also in uniform,
preceded by small posse of deputy sherffs, with
their slaves OF office, left the cell OF the prisoner at
a Slow solemn and mournful pace, turned round the
end of the prison, and then turned into the pas
sage-way in which the gallows was erected. AT
this point every eye fixed upon the prisoner, but
he did not beray the slightest emotion his features
being calm and composed, evlnclng clearly that he
was prepared to meet This death christian and a
penitent. He never raised his eyes to the galows,
but kept them fixed about twenty PAGES ahead As
they did rest upon the platform, slight remor
passed over his frame. Every thing was as hushed
as death, and the unfortunate criminal was placed
upon the platform, and turned round facing the east
The sheriff then adjusted the halter, placing the
knot behind the ear, and fastened the other end to
the loop OF the traversng rope overhead The minis
ters OF God then uncovered, as well as the sheriff
and most of the spectators, and taking hold of the
hand of the unfortunate wretch. the Rev. MIR. HIATT
delivered the following. prayer-the criminal as ne
did so, swaying his body slightly from side to SIDE
Almighty and Everlasting God thou just protector
not in the death of sinner who has not obtained divine
forgiveness at thy handswe pray unto thee, and
hath the folly and wickcdness of his ways thou
knowes may obtain forgiveness through the mediation
prepared to die the death of christian and to enter the
valley and shadow of DEATH with angels to bear his spirit
to thy shrine whore there is sim We commit him to
and to forgive all his niquities and and
may the saints of heaven rejoice one who has
pented On Lord, have mercy upon the soul Of poor
sinner! Amen.
The prisoner calmly but fervently responded an
amen to the prayer. Mr.. Hiatt shook hands with
him, and said, "How is it with you now!' To
which he replied, "Al well, and die in peace.
the minister, and one or two others, shook hands
with him, and then all were ordered to stand back
The capwas pulled over his eyes-the Sheriffwaved
his hand to Mr. Northumberland, at precisely
severed the large rope from the Delaying stay--the
weight descended, and the unfortunate criminal was
run up into the air, so that his feet about two
feet from the ground AT the instant of the ascent
Al Il
of the, whole frame set in. The clenched hands
were then raised and lowered, the legs stretched
and drawn up slightly Another tremor passed
over the whole body-the body then bent backward
agony was parting from the soul The hands again
tremor ran over the body-the
toes dropped-and the spirit of James Eager, VIC
tim to VICIOUS human passions, winged its way to
the last, final Judgment May He have mercy on
his soul!
The pulse of Eager could be felt for fifteen minutes
after ne was run up, and 1t was evident, before he
his neck, and that he died from strangulation He
died as easy as any person could expect
After the body had been suspended for thirty-fve
minutes, the coffin brought from the prison, and
the body taken down and placed therein, after which
il was placed in an apartment to remain twenty-four
hours, to be claimed by his friends (aas poor man,
ne has none) at the expiration of which time, it will
be handed over to the surgeon for dissection.
AS soon as the cortege had left the prison, look
ing glass was pushed through the window in the top
OF Saunders ceA, IN which the reflection Of Saun-
defs face watching, with intense anxiety, the pro-
ceedings, might be seen reflected A great many Of
the prisoners had pieces Of looking glass placed in
sticks, and thrust out of the window to see the
cutlon. Charles hickey, MIR. Cox's Confidential
prisoner" perched himself upon the roof of the main
prison. and his woolly head was observed projecting
over the spout.
The jury of twelve men, who are always Sc
lected by the sheriff to witness the execution and
with the plyslcian certify that everything has been
conducted properly, performed that duty, and the re-
cord will be transmitted to the Executive.
Meeting for Confederation ofthe Propricty OF
Abolishing Capital Punishment.
Last night there was meeting held at the Miner
Rooms, for the purpose Of discussing the question
of the proprety Of this mode of punishment, and the
right that man has to take the life of his fellow be-
ings The occasion was peculiarly fitting, after the
execution in the Tombs in the morning, and the feel
ings of those who opposed to this mode of pur-
ishment being fully aroused on the subject Among
the audience we noticed several Of the persons who
have been assisting at the Anti-Savery Convention
just concluded its session and the attendance
generally was made up of the couatry visitors, who
have been for the last week attending the annversa-
ries; but STILL as far as the room would allow, it was
well attended.
At about o'clock the meeting was addressed by
Vice-Chancellor McCoUN, who opened proceedings
by few remarks stating that the city had again
been disgraccd by the execution Of another fellow
being, and it had been deemed fit time for the
friends of the cause to assemble and he stated that
several gentlemen would address the meeting
]. l.. O'SuLLIvAN, Esq, Editor Of the Morning News"
then introduced series of resolutions, which recon.
mcndcd the substitution of perpetual imprisonment o
the punishment of DEATH and resolved the .tion of
uCf
death, to meet year in Pniladelphia-the fist
meeting to be the LIST Wednesday in October next
The following gentlemen to be the officers of the So
ciety
Prssident-GEoReE NJ. DALLAS, Vice President Of the
United States.
pIce PresidenfsThc Presidents of all State Societies
those existing being-RoBERr RANrouL Jr, of Dos.
ton Vice Chancellor VIM. 7. McCouN, Of New York;
Professor HENRY 8. PATTERSON, of Philadelphia.
Sccrefa,yProfcssor HErRY s. PATTERSON Of Philadcl-
phia rs
Corresponding Comminee-Job r. Tyson, Esq. Profess