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

never after came near him.
At the request of Eager, Mr.. HIATT and MIR. Camp
visited him in his cell on Thursday night, and sat
with him, praying and preparing him for the morrow,
until about o'clock, when he expressed desire to
be left alone. When asked by Mr. HIATT if he was
prepared to die, he said Yes il isn't the death OF
The law OF God which demands my death is right
eous and just and the law of the State is just, and
ought to die feel no disposition to quarrel with
course of the night, if he had not better take little
rest and try to sleep, he replied-"No, sir; l shall
have rest tomorrow" When asked if ne had any
! am now prepared and ready to go, and desire
no delay" After being left alone at O'Clock, he
fell asleep and slept for about hours, and then
rose, washed himself and partook Of some light
all he expressed himself that he was perfectly re-
signed and ready to throw himself into the arms Of
his God. The clergymen were with him at an early
hour and remained with him to the last About
9 o'clock several Judges and aldermen, and persons
deputised as special sherifs for the day, the officers
of police physicians invited to attend the execution
&c. began to enter, the prison, as well as a
number of persons who forced themselves in with
any risht title but were on that account per-
mitted to enter without any warrant or permit when
| those whose duty called them were obliged to 90
through the prescribed FORM The sheriff and his
deputies were on hand in good season preparing for
the event OF the day.
Persons began toiockinto the police office to crave
permits, to congregate in Franklin, Centre, Elm and
how or other getting chance of seeing something
and without the most remote probability of their be-
ing able to satisfy their morbid curiosity. The num-
Der outside the prison who were unable to sec any
thing at all could mot have been less than thousand
and IN the inside there was about three hundred,
two hundred OF whom came in properly.
The gallows was erected in the Of the prison,
across the passage way and within few feet of
the window of Eager's cell, and few feet Of where
1t was last erected tor the purpose of Colts execution
This same gallows, which Is made on the modern
plan, has been used for the execution of at least
persons, two Of whom were pirates, and it has
been used IN various parts of the State. 1t is
structed OF two square oak posts, about 20 feet high,
each supporting one end of an oak cross beam of
about the same size and about % feet long. The
posts rest upon two horizontal beams, from which
there are stanchlons to the uprights. Between the
posts platform is made upon which the criminal
stands. lnt the centree OF the ross beam is small iron
to the end, where there is another pulley, over
which it also passes, and is fastened to a large
rope. The end OF this larger rope is attached
to the iron weights -four So and 2Spound weights,
and the other end passes through larger pulley at
the cross beam and is made fast to Delaying cleat,
which is nailed upon the horizontal beam. The
weights having been raised about four feet from the
ground the traversing rope upon which the halter is
fastened is lowered sufficiently allow the halter to
be Topped on and permit the criminal to stand upon
the platform, and the other end is, of course, made
| fast to the weight When the large rope is cut by
the under Sheriff. the weights suddenly descend, and
run the criminal up the same distance thatn they 60
down.
AT one o'clock the Sheriff entered the cell of the
convict and directed him to dress. The hangman's
livery, which consists of white muslin pantaoons
bound with black braid, frock coat of white muslin
bound with black, and cap bound with the same
material with black silk tosse at the top, was then
put on by the criminal without his uttering word.
The Sheriff then placed the halter about the neck,
and as he did SO, slight convulsive gulpng was OBJ
served, but he appeared no more affected much
as those that witnessed the preparation. The crimi-
nals arms then tied behind him by the elbows,
and the Sheriff gave the word to move.
As he left the cell, Eager asked permission to
shake hands with Babe the pirate, and with Saun-
ders, the only two prisoners with whom he has had
any converse, and the Sheriff readily granted this
last request. Babe 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 thing. Babe
did not evnce so much feeling 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 gir around his waist, and on the right by
Deputy Sheriff McDonnough, also in uniform,
preceded by small posse of deputy sheriffs, with
their slaves of office, left the cell Of the prisoner at
slow, solemn and mournful pace, turned round the
east 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 betray the slightest emotion, his features
being calm and composed, evincing clearly that he
pentent. He never raised his eyes TO the gallows,
but kept them fixed about twenty PAGES ahead. AS
soon they restupon the platform, slight tremor
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 traversing rope overhead. The minis
tiers OF God then uncovered, as well the sheriff
and most OF the spectators, and taking hold of the
hand OF the unfortunate wretch the Rev. Mr.. HIATT
delivered the following prayer-the criminal as he
did so, swaying his body slightly from side to side.
Almighty and Everlasting God thou Just protector
Oh me nnverse-thou God of Eternity who delightesf
not IN the death OF SINNER who has not obtained dviue
R hsar n pray that s naa
hath the folly and wickedness of his ways thou
of suffering Saviour Thou knowest o God that he is
prepared to die the death of christian and the
valley and shadow of DEATH with angels bear his spirit
to thy shrine where there is no sin We commit him
thee, God Of the whole earth to blot all his sins
and to forgive all his nqnities and transgressons and
may the saints OF heaven rejoice who has
pentcd Oh Lord, have mercy upon the soul of poor
sinner! Amen.
The prisoner calmly but ferventy responded an
amen to the prayer Mr. Hiatt shook hands with
which he replied, "All well, and die in peace.
Good bye, good bye-pray for me-" The Sheriff,
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 Sherfwaved
his hand TO Mr.. McDonnough-and, at precisely
half past one O'Clock, he, with blow from the axe
severed the large rope from the Delaying stay--the
weight descended, and the unfortunate criminal was
up into the air, that his feet were about two
feet from the ground AT the instant of the ascent
his arms were convulsiveyj erked, and then tremor
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-ihe body then bent backward
the hands were again raised. as if the body in
agony was parting from The soul. The hands again
Observation-Disclosures
toes dropped-and the spirit of James Eager, VIC
tim TO vicious human passions, winged its way 20
that God that gave il birth, 10 receive. his hands,
the last, final Judgment May He have mercy on
his soul
The pulse of Eager could be felt for fifteen minutes
altnr be Was and II WIS cNlLeut hAInra be