Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-04-26
Execution of Zephon.

tence the prisoner confessed that he had
knowledge of the plot made for the robbery of
Tod9, and that he was present at the moment
that Johnson and Harris, his companions, perpe,
trated the murder, but he positively denied ha-
wing any other participation in the deed. The
watch ofthe deceased was found upon him when
arrested and he acknowledged to having recei
we'd share OF the spoil Thrice was he res
pited by the late Governor +; in two instances to
afford him time to prepare TO meet his fate. and
the last time to give his counsel opportunity to
carry writ of error TO the Supreme Court, the
fate which was decided on the 10Th inst, ad-
verse 10 the hopes of the prisoner.
The gulows was erected in The ard of Nloy-
amensing prison, directly back of the South
wing of the building. Il was a very Sigh,
| structure, with two uprights, and a cross piece
at the top. About seven feet from the ground
was the platform, supported by an upright post
! having hinge in the centre. About twelve
o'clock plain walnut coffin was placed beside
| the gallows.
| The prisoner having expressed desire to be
! detained at the gsows as short a period as pos
! slblc, the warrant for his execution was read to
him in the cell in the presence of the officers of
| the prison, the Rev. John Chambers aud the
! Rev. Mr. Gardiner, the latter a colorcd clergy
man. The two clcrgymen above mentioned
were IN attendance, at the request of the con-
demned, and he joined in the religions services
with much contrion, acknowledging the jus.
! ,ice OF his sentence though he asserted his en-
| tire innocence of the actual deed.
AT about half past twelve the melancholy
| procession left the cell occupied by the con.
dcmned, and proceeded along the gallery and in.
10 the yard by the door opening into it on the
/ South side of the main building. Tie Sheriff,
Morton McNlchael, Esq, came first, accompa-
MED by the Phys clan OF the prison, DR.. VIM
II. kIapp. Next walked the cxecutioner, his
face envelopcd in dark gauze TO prevent rccog.
milton. MIR. Freed the keeper, and Mr. Wool
sew the moral instructor of the institution Then
came the Rev. Mr.. Gardiner accompanied by
| Mr.. Gibbs, student of divinity. They were
/ followed by the condemned supported on either
side by the Rev. Mr.. Chambers and Mr. Brooks
/ Behind them came " IN. ID. Kelley and Fran.
CTS Wharton, Esquires, the duputies of the At.
torncy General, and Geo w. Barton, Esq, the
counsel of the prisoner, followed by the iury of
twelve citizens, summoned by the Sheriff to
witness the execution. During their progress
to the fatal spot an appropriate hymn was sung
by the clergymen and others On arriving at
dressed TO the Throne OF Grace in behaifof the
doomed man by the Rev. Mr.. Chambers. lie
exchanged few words Of farewell with the
! Rev. Mr.. Gardiner and his friends around him,
step The Sheriff and the eXecu,ioncr also as-
ceudcd and the last arrangements were soon
made He badc the Sheriff farewell in firm
I and composed manner, aud was left alone on the
Platform. The prop was pulled away, but hcr.
rd TO relate, owing to the carclcssness of the
eXecutioner, the rope was too long and the un-
fortunate man fell 4 stance ufnbout seven feet,
! the cord permitting him to stand erect on ,he
ground without tightening it. He was imme.
dIately lifted up and the rope removed from his
neck. The stunning effects of the fall TENDER
ed him insensible for moment, but be soon re-
vived and spoke to those supporting hn, asking
# his feet had not touched the ground. In reply
to their inquiries he said that his feet were hurt,
but not his neck or breast. The platform be-
ing again prepared for him he was lifted upard
placed upon 1t; after the rope was adjusted a
second time, he remained erect without aRy as
ss,ance. The Sherlli whispered few words
encouragement, to which he replied "good.by,
God bless you Mr.. McMrchael," aud ia few
moments afterwards, al twelve minutes before
one O'Clock, the unfortunate victim Of offended
justice was launched into eternity. Ills death
was comparatively easy; very few quyerings
Of his chest and lmbs followed the fatal plunge
and in seven minutes life WIS pronounced by
DR.. Klapp to be ontlrely extinct. The body
was suffered to remain suspended about forty
minutes, when it was cut down, placed in the
coffin, and delived to the friends of his mother
for .nterment
The composure evinced by the unfortunate
man throughout was source of wonder to al
who witnessed the trying circumstances which
attended his execution He seemed resigned tC
his fate, and met it with a calmness which evin
ced his reliance upon the religious consolation
, of his spiritual advisers. When lifted upon tn,
platform after the unfortunate incident befor,
mentioned, a moan Of anguish struggled from