Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-05

have followed rObblng, because without IT, |
could not appear as wished. ] have led a
high life for the last few years; have gone in
the highest classes, visited most of the large
cities Of the United States-havo often been
taken, but managed to escape until now.
There has been a great deal of excitement
us in this place, and have no doubt
if there had been some ono to take the lead,
and say ''come on boys" the Jail would have
been torn down, and we all should have been
This mob spirit, gentlemen, is
what makes so many robbers among you.-
This is what first set Fox to robbing. He
was taken, shot and whipped in company
with another, for a crime of which he was in
nocent. This rendered him desperate. Fox
is a man of a feeling heart, one who lives up
to his profession, and if ever he is brought
here upon this scaflold, he will say those men
are innocent. Would to God he were here
now, he would offer himself in their stead
One thing more as to this Benny. He had
two presses for counterfeiting money in Maui
VOC, in his cellar, and when the people be-
came exasperated, and were about to attack
his house, went in the night and carried
the presses to Il distant part Of the city. For
the truth of this l refer to Dr.. Williams, Mr..
LOOMS, Mr.. Gore, and Mr.. McGough. This
same Bonny has men now employed in steal
ing horses in Missouri; he furnishes them
with money, half counterfeit and half good
He will probably arrest them when they re-
turn. When ! saw him at Lower Sandusky,
| told him that be was the last man | would
expect to arrest me. He then gave me his
hand, and we pledged ourselves not to reveal
anything against each other. Since that we
had a quarrel, and our last agreement was
that either should kill the other at the first
opportunity. AS for Birch, | first saw him
six months ago, in the bushes at Bridges
Since ,hen | have been hand in hand with
him, and if any one had attacked him. would
have defended him, without asking for what
he was attacked. Last winter, | wintered in
Iowa. There is a gentleman who can testi-
fly to that, (pointlng towards a man standing
near the gallows.) | presume there are ma
ny more whom | have robbed. (Here he
turned to the sheriff and asked him if the
time was nearly out. He was told it was.)
The Sheriff tells me the time is nearly up.
Behold me-a dying-a dead man. And
my dying words are, that these men are in
nocent. Would that odhimself would come
down and convince the audience of the truth
Of what | say. You are about to behold, my
friends, a sight which | hope you may never
behold agitn-two innocent men hung. As
for myself, gentlemen, | do not know what
will be my fate-of that / am entirely igno-
rant. All my hopes lie between this mo-
ment and that (pointing to the rope.) Should
l make a full confession, | should implicate
two hundred men in this State, Indiana, Mis-
souri, and the Territory. Perhaps some Of
you think it is my duty, but do not, for
have some feelings for their families. Ihave
confessed about Bonny. l make no other
confession. (Here he closed his very lengthy
speech, lifting up his hands, and asserting
with his last words the innocence of the men
by his sids.)
After he had closed, he returned to his seat
and, after consulting the o!her prisoners, re-
turned and stated that it was their diving re-
quest that their bodies might be given to their
friends, and no; to the physicians. Mr.. Cat
chell now stepped forward and offered up a
short and appropriate prayer: after which Mr..
Haney read a Psalm. The prisoners now
severally shock hands with those on the scat
fold, and with each other. Aaron Long and
Young nearly overcome with emotion;-Johr
quite calm and collected. The Sheriff bound
their arms, put the rope round their necks,
drew the caps over their faces, and led them
forward upon the drop. Taking the axe, he
severed the rope at one blow, and down went
VIC ultps iIlAilt2 llIlll ldll Il ulSltICc VI lOul
feet. But now remained a scene most revol.
ting to behold, and most horrible to describe.
The middle rope broke, letting Aaron Long
fall, striking his back upon the beam below,
and lying insensible from the strangling eau.
sed by the rope before il broke.
For a moment, not a human being moved;
all were Mortified, and seemed rivetad to theil
places. Soon, however, the officers descend.
ed and raised him up, when he recovered hi;
senses, and was again led upon the gallows
suffering intensely, raising his hands and
crying out "1he Lord have mercy on me
The Lord have mercy on me! You ar,
hanging an innocent man. And (pointing Il
his brother,) there hangs my poor brother
but alas! he needed him not. He was al
ready gone beyond his sympathy--he wa.
left alone, to endure the dreadful sight of hi:
brothers last agonies, and once more TO pas:
through the dreadful scene-the rope-thC
platform-the axe! | shall never forget the
appearance Of that man, as he sat upon the
bench, a large bloody streak about his neck.
his body trembling all over, while prepare
tons were making for his final fall. Bur
there was another act in the drama. As he
was ascending the gallows, signs of an out
break among the crowd were evident. Some
cried-'That's enough-let him 90 while
others gave expressions to their horror. JUS
at this moment some cry was raised in a re.
mote part of the crowd. No one knew what
it was; some were frightened-one wing o.
the guard retreated towards the gallows-th(
tumuIt increased-a sudden panic seized the
immense crowd, and they all fed precipitate'
ly from the place. If the earth under tho
gallows had opened, and Pluto himself had
arisen from the internal regions, with HI;
horses and chariot, it could not have caused
greater CONSERVATION, or a most hasty flight,
The guard were with difficulty kept in theil
places; the crowd returned, and soon all was