Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-13
DECIDEDLY BAD TASTE!

On Sunday last we received an Extra OF The
New York sun, giving detailed account of Tie
execution on Friday morning Of JaTpes Eager
for the murder OF Philip Williams. The Extra
IS decorated By wood cut Of The unhappy man
suspended from the scaffold Is it not loo bad
10 weaken the moral sense of I community by
these heartless displays ot fearful ceremonies,
which should be kept n sectel as The Inqnisi,onl
II destroys The moral benefit OF legal punishmenls
and vi'iates public asIe in 4 high degree. The
Sun says,
"The number ot persons present al The awful
ceremony I'm The PRISON. was not very large, but
IN intense interest was manifested and The space
around The prison was crowded by an immense
assemblage from early in the morning The nm
fortunate prisoner was 4 most iite!ate person.
being entirely unable either 10 read or write
Rev. Geo. Hali, Baptist clergyman, has for
some time been in constant attendance with him
last night ne sat up all night and The time was
most employed in prayer and devotion In rep;y
10 question Of The Rev'd gentleman, il he was
not tired and.would not resi- No replied Ea-
ger, n 'eW res! io-morro,c might" Mr. Han in
formed us thai the prisoner was perfectly
penitent-that he acknowledged The Justice OF
his dreadful DOOM and thai he was prepared
TO meet II with resignation. The only dread he
seemed 10 have was that he must die before so
MANY persons and he repeatedly requested that the
few @ho were abon! his cell might he removed
The conduct OF The supposed pirate Babe, SEN
fenced TO he execned in July, was the subject Of
remark during The day. lie seemed but lule al
feced with the scene enaciinS so near him-nis
cell being the third from that nf Eager Babe
says that The susPence he has suffered for more
than two years is worse than death. AL 20 min
utes past one o'clock the sheriff informed the
prisoner that the time had arrived for his death,
and that he must Immediately prepare. He in
SANITY got ready 10 leave The cell in company with
his religious advisers and some few friends. As
he passed the cell OF Babe, the door was opene,l,
and he shook hands with him, Babe slightly afiec-
led. The concOnrse soon arrived in The yard, and
The procession went 10 The gallows. The prison.
or arrived at The gallows with Mr.. w. Halt and
Camp al his side. On The way he looked around
nj The spectators, and then al the gallowS. MIR.
HAT asked him TO Join in prayer, 10 which be as
senied-and the space OF five minutes was thus
occupied. The Sheriff. Mr. Jones, adjusted the
rope and on signal the under SherfTcul the rope,
and instantly the culprit was in eternity and a
slight quiyering in the body was all that showed
any signs OF suffering: for some moments there
was not shudder percepnble. Alter hanging
about 35 minutes, he was pronounced dead and
the law being complied with he was cut down.
James Eager was man in the prime oflfe, and ar.
rived in this country about year ago from Ire
land whence he fed pursued BY officers OF Justice
having been connected with 4 brutal murder in
in that country.
"He was engaged part OF his time as coast
sailor in Ireland. and was about going on a sea
VOYAGE from This port al the lime ofthe murder"