The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-11-26
Capital Punishment.

Capital Punishment
The following account of truly horrible trans
action we clip from an exchange. How long
will it be before this rect of barbarism Is erased
from the statute book of every civilized govern
ment9 tits revolving in the extreme, and to our
mind in direct opposition 10 the true spirit OF
Christianity History is rePetp with instances
of the execution of innocent persons on what ap-
peared conclusive evidence of guilt, and this will
be the case so long as man is not immortal. Ill
may be urged that in these instances men acted
on the strongest human testimony, but will theyl
Ibe held guiltless at the Bar of God, when they
had on alternative before them2 If a man sees
another commit murder, he is not jusii6abie inl
taking that mans life to pay the forfeit, on the
contrary. he is guilty Of murder in the eyes Of
God and man. Can that which is the highest
crime in an individual be justifable in a commu
nifty?
The Great God has endowed us with the
means of protecting life, liberty and property,and
this may be done elfecually without practicing
the custom of all savage nations in all ages of
the world.
Whoever can read this account without a
shudder, can do more than we cant
4 EXECUTION OF TnRRE MURDERERs-- Uafor,
]ttaate Accident and Shocking Spectacle.-Two
brothers named Long and Aaron Young, con-
victed of the murder of Col Davenport, at
Rock Island, Illinois, were executed at that place
on the 25th ult 1t was most shocking specta-
Gle, according to correspondent Of the Chicago
Daily News who, after stating that the cuprts
addressed those present and then engaged in a
religious service, adds:
The prisoners now severally shook hands
i with those on the scatfold, and with each other
Aaron Long and Young were nearly overcome
with emotion. John was quite calm and collect
Jed. The Sheriff bound their arms, put the ropes
ii round their neCks, drew the caps over their ia
! ces, and led them forward upon the drop.
Taking the axe, he severed the rope at one
Y blow, and down went the drop, letting them tal
a distance of four feet. But now remained
c scene most revolving to behold, and most horrible
vi to describe. The middle rope broke, letting
If Aaron Long fall, striking his back on the bean
G below, and lying nseusibIe from the strangiins
y caused by the rope before it broke. For mo
e ment not human being moved, all were horri
d fed and rveued to their places Soon, however
o the officers descended and lifted him up, whel
n he recovered his senses, and was again led upo
l. the galows, suffering intensely, raising his hand
1t and crying out-"Fhe Lord have mercy on me
e You are hanging an innocent man, and (pont
d ing to his broher) there hangs my poor brother;
} but, alas! he needed him not,
e He was already beyond his sympathy--he WA
$, left alone TO endure the dreadful sight of hi
s. brothers last agonies, and once more to pas
.. through the dreadful scene--the rope 1.-The pla
I. form--the axe. shall never forget the appear
ance of that man, as he sal upon the bench,
a. large bloody streak about his neck, his bod
:, trembling all over, while preparations were m;
' king for the final fall. But there was anothe
bt act in the drama.
4. As he was ascending the gallows, signs of a
rv outbreak among the crowd were evident. Som
ID cried, "Thars enough--Iet him go,'' while oil
ID ets gave expressions to their horror Just at th
d moment some cry was raised in remote part q
s. the crowd; no one knew what it was--som
,e we're frightened one wing of the guard re
m treated towards the gallows--the tumult increa
10 ed--a sudden panic seized the immense mult
nv ude, and they al, fed precipitatey from th
place.
ID the earth under the gallows had opened,an
II Pluto himself had arisen from the internal n
re gons, with his horse and chariot. it could NJ
Id have created greater CONSERVATION, or moI
lis hasty flight. The guard were with difficult
~ kept in their places; the crowd returned, an
= soon all was quiet; every one ashamed of himse
le for being frightened at nothing One wagon W;
IE,nrI k,,ti ctInpnSpd m hp tho of1a
H. and not the cause of the panic The wretche
ri. victim of the law was at length despatched, an
re the multitude dispersed. Thus ended the fir
ID execution that ever witnessed, and God graf
is that it may be the last.