The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-03
Horrid Murder !!

The EXECUTION AT THE YARD ARM
We publish below an account of the execu-
ton of sailor on board the U. S. sloop-of-
war st. Mary's, off Vera Cruz. Unjust have
been most appalling sight; and it seems to
us an act of most unmitigated barbaritv. We
hope that this matter will not be passed over
without investigation by our national rulers.
The offence was, that he struck one Of the Of
fcers-perhaps some petty tyrant who had
outraged the feelings OF the humble marine.
The fogging of soldier to death at Houns-
low, near London, few months ago. aroused
the whole British nation in condemnation of
an act so vile. This matter was brought up
in Parliament, and committee was appoint
ed to investigate it, who reported in favor of
abolishing fogging altogether in the army
We trust that the American Congress will
see to this matter If poor fellow is to be
strung up by the neck at the yard arm, by
virtue of court martial, for an offence so com
paratively trining, it is time the criminal code
of our navy was remodelled and receive an
infusion Of humanity.-LoaceU Journal.
An execution on board The U. s. Squadron off
the coast Of Ncric0.
Correspondence of the N. Y Tribune
OFF V ERA ORUZ, Oept. 70, 1910.
On the 18th inst. | was one of I'll edited
witnesses of the supremacy Of the law over
natural right.
A sailor named Samuel jackson, belonging
to the sloop st. Mary's, was hanged at the
fore yard arm, pursuant to the sentence of a
court martial, before whom he had been tried
for striking a man named Taylor-one of the
officers of that ship.
The preparations for the execution were
numerous and solemn, a regular programme
having been issued by Commodore Conner,
and circulated through the squadron several
days previously.
All labor in the different vessels was for
hidden for the day, and the crews were d-
rected to assume their holiday attire. At II
A. NJ, the signal "Prepare to execute the
sentence of the court martial" was displayed
at the mizzen Of the Cumberland, when a
yellow flag was hoisted at theetore yard arm
of the st. Marys. The officers and crews of
all the vessels at the anchorage were then
mustered on deck, and distributed in such
places as would best enable them to take as
much of the spectacle in view as possible
Here they were kept on the tiptoe of an
ticipation for more than half an hour, when
the same signal that | before mentioned was
hosted, without the preparative" and the GU
riosity of the spectators was very materially
enhanced thereby. In few moments more
the victim made his appearance on the top
gallant forecastle' of the St. Marys, attend
ed by two or three officers and the Master-at-
Arms of the ship, and by the Rev. Fitch w.
Taylor Chaplain of the Cumberland. Step
ing over the forecastle railing on the scaffold
which had been erected for the occasion, the
prisoner seated himself on the railing appa-
rently on account of nervous deficiency. The
machinery fitted up for the principle act was
simple, but strong and effective. thick
rope was rove through block at the yard
arm, leading along the yard into the fore
mast, where it rove through another block,
and was made fast to weight of near four
hundred pounds!
After some additional minutes of suspense
had been inflicted upon the thousands of spec
tators, a flash issued from the gun over which |
the scaffold had been raised, and at the same
instant human form was seen flying in a
curved line through the air, with astonishing
velocity. When the body reached the yard
arm, so great had been the impulse, that the
check threw it perpendicular. into the all, feet