The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-07
Execution of Harris He'll for tho Murder of
Eliza VILLA ma.

EuIa W lillian
From the Hope dale pal Herald, Oct IL
The criminal ~as executed pursuant TO sentence on
Friday sst Al EARLY hour in the day people began
to s,senble in Hopesdse. and long before the time
fixed for the execution hundreds had collected togo
ther, and cTowdiDe round the jail Every house
top, too. and every window In the VICINITY was
tbroug,d with men women and children, whe were
eager TO witness the execution Of human being
The DegbboriDg cliff, and the adjoining hill tops
toe e along the sdee were nled with speotstors
The place selected for the exeoutln the yard in
tb. rear Of the Court House, where enclosure OF
about thirty feet square and twenty feet high had
erected within few Gays past to jail yard OF
place Of execution Around this enclosure the crowd
Al quarter before two O'Clock in charge of High
Sbefih ood spd bs deputies, escorted by the Homes
dale Guar DIS under the command Of Capt Farnham
the prisoner Bell started from the jail the place
exc utiop. He wore q shroud and had q white cap
his bead his arms pinioned fast behind him. and
procession reached the enclosure the double rank o.
SOLDIERS separated and the prisoner preceded by two
cerpymep and the sherids ate ndants passed in Al
he entered the frst object that attracted his NOTICE
was the coff hat was prepared to receive him. He
gave fesldl look that and then fixed his eyes
on the scsffold shall till my latest day forget
the horror OF tbs oppression. IL deep long look
OF sgony and unutterable despair. He assembled the
scsold slowly and with apparent dinoulty. and
that be TIRE mbed and locked exceedingly pale. After
he had taken a seat he looked slowly around the en-
closure, and on those who admitted Within then
solenny fixed his and appeared absorbed In the
exercises which were passing Rev MIR Smithet read
the service the Episcopal church prescribed for such
occasions Once during the time Bell looked at his
hands, which red and swollen account Of the
pressure of the cords that bound his arms then he
took the end of cord in his hand which was fas-
tened about his neck and held it for some time After
this he gave his whole attention to the prayers till
they were ended.
Here Bell arose, and in very loud Voice, and in .
manner which evinced his deep excitement spoke IS
follows =
have prayed many day, for more than year, and
God has forgiven my sins. now stand on the gaows
but this night shall be in paradise Oh, glory to
Ged for his goodness and great mercy to me- hope
that God vii bless you ALL and that he may bless the
Sheriff and Lis family
Geptlemen-I wish to meet you all in Heaven. I
hope shall every one of you there here forgive
my enemies and prosecutors, and prayer to God is
to forgive me for the sake of him who died on the
cross"
Here he paused, and Sheriff Wood proceeded to ad-
just the fatal cord After all was fixed, Bell added in
lower tone, When this platform leaves my feet, my
neck is broke and land in Heaven. Gentlemen, let
me entreat you by my example, to bring up your
Inai fs rsst ana mot bring them to the ssO.:
The sheriff now announced 70 Bell that he had nve
minutes to live, and Rev. H. A. Rowland approaching
said, Bell do you feel that you can trust in your
Saviour ~
Bell" feel that do"
"Do you wish to unite with me In prayer"
The Sheriff then drew down the cap, and MIR. Row
land in his fervent and eloquent manner,
him to the mercy Of God At the close Of the prayer
the platform fell and Bell was launched into eternity
He fell about four feet For moment his hands were
clenched convulsvey, but gradually relaxed AT In
tervals, for five minutes slight tremors percep-
tibe, after which appearance Of life was mani
tested.
The platform fell at ten minutes past two. After
he had been suspended fifteen minutes Of the ply
scisns present felt the wrist for the pulse and de-
cared life extinct. He was, however suffered re-
main till half past two and then taken down dead
The penalty Of the law paid.
When the doors were thrown open the crowd rushed
In perfectly frantic to cast their eyes the victim of
the law Even cord which was acoidenty lying on
the scafold seized and divided in pieces among
them under the impression that 1t had been used in
banging. And one old man plead most earnestly for
piece, urging that he had promised woman to get
her part Of it, The rope however which used
had been secured before the crowd came in.