The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-02-24
The Death Penalty.
Horrible Acsosatofa Ligialissd Msfiidss

Of those of our fellow men who ar6
so lost 10 all moral principles as 70 in.
brue their hands 10 human blood;ayst
we are not less shocked at theirs deeds,
than at the ibarbarity sof lthatlegalized
. custom, which, 10 retaliate one crime,
commits another no less offensive 10
the sight Of Heaven. We aIIude. Of
course, 10 the law which authcrixes 1fss
s,ranging or q ma6'aSl death, III cold
blood, for crime,- which twelve men
may honestly believe he'has Committed.
But that an individual may be innocent,
and yet condemned 10 death, no one
will doubt. aa rs u, sdsta ia biaais
| The Spirit of the Age. printed at
Bryan, Williams county, in this State,
furnishes the following account of.a le.
gaIized murder, committed in that place
I on the 26th ul,. The particulars are
certainly sufficiently horrible to crafty
. the most savage natures.as That paper
says: 'ass ~ so sHtegN'. ~
"About one O'clock, r; M. the pris-
| oner was conducted on the scafold,
accompanied BY r. r. Walters, who,
after the prisoner had taken his seat,
delivered some very appropriate 70.
marks from Acis, chap. 5th, verses end
and Sd "a text selected by the prison.
er. A hymn was sung and prayer Of
fered BY the Rev. nv. Walkers. The
prisoner then made brief address to
the assembly. He asserted his limo.
cence in the strongest ,erms--declar-
ing that he had nothing 10 do with The
perpelration Of the crime for which he
was 10 be executed. lie said he, had
no anxiety to live-but fel, prepared
and desired to depart and dwell with
the Saviour. At the close Of his re-
marks, he kaell down, and sPen: a few
moments in audible prayer. He pray
ed for support in the terrible scene up
on which he was Immediately 10 enter;
for the forgiveness Of all who had
sought his hurt, and that he and they
nigh. meet in a happier world.
Alta quarter past two the Sheriff adj
justed the rope, which was already
round the prisoners neck, drew the cap
over his face, and bade him ndieu. He
then descended the stairs, and as he
went down, touched the spring with
his foot and The drop fell. Here fol.
lowed scene which was for moment
shocking to all beholders-- almost be-
yond description. To set the matter
in its true light, it should be menlione6
that Tyler had at all Times insisted tiian
he should be executed without any
slack Of rope. Willing to crafty him
so far as duty would permit, and in &C.
cordance with the oft repeated and ur.
gen: request, the Sheriff gave him at
first only abou. one foot Of slack. Tie
instant the drop was sprung, the prison.
er slightly courhed his body by this
means the moose slipped around, bring.
ing the knot Immediately under the chin,
in such position that, with his short
fall, it did not tighten at all, consequent.
" he was merely suspended by the
neck. Probably his first slight fall sus.
pended sensation and respiration TEN.
porarily, for he hung quietly for time;
bui this suspension was only tetnpora.
ry, and it is certain that nothing like
strangulalion was produced. He soon
recovered his breath, and commenced
groaning and struggling as il suffering
excrulialing torture. The spectacle at
this moment was loo revolving to wit
ness; we noticed many who had
thought and said, that he could look on
his expiring agonies will, hearty good
will, who turned away from the sight
with bIanched cheeks and looks Of com.
misseration. The Sheriff, probably
some what overcome BY the fearful du.
" he had attempted to discharge, did
not, Immediately after springing the
drop 60 around to see the true condi-
lion Of affairs. On learning the situa.
ton Of The prisoner, he promptly order
Gu tle Scailolu TaiSeus anu no SoOuoT
was this done than he was upon il, and
taking Tyler BY the hand, directedh'm
to stand on his feet, which he wasnble
to do without assistance. Aided by
Gen. Gibson. the Sheriff then proceed
ed to lengthen the rope; giving il about
four feet additional slack. Tyler still
tervenuy begged them to shorten in
stead Of Ienglhening it, but he was
told tha, his wishes could no longer bs
regarded. During this time, ex.Shsrif
Cunningham passed up the stairs, and
taking sryler's hand inquired il be still
serted his innocence; be replied, ~
am iaaocent" Having adjusted tho
moose, and all others having again left