The Nevada journal., 1852-07-17
EXECUTION OF JOHN BARRETT.

{ /.
John Barrett, who was convicted Of
the crime Of graod larceny, at the last
term of the Court of Sessions, and sen.
fenced to be huHg, was brought up from
the fuba county Jail on Thursday even.
ing last, where he had been confined
since has trial BY his sentence he wa,
to be executed yesterday, between the
hours Of 0 and 4 o'clock.
The prisoner requested to be hung nj
early as possible. u. o'clock il conven.
ien'. In accordance with his reques.
preparations were made at an early
hour in the morning. The gallows Ind
oeen erected on ilat, about three quar-.
ttrs CT q mile east of town, and though
there might have bsen greater drop,
yet the apparatus was very complete.
About 9 o'clock y detachment of citi-
zens, who had volunteered their services
as guard, formed around the Jail where
the Irisorer was confined Ile, to-
gether with the the persons in the Jail
were subdued. serious look, as though
impressed with the deep solemnity of
the occasion. About half past nine. the
irons wero struck from his limbs. and
the prisoner assisted in dressing himself
in his shroud.
A signal boins. given that al! was
ready, the prisoner was led forth. A
cart containing coffin was brought rr,
on which the prisoner WAS placed, ,he
guard formed q hollow square sbeut tie
carr, which was slowly drawn to the
place CT execution, followed by large
conccursc Of people. The prisoner re-
NAMED cool and collected ho appeared
as ono who was tired of the world, and
cared not when or how he lef. it. lie
assembled the scaffold with Grm step.
and took seat by the Catholic Priest,
Mr. Shanahsn. There were likewise
on the platform the Under Sheriff Of This
county, tfiiciating as Sheriff, Mr.. Gray,
Sheriff of Yuba county. r. {. !lodge,
Esq. prisoners counsel, Dr. Cleveland,
attending physician, and several other
gentlemen. After some minutes low
conversation between tho prisoner and
Father Slanahan, Sheriff Endicott asked
the prisoner if he had any thing 10 say,
to which he answered, nothing. lie had
before stated that he was guilty Of the
crimes charged with, that he was glad
md wii;ns to die, HAT he blamed no
one, and tiat his c!imcs were wholly
owing to intemperAree.
Sheriff tndicott then read the war
rant for his execution. al other pre-
paratiens having bc' n made, The cap was
drawn OYER his face, the prisoner was
led ints the drop, the rope adjusted. and
TAT seventeen minutes afer ten The drop
AS.'' 4 Ho ~ iiSoNtE: WIN WHO " power
fully built man, fell heavily, though it
was evident that his neck was not bro.
ken. There were several conyuisiyc
throcs Of his body, and then i. hung
quietly, and JOHN Barrett vas in e.er.
nifty.
The entire number of people wio
witnessed the scenc--some G00--wcre
remarkably quiet and orderly; no unrc-
ccSsary noise or excitement disturbed
the solemniiy of the occasion. The body
remained hanging forty minutes, when
being pronounced dead, by Dr. Glove
land, twas cut down, placed in the cor.
fin, AMI buried az the foo. OF larg.
pine tree, near the scsifoid.
Barrett Was native ofIreland, where
his nioti,r now resides. He lived for o
long time in New Orlea,ls whore q sis
ter anl brother Of his now live, occupy.
ing n very respectable position in society
men the jury brought IN their verdi t
of guilty, adjudging the punishment Of
death, tho presiding judge announced
that he would give sentence on the fol.
lowing morning, at 10 O'Clock. the pris-
oner, under the impression that he would
be hung at that hour, called for pen and
ink, and wrote few lines 10 his sister
On being asked yesterday if he desired
this te be sent, he said he had written
last Sunday to his sister, and given the
letter to the jailor, who promised to for
ward it, He said he had never been
connected with any gang, though he had
known many who lived by stealing
That he had no blood on his hands, and
had not stolen till he CONNIE need drink