Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-08
4 81 90 in Advance.
Whole Number 838.


! The following narratives consist
OF actual facts. The first may re-
mind some OF my readers Of a case
in this State, where the Governor
of Ohio sonmuted The sentence Of
death passed upon a man convicted
oil murder to imprisonment for life.
In this case, the man insisted on being
hung, and Indignantly asserted that
he had "Uested rights" to that effect.
The Key West Gazette, speaking
OF the insecurity of the prison on
that Island, relates the following
strange story:
Some years ago, seaman by the
name Of Sherwood, accidentally
shot ship-mate on fourth of july,
and was placed in this Jail to await
his trial. The main door had no
lock or bolt, and Sherwood roamed
abroad when he pleased, but made it
point OF honor TO keep in the pris-
on. His friends vainly urged him to
go of; and the jailor finally getting
tired of being bored, swore that he
would have to go, for, he could not
feed him any longer, as he did not
believe him guilty. Sherwood
begged hard to remain, and promised
TO work for the jailor to paw his
board. Upon these terms he was
suffered to remain in prison, working
daily for his keeper until his trial
came on, and he was finally hung.
Here was an honest Key West crimi-
nal; he did not deem himself guilty,
but was perfectly willing to be hung,
If the community desired it. He
,cds hung; and as no other one has
ever applied for capital punishment
here since none has been inflicted.
Mr.. H. Moody, of Winchester,
relates the following story connected
with the Winchester county iail:-
About the middle of the last GEN.
tury, man who had care of some
horses in Winchester took one Of
them according TO custom Of the
day, to water at the town pond
There he met another man who had
brought some cows to water. A
dispute ensued between them, and
in the heat Of the excitement, the
former had recourse to a prong
which he had brought with him, and
stabbed his antagonist in the facs,
and killed him. For this offence he
was committed, tried, found guilty
Of wilful murder, and sentenced 10
be executed.
There might have been some miti-
gatory circumstances in the case,
which, at this period, would probably
reduce the crime to manslauphter,
and, even in those days when the
laws were prodigal Of life, obtain for
him respite beyond the twenty
four hours allotted to a murderer
He was sent back to prison, while it
nay be supposed the case was SUBJ
nitted TO the twelve judges; but
lays, months, and years, rolled away
without his receiving a pardon, re-
'rieve, or order for execution. Il
vas generally believed that no more
would be eheard OF 1t. The governor,
Ilso, was oi the same opinion, and
IS he had eng known the unhappy
nan, employed him first 10 wait on
he debtors, then 10 go on errands
nto the town, and at length gave
lim the charge Of his horse.
The mans conduct was orderly;
le did not once attempt 10 escape,
md he was every night locked in his
ell, like any other prisoner. One
lay he was sent with the Governors
lorse TO Crawley. a distance OF FIVE
niles, and, upon his return, was inn
nediately ordered 10 prison where
lis almost broken hearted master and
leeper communicated to him the
atal intelligence that the warrant
rom the Office Of the secretary of
tate had arrived, commanding his
execution, which actually
ook place on the following day. 1t
ppears that after the sentence Of the
udge had been confirmed, and the
warrant dul J signed, it was misplaced
With other papers, in the secretary Of
tate's office, was only brought to
igbt in change Of the occupant,
Who, finding it filled up, at once for
Varded il TO the sheriff OF the coun-
y = En0feb o1no-