The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-08-06
From The St L,ui. Intelligence.
Execution OF Shawnry and Dodge

John Shhwney aud Joseph Dodge, yesterday
suffered The ~ remr penalty, If the Law, 10 the
Jtti yard ~ lhr cty-at half pa.t Que o'clock p
Y lhcr C,lme- is already familiar TO most of
our readers, tut for the benefit of the remand r
We remark hat they were convicted before the
/ L. ) Circuit Court last spring for the murder Of
two Indians Oh thg plains some time during last
sGmmcr
| The place selected for the execution was cx.
,rcmdy private, beng between the u.ain i.Il
building aud the temporary ,trlcturu er,cteI
fort tie accommodation Of the Criminal Court,
fronting on CheGuut street. lwr high wall,
here shut ~ 3 sort of pass way about ten feet
vide aud the buildings at either ryjren4I', com.
p.clely rsclIde Gil Observation .um TIE street
even from points higher than the ial enclosure
lh. glllOws was Constructed In the usual man
ner, consisting Of two urrighis with transverse
beam across the Top The tr ire police force of
the city We be'uc7e. r4mb.ring upwards Of
e glty members, were on the ground dl~iribuic,,
wlthla and without the luVlossre. Comparative.
/ HY feW persons we're E@svnbIed without She ial
and Of the slightest Indication Of dlsturbince
was visible, at any time during the day. Within
the yard were the Witnesses summoned hy the
Marshal consisting Of about one hundred persons.
including tie police, ply sirians reporters DC
At QUE O'Clock, Col II II. Babrr L. :. Mar.
shal. repair To the interior man dUug Of tbe al
bu,ldiug aud the prisoners were summoned from
,hpr ceils--whcrs they were receiving the last
spiritual cuunsr's from Father Matthew ard
Father Lacon Of The !.uman Catholic Church
by Cascp the jAlier. Dodge appeared wear.
Ing a smiling and Canten'ed expression sf face,
which be preserved tn the lat moment y" ON.
present, to outward Grpear-.se, seemed le..
conscious tha" E,, Of the near rapproch OF a fright
H.,
indicated intense but subdued emotion The,
FIST went tie rounds of the cell, shaking bands
through the greetings, and bidding farewell t.,
all he prisoners. I he a.aci'y. cheerfulness and
poiicurss of manner with which Dodge went
through IBIS ceremony was surprising 10 all who
witnessed 1t. Both prisoners were neatly drrs.
sed, with black frock coats, vests and pants, of
summer material. They were then pn,ned
and led to the scaifold each bearing in his hands
n small crusltiy, and accom- panied by hla splrtu.
al adviser. Col. Btber read to them, while seat
ed his warrant Of execution after which Dodge
came forward and addressed he company as fol.
lows:
Gentlemen Il am about to be executed, and
IN the little time have left, thank YOU gentle.
men for many kluinUssss shOwa me while wa,
IN prison and for your presence here to day.
have not long 10 live. but my PRAYER is, that the
Lord may have mercy on you all as hope be
will have mercy OF my soul May God be with
yon and bless you, aud Elay you take warning
by tny fate. !cannot pay you for your Kindness,
but hope you will be paid This is all | have to
say; cannot express what fee! the Lord have
mercy on you all-Amen.'
Shawney then came forward, and with much
difficulty and emotion sad
Gentlemen II am brought here for execu
D 4 ,l. 81. 4, I
suffer the penalty ofthe law I thank you all
for your presence, aui may God have mercy on
YOU and me- My PRAYER is that YOU may all
b. saved and that the Lord may have mercy on
my soul Amen
The Rev Fathers administered the last sac.
ramcnts to the unfortunate men, end took an
aftertiena:e farewell Of them. The Marshal then
took each oa1 hy the baud Slngly and with a
I'd aai feeling alden, asked to be forgiven by
them for the discharge oi lls unpleasant duty
They readily acqmc,c,d and expressed them.
selves rather grnuhei than otherwise that no
"no else had been selected 10 perform tue pain
f4l Office
The prisoners being seated beneath the ropes
cars were dIawn over their eyes by Col BiLe~
aud officer ArnoId-D,dge exhibiting TIL the last
moment the same indifferent ChreriuIness OF ex
presslou and courtesy oi department. They
stool up. and m few seconds the ropes were sd.
jusrcd, the bolt was drawn, and the unhappy men
were struggling IN the last conflict OF life The
fall was at rat eix feet Shawney neck was a,i
IDENTITY broken hy II, as he renamed perfectly
motoule-s and hey onl slight contraction Of the
limbs after hanging about five mrues, exhibited
no sign of suffering, His fellow sufferer strug
glel considerably G,r several minutes, At the
tul of half an luIt the bodies were taken
down, aud upon examination 10y Doctors Riley
ard MtNlur0y, were pronouuceo dead. Neat
walnut CotrinS hal br,n provided by their
friends, who Immediately took charge of their
bodies, and carefully prepared thcn ior buinl
Col BAhrr acquitted himself "i lis painful task
IN a manner highly honorable to hlm as an uflicrr
anI asa man. lie hal been nborins tor several
days under severe lndi-pnsitlon, aud had to rise
from his sick bed to discharge llns duty lll'
arrangement, were 50 wpl ordered that nnot
the most uiGng circumstance did anything cc.
cur amis With those who know HIM, hts
stnslbilty neel not the manifestations of sym.
pathy and consideration which marked bis
whole behavior towards the prisoners while