Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-06-18

ed nan sS h. arranged that the condemn
asxT,I occupya position in the
made 81 the scafIold. over The post last
described. As soon as the Sheriff and
The Rev. Gentlemen had taken their
leave of the wre!ched culprit and de-
scended from The scaffold, the Two out
er supports were removed from under
the trap doors, aud the hinged post was
all that supported the floor of the scat
fold.
Ataf few minutes before eleven o.
clock the Sheriff entered the cell Of the
wretched culprit, for the purpose of
preparing him for the gallows. His
arms were pinioned, and at a few min
ules past eleven, he was taken from the
rorlh corridor, by The eastern gate, in
TO the avenue.
The prisoner was dressed in his oldi-
nary attire, and wore straw hat. Up
on turning into the avenue o procession
was formed, and the clergy sang q
hymn as they passed along, in which
the prisoner joined.
During the singing Of the hymn,
Spring maintained dlgnifed demean-
or, aud would occasionally nod ishead
as ifassen!ing to the sentiment Of the
verses sung.
When the procession neared thescaf-
fold, o halt was made, and Rev. Mr.. Al
len, turning bis lace toward the prison.
er, read in the mos. effective manner the
beautiful service for the dead Of the
Episcopal Church, commencing with
al am the resurrection and The liie,"
Sc.
The criminal, during the reading Of
the service, stood erect, with his eyes
closed, and bowed at certain passages.
AT The CONCLUSION Spring started for the
steps leading 10 the platform ofthe gal
lows, assembled with firm step, and ex-
hibited no signs Of terror or emotion.
He was followed by Sheriff Allen, Mar
shall Keyser, Rev. Mr.. Allen and Rev.
Mr.. Alexander.
When the scafold was reached, Rev.
Mr.. Street commenced singing an aP-
propria!e hymn, The others joining with
him.
The masked execulioner, said 10 be a
colored man, reached the platform, and
al oacc proceededto prepare the crimi.
nal for the last awful moment. His
pecserchief was frs, removed BY one
Of the reverend gentlemen, after which
the esecutioner pulled the cap over the
head Of the prisoner, and adjusted the
rope around his neck. Spring, from his
attitude, seemed 10 be giving The execu-
TONER instructions.
The gentlemen on The platform then
shook hands with Spring, Immediately
after which he was left alone, standing
with The rope around his neck. We
watched him closely at this moment,
but wo could not discover The slightest
trsmor in his frame indicating emotion
or fear. The prisoner placed the
thumb of bis left hand in the buttonhole
Of his coat nterall had parted with him,
and there il remained until he was re-
moved from The gal!ow'.
All being prepared, the signal was
given, the prop was in an instant reno
ssed, and Arthur Spring was dangling
hstween heaven and earth, liteless
eorpse. His neck was evidently bro
Ven, Tor nothing save conclusive
witch o! one of bis thumbs betokened
the mortal agony the body ofthe muir
derer was suffering, He died as he liv-
'ed-a bold, bad man.
The execution took place precisely
., thirteen minutes past eleven, and The
b body hung until twenty minutes Of
,weIve. having hung just twenty-seren
'n;nutes, It was then taken down and
examined. The vertsbra Of the neck
,ysrs found to be broken, and death
,rr.l have been instantaneous.
The body was then removed to the
Green " House, wherei it will remain for
,ho ourpose Of allowing an examination
w. W mo main to be made by Dr. Kirk
S :, A.. orthe Pennsylvania Insane Hos.
p p;.al, and DR.. McClintock. It will
I 6Ha,' be cha handed over 10 Rev. John Street
fol burial