The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-12-03

EXECUTION IN CAIIFoRSIA.-The Placeryile
California; American has the following account OF
the legal execution of Free and Crane which took
place on the Goth of October at Coloma Crane
was printer by profession, and formerly work ed
in Richmond Va. The execution took place be-
| fore 6,000 persons:
| AT o'clock, 7. NJ, accompanied by Sheriff Car.
son and his assistants the prisoners forth and
| took their seats quite gayly in a wagon Crane
was elegantly dressed in a full summer suit OF
white-pants trimmed with blue, a blue sash with
rosette or star upon his breast and looked and act
ed perfect Kentucky gentlemen.
Free was also well dressed, light coat trimmed
with red; red SASH black pants, trimmed with
red: al elegant low-crowned black rowdy hat
which he wore a little on one side, and appeared
not unlike an uneoncerned jolly sailor
Arriving st the foot of the gallows both asce1c g.
cd with hrm step to the platform. Free quite
gayy Doth being entirely unconfined) skipped mp
ON the drop and around the PLATFORM smiling upon
the arrangement They were now permitted to
address the aasemllase. Crane, in very gentle
manly manner, and apparently without the sight
est hesitation, read i'll loud, firm voice, his ad-
dress. He seemed to regret nothing except that he
had not been permitted 20 take his own life long
before; that he wss soon to be with his beloved
bride, but who the world called his murdered vic
tim aud continued 10 speak for nearly twenty
minutea. @
Free said he had concluded not to make any re.
Marks as 1t would only excite the people present,
and stepped back from the edge of the scatfold.-
Calls from the crowd of Go on let us have it y
brought him forward. He then said, '.rn give You
Mickey Frees scaffold song" ana commenced, but
after singing three lines stopped saying, Gentle
men, can't go through with it; you must excuse
nc" -
Crane came forward and commenced singing a
hymn from manuscript, probably of his
position. in which Free heartily joined. They
We're attended upon the sc affold By the Rev. James
Rogera and Rev. J. Petit.
They were clothed in the habiliments of the
grave, and stepped upon the drop without the
slightest apparent reluctance. The ropes were
adjusted abe ut their necks, prayer offered up
TIE God of Heaven and of Earth for mercy on their
souls, and with the "AmenD fell the drop and the
two murderers.
The last words Of Free were, NOW, boys soc
that this is done mp right" Cranes last words
were, Susan receive me; I'll soon be with you"
The above is the sequel 10 two of the bloodiest
gSdes ever enacted within the borders of this
State, the particulars of which published in
this paper at the periods of their occurrence
Crane was tried and found guilty of the murder
OF Miss Susan N. Newman, near Rinygold FL Do
rada county. on August TO- but abe survived until
the 18th. Ho shot her with .. Colts revolver
In his confes sion he stated that he had formed
attachment for her some fifteen months previously;
that they had been married, bnt only by God him
self; that another who suftor for her hand and
VINO was favored, moreover, by her parents had
caused all the difficulty. He confessed that a bar
exist ed to his marrying Susan openly, viz thst he
had wife living in the Eastern States. Crane was
over 30 ear of age, and has four children living
near Lexington Ky. He was al enthu siastic Spir
itualist, and on this subject was regarded as a
monomanac. ff'f -