Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-06-09
EXECUTION OF PARKS.

In our last issue we stated that Parks
had committed suicide. thereby saving the
sheriff the trouble Of hanging him. He
made an effort to kill himself but
did not succeed. Below we give the par
ticulars Of his execution:
"About fifty persons" says the Leader
"were present at his execution, including
the sheriff and officers ofthe Jail, his coun-
sci at his late trial, reporters for the press,
and citizens who had been invited. There
was a strange seriousness in every counte-
nance, and mysterious silence in every
cell; for all the prisoners were carefully
locked up. Parks lay on pallet in the
corner, securely handcufed and manacled,
presenting ghastly picture to the spectat-
ors, who beheld before them the pale face
and the rigid limbs of the man who had
for more than two years furnished the peo-
pie of Northern Ohio with an ever new
subject of conversation; with never-fad-
ing image of all that is cold, calculating,
and fearless. At ten minutes after IL
o'clock, the sheriff asked him whether he
was ready. He replied in the affirmative,
and his limbs were unbound; not, how
ever, before he made most solemn prom
ise that he would ATTEMPTING Vi >lence up
on himself. Alter being dressed for ex-
ecution, he called for cigar, lit it, and
smoked calmly for about fifteen minutes,
during which he was evidently trying to
quiet his nerves. He even tried to seem
cheerful, and requested DR.. Strong, who
he said he had learned was skiliul phre-
nologist, to examine his head but he
spoke in atrembling anl scpulchral tone,
plainly showing the terrible emotions
which he enleavored to conceal.
About half past IL, he inquired for
clergyman, but was tt Id there was none
present He then called for his brother
inlaw, John Dickinson, and gave him
directions as to the disposition Of his body.
He wished that the public might not be al
lowed to gaze upon him suspended from
the gallows, hut that he might be taken
down, decently shaved, dressed and de-
posted in his coffin, and that those who
had curiosity might be allowed to look
upon him. He also requested him to re-
frain from writing anything to his friends
and parents in England which would in
form them of his true fate on the scaf-
fold.
AT fifteen minutes before twelve he fin
ished his cigar, swallowed mouthful of
brandy and water, and told the sheriff that
he was ready. He mounted the scaff,ld
with feeble step, but with undaunted
air, and after resting few minutes called
Tor some brandy and water, and made a
speech to the spectators, which thou III de-
sultory in its character, contained some ex-
quisite touches Of pathos and eloqucn e.
The following is the substanc, of his re-
marks, which we give as nearly as possible
in his own words:
We'll, gentlemen, there are comparative
ly few Of you here. l have but little to
say to you. Some ofyour faces are fam
iliar to me; among them / discover some
of the jury that convicted me. But enter
tain no i'll feelings towards them. Yester-
day | attempted to take my own life. |
did it for the sake of my wife and child,
and for my posterity who may follow me.
| did not wish that it should be said to
them, Your ancestor was HUNG I
thought if l committed suicide, they would
be saved from such a notification
Moreover than that, am not murderer,
and thought Ihad as good right to put
an end 10 my life as complain Of the inius-
tice Of the punishment or murder, but l
am not guilty. If was a guilty man,
could | impose on myself and hide it from
myself? 1t is impossible.
If VIM. Beaston did not travel with me-
uponth It railroad and kill himself, | knew
it; but solemnly assert that it was so. 7
know right well the reading matter in the
public journals, from which you have form
ed your opinion of me. Everything that
could be said against me has been said. I
have been called deliberate murderer a
'cold-blooded villain, "hyena, and every
other name that could be imagined. But
not one word has ever been said in nv
favor. People have had me held before
their eyes continually in the act Of cutting
Beatson's head off, and they at once de-
nounced me, without considering that /
was environed by peculiar circumstances !:
that my previous character Mas not what
it should have been, and that what would
have been prudent for anotherto 0, would
not have been SO for ME.
II may have done many wrong thing
in my life, but / never committed murder
either premeditated or otherwise. If /
could have my full liberty now by walk
ing through the blood Of my fellow.man.
| would not take it; no, would not take
it. III murdered Beatson / should des-
erve my fato, and my worst punishment
Would he here {1av;no he baal 80