The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-06-15
Execution Of Parks. The murderer.

James Parks, who was convicted at Cleveland
for the murder Of VIM. Beatson, was executed in
that city on Friday last. He had attempted the
day before 10 destroy binset, by cutting his
throat, Some incidents ofhis execution are thus
described in the Cleveland papers:
"About fity persons were present al his exc
cution. including the Sheriff and officers Of the
Jail, has counsel at his late trial, reporters for the
press and citizens who bad been invited. There
WAS. a strange seriousness in every conntenance
and mysterious silence in every cell for all the
prisoners were carefully locked up. Parks lay
on pallet n tie CORRIDOR security handcnffpd
and manaced. presenting a CHASTITY picture to the
spectators, who had bpheid before them the pale
face and the rigid limbs OF the man who had for
more than two years furnished the people OF
Northern Chic with an ever new subject ot con-
versation, with a never-fading image Of ali that
is cold, calculating and fearless. And there he
lay with scarcely the power To harm an insect
IA picture, which, If ii had belonged to better
man, might have moved heart OF stone 10 pity.
At ten minutes after eleven O'Clock. the Sheriff
asked him whether he was ready He replied in
the affirmative, and has limbs were unbound, not,
however, before he made solemn promise that
he would attempt no violence upon himself,
promise which, it is but Justice 10 say, be faith
fully kept. Marshal Fitch, Dr. Strong, and Mr..
BoSworth, the aor, assisted the Sherlfto dress
him. They put on him simply fine linen shirt,
pair of dark-colored pantaloouS without Sus-
penders, and pair of coarse wollen stockings.
He then called for cigar, lit il, and smoked
calmly for about fifteen minutes, during which
time he was evidently trying 10 quiet his nerves.
He even tried to seem cheerful, and requested
Dr. Strong who, he said he had learned, was
skilltnl phrenologist, to examine his head but
he spoke in a trembling and sepn!cbral tone,
plainly showing the terrible emotions which be
endeavorpd to conceal. At times his nerves were
violently agitatrd. and great drops Of cold sweat
would come out all over his face then be would
wipe off the swea: and seem perfectly calm bat
the terrible imprint of death seemed to be written
there in plain characters, legible without SPELL
ing. Perhaps no idea connected with the trag-
edy, was half SO painful as that OF the pale-taced
man staving up his nerves, ''In order to be cbok-
ed 10 death according 10 law" The nnfortu-
nate man made long speech tIom the drop, IN
which he sirenuousy protested his innocence.
He closed thus s'Y on observe that | am not at
tended BY any clergyman. have tried through
life 10 ascertain the right way bv the study OF
morals and ethics bot have not always done
right bave read the Bible thoroughly, and
had conformed TO the preoepts OF Jesus Christ
] should not now be here but we cannot undo
what has been done Would TO God | could
but am not guilty of this murder. iStarting
suddenly from his seat and stepping on the drop.
] am ready 10 meet my God; am moi guilty of
murder, either premeditated or otherwise" He
sat down, wiped the cold sweat off bis face, and
his limbs were pinioned he then rose up and the
rope was adjusted round his neck. He requested
the sherifTto permit him TO give lie signal, and
handkerchief was handed to him. Just before
the white cap was drawn down over his face, he