The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-25

ironed culprit as he heard his sentence pro-
nounced by the excited mob without. The
whole police force of the city was stationed
around the door of the prison, and the mayor
vainly resorted to alternate threats and promi-
ses to disperse the crowd. The only answers
were groans and Kisses, mingled with cries of
"Break the door down. Bring rope. Hang
the murderer ...i.n.r.
The miner who had ignited the fame, salts
fed with his work, now withdrew from the
crowd, and with his arms folded, silently avail
ted the result.
The street near the prison now became a
solid mass of human beings, saloons, hotels
and restaurants were deserted, and clerks,
walters and proprietors joined the general mob
and lent their voices to the general cry. AT
length, a demonstration was made towards the
prison door. Upon a balcony overlooking it
now appeared the mayor Of the city, who ar
rested the movement by again asking to be
heard. He appealed to them as good citizens
to disperse-pledged himself that the murderer
should not escape but be tried, and if found
guilty, hung. Citizens did the same, but moth
ing could shake the determination of their au-
dtors, the cry of s'Down with him. and
groans Kisses and insults, now greeted all who
spoke in favor of the prisoner.
Five o'clock came, the crowd was still con-
gregated in threatening numbers around the
prison, hour after hour had been consumed in
listening to speeches and suggestions, which
had been received BY groans, or shouts of ap-
proval, according to their character. The mob
was growing impatient, and in few minutes
more would have forced the door of the prison
when a proposal was made which received the
unanimous approval of the assemblage.
It was, that a jury of twelve men be selected,
that witnesses should be examined, and that
the prisoner should be tried and a verdict pro-
nounced within two hours. The jury was Sc
lected who repaired to the Orleans hotel, and
the trial was commenced. The evidence was
conclusive of the guilt of the prisoner-there
could be but one opinion. Yet, for hour after
hour the announcement of the verdict was
withheld by the jury, in the hope of the dis
persion of the crowd as the evening advanced
Eleven o'clock drew near, and still no diminu-
ton of the number could be observed. A
great portion of them were collected round the
Orleans, and the cry of ''Verdict! verdict, give
us the verdict!' now greeted the ears of the
jurors, who seeing the uselessness of longer
deferring the announcement of their decision
came forward, and from the balcony of that
hotel, pronounced the verdict of ''Gullty,'
upon the prisoner, which was received with q
shout of triumph by the crowd.
A rush for the prison was made, long lines o.
police were stationed on each side Of the dool
as we'll as inside the prison, who had orders te
shoot down the first man who attempted te
force an entrance. This for moment seemed
to check the infuriated mob as they gathered
round the door, apparently waiting for some
one to take the lead. But it was onl ly for E
moment thatth quailed before the determined
front of the police for the next, the bearded
miner who had first applied the match to the
train whose flames were now about to devou1
the prisoner, stepped boldly to the door, ane
was followed by score of strong arms bearing
a huge beam to be used as battering ram il
breaking through the wall which divided then
from their victim. The hands Of the officer
were upon their weapons but the miner stoo
; unterritied in their midst, and calmly informed
them that to draw one drop of blood at tha
moment would be but to bring upon themselve
a punishment as dire as that which no earthl,
power could now prevent the prisoner from re
ceiving. The crowd endorsed the words of .tht
speaker with most terrifying ye]l-the pen
derous beam was brought against the door witt
a crash that shook the building toats very centre
the police gave way-and the next momen
the frenzied mob stood in the presence of thei1
victim, who paralyzed with fear, lay PROSTATE
in his chains. The irons were filed and broker
from his limbs, and an escort, followed by tht
whole of the immense assembly, bore him il
triumph to a large oak near the corner of K
and Seventh streets, beneath sturdy brancl
of which he was guarded while the prepare
tons for his execution were progressing.
The night was intensely dark, not solitary
star looking down upon the prisoner to chez
him with a smile for the future, and the frow1
of Him who has said, ''Vengeance is mine, ,anc
I will have it, seemed to hang in the blacl
and lowering clouds which hovered over tha
solemn scene. Torches were lighted, which
cast their dim glare into the pale features of the
prisoner, disclosing to him the determined faces
of the executioners, and the vast concourse o
spectators which surrounded him on every side
A rope was at length procured, the knot ad
passed around the limb above, when he was
asked if he had any requests to make or any
thing to say. He replied in the negative, and
when questioned concerning his nativity and
relatives, he had strength only to answer thai
he was native of Eng gland, where his mother
was then residing.
The word was given to man the rope, and
the first to step forward was the miner. He
passed within three feet Of the prisoner, anc
when opposite to him turned and gave him one
look. A mutual recognition passed, and with
groan the murderer sank upon his knees, and
the other grasped the rope as he Kissed, almost
in the very ear of the prisoner
CHOW comes my turn!''
The order to "haul away" was given, a
dozen men gave pull on the rope, and the
corpse of Frederick Roe hung dangling in the
| air.
I will not describe that scene, although it
was the most solemn and impressive l have
ever beheld, my intention is to show whether
Jacob Walsworth fulfilled his oath, which l
| think he did, to the letter, for the miner and
Jacob Walsworth were one.
Judge Roosevelt made an important deci-
sion in the divorce case of Mrs Curtis against
doct. Joseph T. Curtis before the circuit court
in New York, lately. 1t was shown that doct
G. had obtained divorce in Indiana since