Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-18
Execution of Primmer.

II is fnished.-the great tragedy, which
for months had sgitated not only our own
but all the ad;oining couniies.has come 20
close. On yesterday. the 26th of Novem-
Der. ELIAS PsIMnER suffered the last dreas
benaliy of the law.
For months his name has beer familia
word to every ear in the county. The in
cidenfs Of his crime, lis trial, and his ap.
preaching execution, the theme of conver-
sation And the awful nature of the crime
for which he was 10 suffer, coupled with the
fact that there never before had been an ex-
ecu,ion in the county, gave additional zesi
to the horror and interes; felt by sn. Al
an early hour yesterday The roads leading
TO town were thronged by crowds of men,
women and children, some from adjoining
counties, though most of them were resi-
dents of this, oil hsrryine to be in the vi
cInity OF the place Of execution.
The galoUs was prepared within board
ed enclosure, twenty feet wide by twenty
eight feet long, and eighteen feet high. :
There was no scaffold, bat the rope was
passed through a beam and over two Dulleys
"a balance weight of a strong box flied
with earth weighing about 800 pounds YVES
fastened 10 the other end of the rope. This
box was suspended by cord, the cutting of
which would permit the weight to fall.
The night preceding the execution, until
nearly Two O'Clock. was passed by the pris-
oner in prayer with the Rev. Mr. Martin
dale, of ;he Methodist Church. Towards
morning he slep; little; ate scarcely any
breakfast, but passed most Of his time in
prayer. During the morning he desired the
relatives of the mur dered man to be brous ht
and he must earnestly besought their par
don. At few minues past ten he was
dressed in his shroud, and after being allow
ed short time 10 collect his thoughts, he
walked with a firm, though rather basty step
to the gallows, which was within the same
lot on which the Jail stands. He was closely
guarded BY file of special assistants, cho-
sen by the Sheriff. On being placed be-
meath the gallows, Deputy Sheriff Davy
asked him if he wished 10 say anything to
the crowd. He replied no" The Sheriff,
Mr. Barker, inquired if he wished few mo-
ments respite, which he declined.
The fatal moose was then placed upon his
neck, The cap Drawn over his face, and
at precisely twenty minutes before eleven,
Sheriff Barker cut the ccrd, and poor Prim-
mrr passed into the presence of his esd.
The rope had some eighteen inches slack
and jerked with such force that his reck
was dislocated medately.
1t is thought that life was almost imme-
diate'y extinct, though after hanging for
about FIVE minutes, he gave few short
convulrise struggles.
After hanging for ,hirty-tive minutes. the
body was examined By Drs. Kreder, Will
liams, Hoffman end Pullen, who pronounced
it dead. II was then taken down, placed
in neat but pla coffin and delivered to
his friends.
During The time of execution a band Of
volunteer militia stood guard to prevent the
intrusion of the crowd. Armed as they
were with the most efficient weapons, they
were sufficientto prevent the Intrusion ofthe
crowd-hut the mnment the corpse was remov
ed& enclosure thrown open,it was thronged
by.eager hundreds anxious 10 pick up some
Ielic to treasure as q precious remembran.
Ger.
But the great centre of attraction was the
rope with which he was hung. This is not
only relic, but also possesses the more
valuable quality of curing fits, and prevent
ing the approach Of witches and evil spirits.
We hare not the least doubt of its efficacy
if properly applied.
1t will be many a long, long year ere the
winter freside will cease to hear repeated
the story Of the trial and execution of the
first person hung in Hooking county
Logan Republican.