The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-02
the purpose OF allayng the excitement but Judge OF
~ surprise when he commenced his remarks as fol-

the purpose OF aaying the Excitement but Judge Of
~ surprise when he commenced his remarks as f0l'
l0ws:-
have been immediate sufferers by the late tragedy,
will step out and form closing around me. Those
of You that do not, will mark their names with Q
deep, black crossmark. Bystanders will please give
way, as ! do not ask them to take part"
With this the crowd gave back and fifteen middle
aged farmers obeyed his command. He then pu.
the following vote TO them:-
.'Men, are we to turn this fellow loose among us
If SO, you win hold up your hands"
Not hand budged, and he continued
"Then, gentlemen, If we are to hang him you
will make it known by answering T.
II! l! IL sounded through the little ring. He
(Greer) then descended from his elevated position
to minglc with and consult his little band. After
few moments he again assembled his height aud an
noupced to the crowd, which then numbered some
ESQ, that the prisoner would be hung in one hour
from that time. The crowd then made q rush to
see the elect the sentence would have upon him,
(Ray0 but 1t did not move him IN the least, as
be evidently expected it. He occupied the ample
time allowed him by a minister OF the gospel "a
whole hour) in preparing his soul for eternity
The clock but twice. When he was told his
time was up he arose walked firmly to the door and
mounted his horse. The aforesaid fifteen formed
themselves around him and moved slowly towards
the gallows or rather to limb on an old oak which
was some seven or eight hundred yards dist mt. On
arriving. he di.mounted, stepped Oh . bench under
the fatal limb, and asked that his confession as he
called II should be read; whereupOn Mr.. Greer read
a piece OF writing. But it was nothing more than q
declaration of his innocence, and kind OF auto-
biography of his life. After this was finished. he
then asked how long they would give him to speak.
The reply was thirty minutes. He being quite
terate, bis remarks were disconnected and sen
fences broken. Yet he spoke with fir nness and not
the slightest culver to be detected in his voice.
His address was something thus:-
Gentlemen, and honorable citizens OF Morgan
county am aboui to die an Innocent man, but I'll
die brave. III not shed tear before you. You do
net see me with a dark forehead and downcast eye.
/ am innocent, as God Almighty knows. leave
family of four girls and good WIFE, have to leave
them but am not ashamed to die. | hope my fell
low citizens will take care Of my family"
He continued something after this style until his
time bad expired, when he called for ten minutes
more to pray in This being granted calling in two
preachers 10 Join him, they prayed aloud for ten
minutes. He then walked around the ring, shaking
hands with aud kissing some of his neighbors, tell
ing them that he forgaye then; then putting a
handkerchief around his jaws, he deliberately tied
the moose around his own neck, and requested that
the rope be heightened, sayiBg:-
81 have seen such work before, and unless you
give me more fall, will hang five minutes before
DEATH"
They answered, "You have fall suti ,ent." He
then remarked with the rope around his neck
Gentlemen, die in few seconds. am limo.
cent. Take care OF my family"
With this, he let himself off the bench, and swung
for more than three parts of a minute-when much
to the horror Of the scene il was evident it woul
he he had said that he would hang for minutes"
But they caught him lifted hi up and adjusted the
knot, and then let him swing his last
This being the end OF the awful tragedy, will
give you the particulars, so far as can gather,
OF the crime t.ia led it, which was the poisoning OF
some twenty odd school children and their teacher.
Meme OF them, however, are dead, though several
are on the point Of death. They we've poisoned by
putting something in the schoolhouse spring, and
the poor wretch James Ray, being the greatest ras-
cal IN the neghborhood, was Immediately suspected.
Besides, short time before the parents Tor at least
many Of tLem) of the now suffering children had
sworn in court of justice that they would not be-
lieve Ray oath. For this he swoTe he would have
revenge. He was also knoxn TO have taken his
children from school few days before the spQng
was poisoned, pretending he wished them to thin
corn.
Under these circumstances he was arrested, and
given five days 10 prepare for leaving the county,
escorted by guard. But unfortunateiy-if not for
him, for the communicate es ,aped before the five
days had expired. and they followed him, caught
him, and brought him back on the day lie was exc
clted.