M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-04-17
Prom the Auburn American, March %.
E1ecntiSn Of Fitzgerald.
seENE IN rnE rRIsIosER's CELL. :

ted, with a number OF others, into the
cell occupied by the murderer
When we entered he was standing
upon the window.sill, shouting thro'
the window to a crowd outside. lie
jumped down and entered into a con-
versaticn with Hon. @. Morgan, DIR.
Hyde, and Others present whom he
knew. lie was dressed in gaiter boots.
dark pants and shirt. He had on
neither coat nor vest. His hair was
.combed and oiled with scruplous care.
He appeared to be somewhat nervous,
but not much excited. The interview
in the cell was a curions one. There
was a young man in the first blush of
manhood, standing upon the very
Threshold, of eternity. When he
ieaped down from the window sill he
turned with gay and reckless air to
the company present, and laughed
heartily to the crowd gathered outside,
and whom he could see from his win
dow standing and receiving the pitt
less peltings Of the storm. Who
could have thought that he was the
victim for whom the halter and gal
lows wero prepared within q few feet
Of where he stood, and who was in q
few minutes to suffer death Z
"Did you sleep well last night,
Johnp
"Yes, SIR"
"Do you wish to see or converse
with clergyman
"No, SIR" he replied with empha.
sis, 81 don't feel WE'LL" and pointed to
his heart. The doctor present exam
ined him and found his pulse bea ting
quick and sharp.
He said, reply to question, that
he would like to take a little chloro.
form if it would be of any use, but as
for bleeding, he regarded it as only
torture, and if allowed to do so he
would not submit to it. He said he
would submit to no torture while he
lived.
One said to him, John fthe Gov
enor should come in now and com.
mute your sentence to Imprisonment
for lie, would you not like it a"
No, sir!" he replied, II would step
right out and pull hemp in preference,
| had rather be hung than go to pris
ion for life"
He stated that he had been treated
kindly by the Sheriff and his attend
ants; and then for a few moments seem
ed much disturbed and nervous.
A doctor present asked him if he
had any objections to giving up his
body to be dissected. We were
shocked at the inquiry, but he replied
with u loud laugh-"No, sir Yor
would look pretty cutting up my
bodyp
1t was then announced to him that
a clergyman wished to see him. lie
replied:
"lfhe comes in here hO'll get my
fist-Lthat's all. What good can he
do me nowl | don't want him."
An earnest appeal was made to him
to forgive his brother. He replied
that he had kind words only for those
who had been kind to him since he
had been in prison. lie utterly re,
fused to forgive his brother.
Said he: go ahead; you can kill
me-that's all you can do. CANT
you arrange the hanging so that | can
touch ii Oft myselfl | want to die
Pm tired of Jail life any way"
FIVE MINUTES PAST TWO P. NJ.
At this moment Rev. Mr.. Ives, who
had been with Fitzgerald in tho morn.
ing in company with DR.. Cressy, re.
turned alone and requested to see him
He was then conversing with Hon
9. Morgan, but after a few moments,
reflection, concluded to see Mr.. Ives
The spectators present, except Mr.
Morgan, left the cell.
We did not after that exchange O
word with the prisoner. Happen.
ing to see us using small note book
and pencil he became much incensed
and wished to know whether we
were taking down. everything he
said.
THE LAST SCENE.