The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-26
or the purpose Of getting glimpse of tho cuprt he
was led to the scafold
40 itA W thO oSahVAus
THE EXECUTION.

was leo 10 the bCaHOlu
THE EXECUTION.
AT 12li O'Clock the pressure of the crowd who were
MOI favored with permits to witness the execsor be-
came great that required all the force of the citizen
sodiery attendance to keep order and maintain peace
12sl o'CrocK-The Representatives of the press
admitted TO the execution yard and took up their poe
tons beside the scaiold
l oCIocK.-Tbe jury who convicted the cuprit and
also the public officers the prison for the pur
pose f forming in the procession In Ave minutes alter
wards the solemn procession started from the cutprs
cei and entered the execution yard IN the following
The Sheriff, dressed in the resala Of Office
The Culprit led by the Exeeutoner
The Jury.
The Medical Staff.
Deputy Sherits.
Military and Officers.
Amidst almost breathess suspense the prisoner was
dragged to the scafold he terror stricken and
were obliged to carry him to the platform here he lay
for few moments writing in all the agony of despair
and apparently as weak as an infant The
curey psnoned the black cap drawn o the head Of
the culprit and he was placed upon chair directly
derneaih the scatfold lie dressed . white shirt
trimmed With black and pair of canvass pantaoons
He wore neither shoes nor stockings.
His head dress consi sed of black Grape cap which
was partly drawn over his eyes.
Wilson appeared quite weak for several minutes after
being placed in the chair, and had to be supported
each side The exeeutioner then liked the faai moose
around his neck, and bending down his head asked him
earnestly II he had any confession to make After few
seconds Of breahess suspense the execuoner exclaimed
in loud voice, He confesses he Gays he did it, The
cuprt then drew up his head instantly and said No.
no; i am innocentn The Sheriff and officers
then went up 10 HIN and asked hm whether he COM
mitted the crime not The prisoner in low but dis
tinct voice, said " innocent. misunderstood
Several Intellectual attempts then made to make him
confess, but he firmly maintained his innocence.
During this time there was great comnoton among
the crowd gathered on the adjoining roofs to witness the
execution Order being restored; Mr.. lockwood came
forward and addressed the assenblage as follows
was with the prisoner last evening, and the greater
part OF this morning conversed with him upon reii.
gious matters but he said he did not want any religious
instruction. All he wants is TO die quietly
AT twenty minutes past one O'Clock the rope fixed
around the neck of the culpr the black cap drawn
his head and all the necessary preparations for tue
execution were declared to be in readiness
Al twenty taree minutes past one O'Clock the fatal
signal given, the descended, the rope cut,
and nstantaneously the body Of the murderer swung
high in the air.
For three minutes after the rope was cut the culpr
struggled violently. At toe fourth minute the last
convuisive throb Of departing life visible Then life
seemed TO oe extinct Not a movement of the muscles
soud be dscerned although the pulse continued to beat
Drs Dean varian Weed and Fisher then examined the
body and declared tnat there was no pulse in either the
aurice. or ventricle.
in ten mil utes afterwards tie medical gentlemen in at
tendance pronounced life to be entirely extinct.
The bod! was then taken down and placed in rough
pine coffin.
The sheriff then read aloud prce eamation calling upon
the jury and all persons present TO witness the
which the law bad been executed.
The BODY was then removed and was. We understand.
given to She medical faculty for scientific purposes
INCIDENTS.
Tho used By the Sheriff in the execution the
same one with which it supposed Wilson murdered
the Captain and mate of the Eudora
The rope with which Wilson was hanged was the
used in the execution of saul, the Tombs some
years ago.
Wilson was about 2, years Of age, and says he was
born in Pennsylvania
Anew York policeman who present at the execu-
ton, says he often Wilson in this cy and that he
remembers quite distinctly his being sent TO Blackwell
Island for some misdeed.
Wilson told the clergyman he Roman Catholic
nut strange TO say be refused TO have that
iath in attendance upon him.
One OF the citizens, while endeavoring TO force en-
trance TO the execution yard stabbed by Of the
sodery who ran his bsyonet through the eshy OF
the intruder's arm
number Il officials from this city and the neighbor.
ing counties were present at the execution.