Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-09-03


The prisoner was remsnded. and Court adj.
journed. tEe ssr9Rs7x
TRIAL OF BBlDeE. AND SCENES AT THE ExEcUs
The next morning the case OF. Bridge,
Sem, for shooting a little Indian girl at the
camp, was called The prisoner entered
with the Sheriff He was more firm in his
step and LOOKED better than Sawyer, though
a much older man. A jury was empan-
neled The proof was positive The case
was argued by Mr.. Morris and Mr. Rariden
for the prisoner, and Mr.. Sweetzcr and
myself for the State. The charge was
given by Judge Eggeston. and after few
minutes absence the jury returned verdict
of ''murder IN the first degree" The only
remaining case-of the STRIPPING, Bridge,
Jr.. for the murder of the other Indian boy
at the camp--came on next. The trial
was more brief, but the result was the
same-verdict of murder in the first degree,
with a recommendation, however, to the
Governor for pardon, in consequence of
his youth, imwhich the court and bar Join
ed The trials closed pro forD,o- Motions
for new trials were overruled, the prisoners
remanded, to lie Thought up for sentence
next morning, and the court Adjourned
Morning came. and with it crowded
court house. As walked from the tavern,
saw the guard approaching with Sawyer,
Bridge, Sen, and Bridge, Jr., with down
cast eyes AMI tottering steps, in their midst.
The prisoners entered the court room and
were seated The Sheriff commanded ST.
lence. The prisoners rose, the tears
streaming down their faces, and their
groans and signs filling the court room. j
fixcl my ewes upon Judge Eggleston. ]
had heard him pronounce the sentence of
death on Fuller for the murder Of Warner,
and upon Fields for the murder of Murphy.
But here was still more solemn scene
! An aged father, his favorite son. and his
wife's brother--all standing before him,
to receive sentence of death. The face OF
tn, Judge was pale; his lips quivered, and
his tongue faltere1, as he addressed the
prisoners. The sentence of death by hang
ing was pronounced, but the usual conclu-
sion, And may God have mercy on your
souls" was left struggling for utterance.
The time for the execution was fixed at a
distant day: but it soon rolled around
The gallows was erected on TIC north bank
of Fall Creek, just above the falls, at the
foot of the rising grounds you may see
from the ears The hour for the execution
had come Thousands surrounded the gal
lows. a Seneca chief, with his warriors,
was posted nesr the brow of the hill
SAWYER and Bridge, Sen, assembled the
scaffold together, were executed in quick
succession, and died without struggle
The vast audience were in tears. The ex-
clamation of the Senecas was Interpreted
1--WE are satisfied" An hour expired
The bodie. were taken down and laid in
their collins, when there was seen ascend
ing the scaffold Bridge, Jr.. the last of the
convicts. His step was feeble, requiring
the aid of the Sheriff. The rope was adj
iustel. He threw his eyes around upon
the audience, and then down upon the cof-
fins, where lay exposed the bodies of his
father and un-le. From that moment his
wild gaze too clearly showed that the
scene had been too much for his youthful
mind. Reason had partially left her throne,
and he stood wildly looking at the crowd,
apparently unconscious of his position
The last minute hal come, when James b.
Raw, the Governor of the State, announced
to the immense assemblage that the convict
was pardoned. Never did an audience
more heartily respond. while there was an
universal regret that the executive mercy had
been deferred to the last moment. Thus
ended the only trials where convictions Of
murder were ever had, followed by the ex-
cution of white men, for killing Indians,
in the United States.