The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-06-17

EXECUTION OF RETURN j. N. WARD.-The
Toledo (Ohio) papers give accounts of the hanging
of Return M Ward, on Friday last for the MUIR
der of bis wife:
Precisely at IL o'clock Ward issued from his cell,
attended by ather o Common and Sheriff Springer
Two chairs were placed on the platform of the
gaows in one of which be took his seat the priest
and an attendant occupying places at bis side
The house was perfectly still he took his place
The prisoner, previously to being brought out of
the cell was dreadfuliy excited his pulse running
10 high as l20 to 100 per minute and for half
hour before leaving it he was occupied with the
priest saying his prayers, and bidding good bye to
4 few friends who visited him. AS thew Appeared
and took places on the gallows, one could have
heard piu drop His limbs were secured by Col
Lathrop Of Sylvania Ward was dresse4 in a
white robe, white pants and white slippers, with
cross around bis neck, which he held in his hand
He wore white kid gloves, aud trembled violently
but seemed more composed as the lest whispered
q few words to him. Sheriff Springer then read
the death warrant for Wards execution and the
certified copy of the case from the Court, to which
the prisoner listened with great attention.
Wards dying speech was simply the raving Of an
over excited aud broken down mind He was 80
thoroughly unstrung that his words were more like
the workings of insanity than Intelligence. He oc,
cupied the platform In a sitting position fer nearly
an hour with the two priests by his side and spoke
some time, aud then referred to his wife thus " /
hope that this will he warning to many men l
hope that there will never be any more crime in
the world. Oh, killed my wife, That's enough
made up my mind that if l could not have her no
body else should l have always been q hard
working man. give my body to the preachers,
and my soul to -. All let me see give my
body to the preachers, and my soul to my Maker !"
He then muttersd incoherentIy for . few minutes,
and concluded by saying he would just as leave
tell all his sns not
The moose was put about bis neck by Sheriff
Springer. Hd kissed one of the priests, and arose
to his feet, saying Il am not afraid to de-" He
turned to the Sheriff and addressed him. "Sprip ger
you did not have so much fuss about that fellow
At Cleveland, did your" from this time until the
fall he was praying, uttering the confession, and
muttering incoherent sentences The esd was
drawn over bis face by the Sheriff, and be repeat
ed prayer after the priest His last words we're;
20, my God am thnel thou art mine"
As he said these words, and at precisely Ave
minutes before y O'Clock, the bolt was drawn ana
Ward dropped straight down, and hung motion.
less-only one slight motion Of the foot and all
was over The crime was expiated Ward was
dead We Immediately left the place, and the in
coherent rawlings, the nervous and excited appear
ance OF the murderer on the gallows, and he
still white form of the slowly swinging body
none of those who were present will ever forge.
After the body of Ward had hung till life was
extinct, 1t was taken down and carried to the
Catholic Church, where srea, crowds of people
visited Il.