Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-09-03
The Execution of M,Kim.

At tile IIiie ol HIS triiii, W hiiH WAS d
strong, healthy man, with the ruddy flush
of health glowing on his eountenance, and
his whole appearance betokening the ut
most vigor mentally and bodily. To day,
though he has not fallen off much in flesh,
he appeared pale and wan, with sickly
hue pervading his countepancc, and look
that, despite all his effort to conceal it,
marked him rs the victim of the deepest
mental agony.
After the attempted escape of the pris
oner few weeks ago, be was subjected to
the closest surveillance. A guard was al
most constantly in the neighborhood of
his cell, while everything with which it was
possible for him to commit self-desnuction
was carefully removed from within his
reach.
Through some MEANS however, he con-
trivel to procure piece of glass, and with
this he tried to commit suicide on Friday
morning. by opening an artery in his arm.
He was discovered III the act by the iailor,
who removed the glass and prevented him
carrying his design into execution.
TIE EXECUTION.
At eight o'clock in the morning the
prisoner was visited in his cell by the Rcvs.
D.S. Judkin, O. o. Mclean, Sheriff Port,
the Jailor, and from that time till ten the
convict was occupied in singing, prayer
and exortation, in which the clergymen
Joined. At forty-fve minutes past ten the
unhappy man was prepared for the gal
lows, and procession being formed he
was conducted to the scaffold. He walked
with firm step and mounted the dread ill.,
strument of death with lightness of step
that astonished the spectators.
After calmly surveying the spectators
for few moments, he proceeded to ad-
dress them, and spoke for one hour and
seven minutes, iE clear audible voice. His
language was vehement, and he protested
his innocence in the strongest terms. He
spoke of his trial with great earnestness,
and con.ended that many of the witnesses
for the Commonwealth, in swearing against
him as they did, committed downright, ah-
solute perjury.
With regard to his hopes for the future,
he remarked that he had made his peace
with God, and was going to Heaven to his
Redeemer.
His last words were, II leave my pool
wife, mother and child in the care of Heav.
en-" and then, turning to the Sheriff, said
"You can 90 ahead as soon as you please.
At twenty-five minutes of one the drop fell
and the unhappy man was ushered before
his Maker. The majesty of the law was
pindicated; sblood hath been shed fol
blood" and the curtain fell on the last act
of the terrible tragedy in which young
Norcross lost his life.
While M'Kim was speaking from the
scaffold, the conduct of The crowd ontside
was truly disgraceful. The unfortunate
man spoke so as to be heard several squares
away, yet the rabble yelled and shouted
and hooted so at times that his voice was
entirely drowned. There were three mill.
tary companies in attendance, and such
was the excitement and disorder that pre-
vailed that it was only by the greatest ex-
ertion that the peace was preserved.
Alter hanging some twenty minutes,
the body was examined by physician in
attendance, and life being pronounced ex
tinct it was cut down. The neck was
found to have been dislocated, but the fea-
lures were scarcely altered, and beyond &
purple circle around the neck, produced by
the rope, there was but little change in his
appearance.
1t was then removed from the scaffolt
and placed in the coffin, which had been al
ready prepared for it, with view toward:
its removal to Delaware county, whittier
the culprit desired it should be taken by
his friends. .-EUeniRg Chronicle, Friday