The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-13
JOHN RODG GERS:
DIED NOVEMBER IL, 1858,
AGED 20 YEARS.

to pnion the cnlpr and pass the rope around his neck
all Of which Rodgers bore with unfnching bravery aud
resignation. AS the adjusted TO his neck he
smiled and gave other evidence Of his intention 10 die like
man. II show OF bravado, but a calm, settled
determination to meet his fate with true Christian fort
tude. The prisoner pale, but complacent Every ea
ure of his counenance denoted pencnce and lively faith
in the hope OF everlasting redemption He was atred In
pair Of light coored pantaloons white linen shirt and
shoes Attached TO his shirt bosom was cross Of pc
cuar yellow color which had been presented him some
days previously by his parents Everything being in
readiness
THE PROCESSION TO THE scAFFoLD
started in the following order
Sheriff wlet
Tho culprit and the clergy.
The Executoner
The Deputy Sberins.
Police
Medical gentlemen.
tn. Sheriff Jury
Judge Hilton. Judge DAILY,
i. ii. iiuei, George She'll,
John Cafirey NJ. g. Hart,
L. +. Burrel W. Henry Church,
Robert White VIM. H. Mann,
James Reed, Charles Sutton,
John Van Tine, Frederick Z. Tuttlc
THE EXECUTION.
As the procession marched TO the foot OF the sclod
the above arder the culprls self possession left
him for a moment The paeness OF his face,
together with his long flowing hair, gave him
l n eirish appearance. Full or life and courage
he advanced towards the fatal beam smiling he
went at the thoughts Of beng soon AZ peace with the
world. The clergyman and cuprt knclt in prayer TO
former rose ani shaking hands with the youth, babe
him last farewell The crucN vas then removed from
the cuprts hands the black cap drawn over hts
face, and at signal from the sheriff the unfortunate
wretch WIS launched into eternity.
| THE DEATH STRUGGLES.
The rope cut at 10 minutes II O'Clock, and tho
cuIrt was allowed 10 remain suspended until seventeen
minutes past twelv. O'clock The weight used on tie
casion simple riece Of ron, weighing $50 lbs. The
jerk a very violent one, the eulprts body swayng
to and fro the yard II II cork For
the first three minutes he struggled violently tho neck
evidently broken aud death being produced
by the slow process Of strangulaton. During the first
second and third minutes the struggling violent the
muscles Of the legs, and breast being very much
| convused. once or twcc the dying youth raised his
right hand 20 his breas and thrust into his shirt bosom
while the eii arm hung istessy by his side During the
fourth and 9th minutes all perfectly sii but tho
sixth minute "A convulsive h.ave Indicated that lfc
| not yet extinct. When the body had been suspended
minutes the doctors stepped forward and examined
the pulse found that had ceased. minute 80
previously u existed in the right wrist only, but u
/ had ceased 10 beat in either. Two convulsive
heavcs followed the examination Of the pulse,
aud then the body was motiOnlcss. Tie heart
| continued to beat some hye minutes longer,
| however, that life could not be declared 10
| or fifteen MINUTES
Al seventeen past twelve o'clock the body
lowered a. thc ground and placed upon mattress Tho
black cap removed from the heal of tho deceased,
and examination Of the body by the physicians fol
lowed. The face of deccased much conioricd and In
dicatcd that his death hal been slow ami painful
The knot OF the ROPE had sprd around to the nap of
the neck Instead Of pressing upon the iuguar
tended, thereby causing death by strangulation.
THE INQUEST UroS BODY
was held by the sheriff, when the usual formai,y
| having been yono through With, the corrss was
handed over 10 tho relatives Of the deceased who were
| waiting In readiness " receive u. In. that
cnsued the body being delivered 10 The father and
brother of the deceased painful In the extreme The
aged parent groaned aloud, and weeping threw himself
upon the body of his son.
THE FUNERAL
took place the yard of the prison. hcarsc AMI
a number of carriages attendance, and when ali
was in readiness the northern gate facing on Franklin
street thrown orn and the cortegc moved out and
on to Calvary cemetery, where the mortal remains of
Rodgers, the murderer, now he entombei.
INCIDENTS.
While tho execution going on the prisoners confined
in the upper corridors placed pieces of broken looking
glass outside q their windows, ani in this way obtained
a foil view ~ the entire proceedings
The piazza running along the Harlem Railroad freight
depot well as tho entire roof Of that eihce load
del down with of human beings but at the
they could only get glimpse within the prison walls
The black cap, rope, SC, used In this execution q
rodgers the used the execution OF unncly
Dorsay, s,oosey, and number Of other notorious
dereIs
The galows was made some ten years AGO and shows
the mark q Coleman, tho wife murderer, the
first who suffered upon H. Since then thirteen persons
have been executed upon NJ Rodgers making the thirteenth
The statement in one of the morning newspapers that
Mrs. Swanston the widow q the murdered man. bal ap
Piled W the sheriff Tor permit ~ witness the execution,
proves 10 be untrue and originated from application
tor ticket of admission by brother Of the ay N ques
ton.
RODGERS EARGy LiFE.
James Rodgers was tho of Roman Catholic parents,
and was born ireland, July 1855. Or his early ciu.
cation We know little, even his age when his family
came 10 this country he hvcd for considerable timo
al Woodbridge New Jersey aud had been IN this city
hut few verks when the murder committed. The
PEOPLE with whom he rcsiicl regarded him favorably.
nh he had no, been long in New York before he formed
utimacies with several unworthy assOciatcs-the one
false step TO which must be attributed, probably, his
crime and msfortunes. Not only he led TINS
guilt h. afterwards denounced 20 the magistrate
-. xbo ha had