Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-12-30
5sr.t From the-Chio Statesman
EXECUTION OF A MURDERER.
ALBERT MYERS HUNG
'at Scene on the Gallows.

! u - =
5a' Scene on the Galows. 11a
HIS ISLASTWORDS ON THE SCAFF0LD.
Iba alofaI lesson Of ihs 6ibbsi.
As faithful chroniclers of passing events,
We are called upon to perfo,m a sad and
painful duty this morning; that duty being
no less than to record the execution of Al
bert Myers. convicted of the murder of
Bartlett Neville, in May last. Painful as
it always is, to record deeds of violence
and crime, We confess still deeper reyul-
sion of feeling when circumstances de-
mand of us a recital of the incidents and
scenes connected with the administration
of the extreme penalty of the law for
murder. We profess no siekly sentimen-
tality upon the subject of capital pun
ishment. We believe that it is neces-
sary for the protection of society, for the
safety and well being of the living, that
the man who wilfnlly and maliciously
takes the life of fellow creature, either in
a fit of uugovernable rage or from premed
itated design, or from the undisguised
promptings of depravity, he should suffer
the extreme penalty Of the law, that even
and exact justice may be done to the liv
ing and the dead; We merely confess TO a
feeling Of regret that defective organiza-
tions and combinations of circumstances,
make the punishment of such criminals a
part of every day life. The present occa-
sion might be seized upon to give the people
a homiIy upon crime and its inevitable con-
sequences; but we have neither Tune nor
wish to do it, and we can only leave 10 our
readers the text for their consideration.
z -.eeir..l; q. THE MURDER. Il n.i.! -i-
About three o'clock of the afternoon of
Thursday, the 9th May last, two convicts
were engaged in carrying bucket from
the main building of the Ohio Penitentia
ry to another part Of the enclosed yard
One of these convicts was Bartlett Neville,
a poor half.witted embecile, sentenced to
the Penitentiary for two years, from Athens
county, for horse stealing. But little
more is known of Neville than that he was
almost without friend or relative in the
world, and even nature had deprived him
of those gifts literally bestowed upon the
common herd OF humanity. In moving
along with their; charge, the two convicts
passed the convict Albert Myers, who was
at work in the rake shop. Myers was SEN
fenced to three years in the Penitentiary
from Clark county, for horse stealing. Ne
vile and his companion had passed Myers
considerable distance, when the latt r
walked a short distance, picked up an ak,
and followed Neville at a quick pace, and
overlook him. There was jostle,a blow,
a groan, an angry word, another blow and
a fell, and Myers fled, a doomed man,
leaving his victim grasping on the pave
ment. Neville was carried to the hospital
of the Penitentiary, but life was extinct
the murderous ak had split his skull and
brain. -,..,r 5as .
Myers was arrested and conveyed to the
county Jail. The only explanation he pre-
tended to give were vague and indefinate
alusions TO the careers of himself and Ne
vile previous TO their Incarceration in The
Penitentiary. He sulenly refused to give
any satisfactory explanation which might
lead to the unravelling of what he had de-
mined should ever remain a mystery. He
was indicted for the crime of aurder, and
tired at the June term Of the Common
Pleas Court Able and experienced at
torneys were employed to defend him, who
labored indefatigably in his behalf, although
the prisoner refused to consult or commu-
nicate with them; but after fair and i'm
partial trial the jury reported verdict of
murder in the first degree, and Myers was
sentenced to be hung on the Sd day of the
September following.
THE RESPITE.
During the interval between the trial
and the day designated for the execution,
the prisoner manifested the same sullen,
contrary and reckless disposition for which
he has always been remarkable. He stead
lily and contemptuously refused to receive
the ministration of clergymen who visited
his cell to converse with him in regard to
the dead future before him, and to such
an extent did he carry his perverseness,
that many were led to believe he was in
sane. An examination was made by sew
eral prominent professional gentlemen, and
on their urgent representations made to the
Governor on the day of the execution, .af-
ter all the necessary preparations were
made, aud in fact the same moment in
which Myers was to have been taken from
his cell, the Secretary of the Governor an
nounced that a respite was granted to the
condemned and that the execution was
postponed till the 18th Of December, in
order that a further examition could be
made. The immense crowd of people who
had congregated in and about the Jail felt
relieved, but the prisoner expressed his dis
satisfaction. at 51-l 7sa e-- -T.s
Theatime wore on, and it was found that
no hope could be entertained of his insani-
ty. That he was perfectly rational was
manifest to all, but that a human creature
could become so totally and horribly de-
praved was matter of wonder. The
physician appointed to investigate the mat
ter of his sanity, reported against him, aud
nothing more could be done but execute
the provisions of the law.
THE EXECUTION.
Yesterday, the 18th day of December,
was the time at which the existence OF the
guilty criminal terminated. At eight o.
clock in the morning a great crowd OF peo-
II Al