The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-05

went slowly out through the yard, and the mournfuI ca
dences Of the "Dead March played by the band outside
sweled upon the air the murderers WIFE who was IN the
Sherihs apartments broke forth into loud and heart
heartreDd,ng shrieks and manifested the most errb
agony This was BY far the most painful feature OF the
The scaaod upon which the execution took place was
situated at the extremity Of the building spoken Of II
very simple and primitive yet entirely perfect in It's
construction Two uprights running from the ground
tanned transverse beam, through which upon pulley
the rope with moose at end the other end being
tached stake in the perpendicular post There we're
two patforms-one at distance of two aud half feet
from the ground, upon which was placed handsome
coffin awaiting the body, and thirteen feet from
the ground Running back for about half the depth
OF the upper platform, were two trap doors opening in
the middle and swinging towards either side These
held together by upright with brace. From this
trap spring. arranged that by pressing upon board
which extended up some two feet from the lower plat
The arrangement was entirely complete.
Wallace assembled the stairs TO the scafold with firm
and unaterng STEP betrayng no excitement or hestancy
whatever. He was accompanied by the priest, Sheriff
Hugh r. Cowan and Deputy Sheriff John r. Lyle AS he
looked at the rope he again manifested momentary
excitement looked at the reverend gentleman imporngly
and worked his head uneasily, as II he already felt
the halter in anticipation, upon his neck THIS was his
only exhibition Of emotion. While others about him were
trembling with cold, he did not show any nervousness
whatever. AS the questions were put to him by the
priest, be answered them firmly and deyouty When
asked if he ready TO die, he answered. "Yes, but
sorry for my poor wife" To the question, do you
forgive the worldS" he responded, ayes; forgive the
world, and leave It all with God Almighty He was evi-
IDENTIFY about say more but Father McDermot stopped
him He then knet down, kissed the crucix and on
rising told his beads. The priest then shaking hands,
whispered something to him, and passed down the stairs
and out to the jail, to condole with Mrs. Wallace.
Sheriff Cowan then stepping up said, "Isen, Martin
Wallace, to the reading Of the warrant BY which |
authorized to proceed to do execution upon your body
The warrant read by Deputy Sheriff Lyle in loud
clear voice Martin told opportunity would be given
him if he had anything say but he did answer au
dibly The Deputy Sheriff put him upon the trap and
drawing down the moose placed upon his neck with the
large knot under the left AS had been the request
of Wallace that his neck should not be broken the rope
was not drawn very tight and he was made to knce 50
that he had fall Of less than three feet After the
placed on the neck he continued to repeat his
prayers, and beat his breast with his hands. Deputy
Lyle up shook hands with him, and said, Maltn
good bye The prisoner clutched him tightly for
slant to detan him, but almost instantly released
his hold Sheriff Cowan then pulled the front Of the black
cap down over his face and shook hands with him.
claiming, g Good bye Martin Wallace may God have
mercy your SOUL, During the four or five seconds
that then elapsed, the prisoner beat his breast
rapidly The Sheriff passed down the stairs and
he did So pressed the little board with his foot
There rumbling sound dun crash, and al
precisely minutes after twelve Martin Wallace hung
suspended in the air The neck was not broken, bu,
death resulted from strangulaton The conorons Of the
body were painful Ii swayed to and fro for eight
ten seconds, then the shoulders shrugged three
times then the legs drawn mp twice, then there
shyerng of the entire frame and the Just penalty o
the law exacted; the who few Ishort minutes
before full of life and strength had ceased to exist
DIR. Charles s Allen, ply sican, Of Salem, marked the
progress Of the At eleven and half minutes after
the fall the pulse ceased TO beat at fourteen minutes
muscular action became mperceptble: AT sixteen minutes
and half life was pronounced extinct The body was
allowed 10 remain suspended, however until twenty two
minutes OF when was taken down and placed in the
coffin The appearance OF the face when the cap
moved, showed what terrible mental agones II had con
cealed. II was awful to look at.