The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-11-04
Execution OF Ira Stout.

ROCHESTER,, October 29.--Ira Stout, con-
Victed Of the murder Of his brother-ln law,
was executed here yesterdays
At fifteen minutes past t&o O'clock, the
procession, headed by Deputy Sheriff Warn
er, reached the jail. The military were
drawn up in lines SO as to open passage
to the Jail. As soon as they had arrived
and taken the places assigned them by the
officers, the prisoner, Ira Stout, was brought
down from his room to the gallows. He
was supported by Deputy Sheriffs, Pond and
Marrill, and followed by his spiritual sdvis-
ers, Messrs. Hotchkiss, Cutting and Board.
man, and others.
The prisoner was arroycd in a suit of
black, and wore on his head white cap
His step was tolerably firm considering the
fact that he had spell of fainting about
noon. On reaching the gallows he took q
seat, while Deputy Sheriff Warner read
the death warrant in a distinct and fOrcible
manner. At the conclusion of the reading,
Mr.. Warner told the prisoner that the time
had arrived to put the warrant into execu.
ton, and that if he had anything to say, he
had now an opportunity. Stout did not rise,
but while seated, in clear and firm voice,
said
GENTLEMEN am Of opinion that there
has been considerable vindictveness in this
matter, and where there is vindictiveness it
is difficult to speak. have left my oracle,
which contains an expression Of my feelings
as dying man, and that contains all have
to say.
Rev. Mr.. Hotchkiss, then standing at the
prisoners right, said that he would read the
whole of the fifteenth chapter of lst CORN.
prisoner meanwhile seated with his head
supported by his right hand. At the con-
clusion of the reading of the Scripture, Mr..
Fl .tchkiss said he would address the Throne
of Grace, hoping that the prisoner would
find strength to follow in a short prayer.--
Mr.. Hotchkss then made an impressive
PRAYER, which interested the audience, if il
did not the prisoner. The prayer conclud-
ed, Mr. Hotchkiss conversed moment in.
oudibly with Stout, and then said that Stout
desired him to say that he did not feel strong
enough to pray, but he heartily adopted the
whole of the prayer he had just heard.
The Deputy Sheriffs, officers and friends
then shook hands with the prisoner, and
Deputy Sheriff Warner put the rope obou,
his neck and drew the cap over his face
While the officers were pinioning his arms
Stout stood quite erect, and remained in
that attitude till the last He was quite firm
in his demeunor, and gave the same compla-
cent smile to all, in bidding adieu, that he
gave ut all times, when converting, since
his nrrest.
All being ready, and the spectators stand.
ing in breathless silence, at twenty minutes
past three o'clock, Sheriff Babcock pulled
| the fatal line, and Ira Stout was Suspended
three feet from the door. Not a sound was
heard ia any direction, save the heavy fall
! of the weight which did the fatal work.
The deuth OF the i'll fnted man was not as
sudden as could be desired. His struggles
| for eight or ten minutes were severe and
caused the spectators to turn away in dis.
gust. His neck was probably not dislocat
ed, and he died by the slow process of stran.
GuIation. Drs. Hall. Avery, James anu
Miller stood near, and in eight minutes after
the drop Tell, they said his pulse was as full
as in lie. AT the end OF h,lf an hour his
body was cut down and placed in the coGan
preparatory to being taken to tie residence
of his mother in EXchrngc street.
J Stout pclitioned, in his own hand, for :
comniutali3n OF punishment. The petition
is written in bold, firm hand. There are
some few things, such as cani,als and -.hc
7 tns.Ion E'isp!:c1t, that evnce a defcen
education, but the spelling is nearly fault
less. There were no signatures attatchet
TO the petition as received by Gov. Kin!
bot it appears it was not the original paper
which WAS subscq laid before the Il "
ernor by the mother OF the prisoner, with
Jorge lumber Of signatures attached.
Mrs Stout was IN n Abany up to a lat
hour on "Wednesday night, hoping again7
hope for sotae change in the Governors dc
trrmination. Gov. King was not in tha
city, but the poor woman awaited tclegra
phc despatch from h>m with the most in
tense anxiety. She left for flaI inter
view with her sou, entireiy broken dow
in spirit. Mrs. Stout appears quite re
spectabls woman, and is evidently the bcs
Of the unfortunate family.