The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-08-26
From the Appsnoose Republican.
Execution Of Hinkle.


His case was bloughtto this county on change
OF venue. The poisoning was done by admin.
istering strychnine in whisky while his wife
was sick. Hinkle was found guilty by thu
jury, and by the Court sentenced to be hung
at Orleans, on the 18th day of August, A. D.
1858, between the hours of and 3 o'clock
p. NJ. ...
On the morning of the 18th a vast concourse
Of people assembled ia CenterviIle to see the
prisoner taken from his cell. which was done
about 20 minutes past 8 O'Clock, A. M. A
guard Of light horsemen were in attendance to
escort the prisoner to the place Of execution
Jos. MCGOWAN, Captain Of the Guard.
Some OF Mr.. Hinkle's friends visited him {,
the prison before he left in the morning, to bid
him farewell-they IL see ned very much at
fected. The Rev. NJ. Smith accompanied
the prisoner to the scaffnld.
Hinkle had been in i'll health for some time.
but within the last day or two had somewhat
recovered. Nothing worthy Of note occurred
between the jail and the ga'lows.
When we arrived at the gallows we met
with fine largest concourse Of people ever as
.embled in this portion Of the country-the
largest we have ever seen West Of the Mis-.
sissippi River-ten thousand men, women and
children had assembled.
/ The prisoner and escort arrived at the gal.
lows at about half past IL O'Clock. A few
minutes after which, he bill final farewell ia
his friends-he expressed his Willingness "a
die-only regretted that he must leave his
Gu idren fatherless and frientIess to contend
with the storms Of iife-he exhorted his few
frierds that were around him to take good care
OF his children and raise them well. When ne
TOOK for the last time the hands OF his friends
he wept-wept like true pen'tent.
The prisoner was then conducted TO the gal
lows where the Following declaration was
read as his last words on earth:
u so'emhly profess before God and the
crowd assembled to witness my death, that
atm innocent OF the murder OF my wife-that
never poisoned ner-i know nothing OF it,
d'e an innocent maa. My hfe Is sworn away
falsely, and from the decision OF all men APP
peal to the Judgment seat OF Almighty God
who snail bring to light ar hidIen things.
81 now repent Of all my sins that | am gnipy
OF before Gods ! appeal TO Jesus Christ my
savior for the remission OF all my sins. God
SO loved the world that He gave His only be-
COTTON Son tfat whosoever beiieveth m hin
snaii not perisn' out nave everlasting lie. !
DIE IN peace WIN nv God and all men. Into
my nands commit my SPIRIT y God OF Truth
know Ed. Grinsteadis the cause OF my death
--he swore lie wilfuliy and knowingly
against me. WIN. HINKLE."
The Minister gave out the Hymn commenc.
ing, sThere il 4 fountain filled with blood.'
Many Of the congregation united n the
singing, which was done in depressed tone,
awfully solemn. ' 'E
A passage Of scripture was then read de-
scriptive OF the death III our Saviour, com
mencing at the 32i verse OF the 23i chapter
Of St. Like.
Mr.. Smith spoke some time Of the solemnity
Of the occasion--the atonement Of Christ, and
expressed some hope in the future welfare of
the prisoner. He presented the prisoner with
a copy OF the bible which he accepted IT. to-
ken Of his acceptance Of the salvation con-
tanned therein. They then knelt in PRAYER
the minister commenting the spirit Of the pris.
oner into the hands Of the Saviour OF the world
The Sheriff thso read the Warrant and pro-
ceeded to the execation. The rope was nrep-
erly adjusted and tied. aud the cap drawn over
the prisoners face--he stood firm and erect,
scarcely moving a muscle; his appearance
was that OF calmness and resi- gnation-he said
nothing that we could hear-awful silence
prevailed throughout the vast conc course of
people. The Sheriff took the axe and struck
the blow that was to send being into eterni-
ty, but when the door fell. The rome bv which
the prisoner was suspended, broke and precip.
itated him to the ground. He Law for mo.
ment motion,ess-then struggled As IL IN death.
The blood pn.hed from ri. ro.tr;,.- ne wa.
taken On the sca fold and 4 larper rome nro.
cured and nlaced around his neck- not this
time instead of that calm resignation. the mis-
oner struggled. fearfullv struep,ed toeyade
the fatal door-it was the struggle Of death
The spectacle wa, awful !. we sickened and
tn,nad FROM III. .c.re Several n.r.o,s hot,.
men and women tainted. After the door fell the
second finn. ths nr;soeer .,rncgled bct ,;tt,a