The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-09-08


ter were the cir, umstanccs which led to his ar
rest, which were detailed IN a report of the
trial lie seomsd, notwithstanding the fact
Of the publicity ofhis stabbing and striking the
woman to have relied upon the secretiveness o.
his companions in guilt for protection. It was
evident, however that just preceding his arrest
he began to be seriously ALARMED, from the talk
which he heard, that he would eventually be The
pcrscn on whom suspicion would rest Sever
al persons had interrosated him on the subject,
and intimated to him their convictions.
Burns seemed n rauch pleased as anything
else at the apparent interest Of our reporter in
listening TO him and asking questions. lie said
| he would tell the whole story Ofhis life, only
that he was afraid that it might have bad ef-
feet. (lle then cherished hopes OF haying his
sentence commutcd to imprisonmcnt-as he
heard his father was getting up petition } lie
said that he had lead very hard lie, and rela-
ted some exploits of his with brass knucklers;
of his strols about the city at night with aban-
doned womcn-oi his sleeping in cutters, alleys
and market houses, &c. Our reporter asked
him how he put in his time, and whether he
thought about the fate in store for him Burns
showed him a song book which be read some
times. Said he would read some papers If they
were sent to him. Said he had no objections to
the ministers coming to see him--but didn't
care about any for some DAYS yet. All the while
he kept chewing tobacco quite complacentlY, and
occasionally stopped talking with the reporter
to hold a conversation with some man who had
been recently committed by the U. S. Commits
sioner Tor having counterfeit coin on his person,
and for uterng it about the city. The coun-
erfet man was extremely facetous, and seemed
to he on extremely sociahle serms with Der
ney,' as he called Burns. Burns at times see
med much diverted at what the man would say
and in every way seemed much more colnpla
cent than would naturally be expected from one
in his situation. Three months to live (then
before him) no doubt had its solace efect-just
as even short span OF life upon the mind of
him who is about to fall in the jaws of some
fell disease Our reporter could not help motto
ing this curious fact, so apparently visible in the
case before him. Burns had hopes-desperate
as was his situation-that something Nigh oc.
cur within three months to ameliorate his con-
ditol. The thought Of death was then COM
partivcly new to his nind-his body had not
become reduced, nor his system langud from
confinement, and besides these conditions his
mind had never been trained to look upon such
a decd as he had committed or such an end as
his was to be, with that sensitive horror and
humiliation that would be ever present to a
higher and more cultivated nature. Our rcpor-
ter was pretty well assured that at this time
the idea Ofsucide had not been seriously enter
tained by Burns. That determination was in
all probability the result oil long train Of lonely
and gloomy contemplation AS his energies
cloggcd and wasted from inactivity and as his
reasons gradually gained the mastery over his
hopes and Knocked and buieted them, then, no
doubt, it was that he began to entertain the re-
solve. 1t is generally thought that the coun-
sells Of his heart broken father may have had
something 10 do with his resolve from the fact
of the late occurrence which was noted some
weeks ago.
On the evening preceding the execetion quite
crown was assembled at the Sheriff's Office
apparently to see or hear something bearing up
on the fate cfthe unfortunate man. The Sher-
1T, in company with one OF the physicians ap-
pointed to attend the execution, was planning the
moose or sliding knot Of the rope-trying to hit
upon that form which would be most likely to
make death the least painful to the poor man.
This morning at an early hour persons assem-
bled around the jail, and many more from the
country began focking through the streets to-
wards the place Of execution. About 8 O'Clock
the reporters were admitted to the JAIL They
found Burns engaged in prayer with the Reys
Perkins, Paul, Monroe and Mcclure Fervent
petitions were being offered in his behalf, and he
was warmly exhcrted by the ministers to oawake
to the reality Of his future. Burns seemed sub
dued in the expression of his face. There were
marks of the anguish of inward suffering. Our
rnt, ppnVarcn1 with p,o al,
Mr.. Keller, who had been with him last night.
lie said that Burns had passed restless, unea-
sy night, but that towards day break he had
fallen into doze. That he had started up
frcm his sleep, and told him that he had been
dreaming of talking with the jailors little babe.
Deputy Marshal Jordan was with him for an
hour or so before the ministers arrived, and said
that Burns conversed good deal with him, and
seemed to relish his breakfast. He talked some
what about his future, and also about the af-
fairs transpring around him. lie seemed to
cherish a resentment towards officer Deffen.
baugh, saying that he could make his peace
good deal better if he had an interview with
him. Deputy Jordan reminded him that he
should now forget all these things, and turn
his attention to what had been said to him by
the ministers.
Rev. MIR. Moore expressed hope to the re-
porters that Burns was truly penitent; but still
did not seem encouraged great deal.
In little while two of the ministers, Rcvs.
Monroe and Mcclure, left the cell, leaving Revs
Perkins and Paul to continue their pious minis
traticns with the unfortunate man until the
hour of departure for the gallows. This they
did.
THE CROWD.
Early in the morning the people began to
flock into the city and through the streets, and
enquiries were proprounded in regard to the
prisoner, the hour Of execution, when he would
leave the Jail, and all the minuta OF the expec
ted proceedings. Ofthe immense throng there
were comparatively few who desire to see man
struggling in the agonies of DEATH They de-
sire to see the felon about whom so much had
been said-the man who had been convicted of
one oil the most heartless, merciless crimes upon
record, and made two desperate attempts up
on his own life. In short they wanted to look
upon murderer. About half past o'clock the
German Riileman, under Capt. Plank, marched
up Market street towards the place ofexecuton
attracting in their wake hundreds of excited
people, who fell back gradually upon learning
that the object Of the company was 10 guard
the erection of the scaffold. The streets con-
tlnued to throng; all the.roads leading into the
city were dotted with pedestrians Of both sexes
and all colors, Jogging esurly along as if they
had obtained leave ofabsence for a holiday.
Towards ten o'clock the people began to col
lect around the Jail, and when the carriages
lrove up to convey the condemned and atten.
lants, they were Immediately surrounded. The
crowd was rapidly increasing in number when
The State Fencibles, under Capt. Loring, mar
,hed in front Of the Jail and dispersed the null
Iitude, forcing the people to fall back This
caused those upon the outside to