Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-04-14
QAUuaUPGE EXECUTION AZ
0Aa.Tn MO0E.


Gambrlll, for the murOer OF pOlceman
Benton; of Marion Crop and Peter
Corrie, for the murder Of policeman
ER,gdon, and Of John Cyphus alias
Stevens, for the murder Of John King,
took place in theyard Of the county jail
this forenoon.
The event caused great excitement
among the rowdies. Verify, a severe
blow has been dealt to the progress Of
Plug Uglyism in this city. The men
cxecuted-at least three Of them
were chiefs among these rowdy organi-
cations, and their loss will be sensibly
felt by every member Of the " Plugs"
Rip Raps,' Blacksnakes," DC. In
the hanging of Gambrill L. Co., the
conservative portion Of the community
have gained signal victory over the
forces OF the shoulder hittcrs, which
will serve for time to check the
spread of crime and bloodshed with
which the fair fame of our city has 90
long been taTnished.
ROwDY ORGANIZATIONS IN BALTIMORE.
In Baltimore there are some twenty
five or thirty we'll organized clubs os-
tensibly of political character, but
really composed Of persons who have
no other motive than that Of bloodshed
and riot. At our elections they appear
armed with knives, pistols, muskets
and even cannon on many occasions
have been brought into the field. The
authorities, until q few months past,
have been awed and intimidated by
the plugs, and respectable citizens have
been driven away from the polls, until
the privilege Of the elective franchise
has become nudity and farce. With
such impunity could these organiza-
tons perpetrate crime that the public
prosecutor and the courts could not
punish them, and it is only now that
the first blow has ever been struck at
the roots of the crying evil.
Foremost among these dangerous
and ever to be dreaded organization is
the Plug Ugly Club. The Plugs num-
Der some two or three thousand, and
predominant in the Twentieth Ward.
Young Gambrill was \ member Of this
band, and always took an active part
in its movements. The Twelfth Ward
is also controlled by this faction, and
whenever assistance is needed, the
entire force can be concentrated here
by hosting a flag, which is the signal
used for grand rally Of the Plugs on
election days, and never fails to bring
out the club in its full organization.
The Rip Raps hail from the Four
teenth Ward, and are considered sec
onI to none in point Of ferocity and
rascality. Crop was a member of this
club. The Rip RAGS were organized
in 1854, and have been in active oper-
alton ever since. II was this club that
raised the riot in Washington in June
1857.
The Blacksnakes inhabit the Elev-
enth ward on the outskirts of the city,
where Nelly was murdered, and are .
much dreaded gang.
The Empire and Pioneer clubs bold
out in the First, Second and Third
wards, and at one time we're powerful
organizations. They are composed of
Democrats, and deadly opposed to the
Plug Uglies, Rip Raps and Black
snakes.
At ten minutes past IL o'clock the
procession started from the Jail in the
following order:
First came the Sheriff, followed by
Gambrill and Corr,e, then Crop, and
last Of all the negro, Cyphus. The cul-
prts we're attired in black clothes,
each having a shawl of the same color
thrown over his shoulders to conceal
the pinions. They walked with firm
step through the file Of spectators.-
Gambrill especially was manly and COL
lected, and attracted much attention.
The prisoners were very pale, but all
bore up with remarkable firmness as
the cortege slowly passed on its way to
the scaffold.
IMMENSE CROWD OF SPECTATORS.
Soon the multitude on the outside
caught a glimpse of the procession,
and suppressed shudder ran through
the frames Of fifty thousand persons.
Never shall forget the sight that I
this day beheld. For half q mile on
every side of the scaffold the streets
were lined with men, women, and
children. The rich and poor alike
crowded forward in order to obtain a
view of the proceedings, yet the strict
est order appeared to reign among
that mighty gathering--all were
breathless with attention. The house
tops in the vicinity were black
with human beings in fact, as far as
the eye could reach, there was moth
ing but heads. 1t was an imposing
and melancholy spectacle
ARRIVAL AT THE sCAFFOLD.
And now the procession reaches
the front Of the scaffold. The Sheriff
in company with Gambrill, first as
cends the steps. Then Corrie followed,
slowly, but unfaltering. Next comes
Crop, a stout, thick set man-a per
feet model Of physical strength. He,
too, seems collected, hut there is not
that air Of connposure and resignation
about him which characterized Gam.
brill. He appears the most nervous Of
the party. The negro reaches the gal.
lows last, and ranges himself ly the
side Of Crop. He appears selfpossess-
ed, but like Crop, 10 somewhat aqitat.