Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-09

The hour of ten having arrived Captain James,
Warden of the Jail, accompanied by the Sheriff
and his deputies, proceeded to the cells for the
purpose of preparing the parties for their end
The Sheriff first proceeded to the cell Of Cyphus
whose arms were pnioned by one Of the deputies
During the interview which prevailed, Cyphus
maintained the most perfect com osure, and denied
to the very last his guilt. He very earnestly
thanked his spiritual advisers for their good servi
ces, and confidently expressed the hope that he
would meet them all in heaven. During the
morning one Of the ministers exhibited to him
publication purportng to give his life and confess
sion as well letter TO his mother written the
night before his execution. He read IL carefully
and then pronounced ii fabrication. Some Incl
dents in relation to his life he acknowledged were
correct but as for the main statements and the let
ter, they did not contain particle Of truth Pre-
pared for the gallOws, he sat down and patiently
awaited the final coming Of the Sheriff. The time
which was about forty minutes. he devoted in part
TO conversation with the ministers
Sheriff Dreamer next visited the cell of Crop
and after handing him shawl, spoke to him en-
couragingly. He remained until his arms were
piDioned, and then left for the others. From the
| hour of 9 until 10, an impressive scene was wit
messed He engaged in prayer with each of the
| clergy present and spoke of his confidence i'm the
| fectly composed and tranquil, and asked if the
| ministers would not sing hymn for him. They
asked what hymn he desired, Sing" said he
= some beautiful hymn in which Heaven is men,
toned that will suit me best The clergy then
! sang There is a land Of pure delight" &c. in
Producing, al the end of each verse, the chorus
- Dear Lord, remember me. ,;
Soon the religious exercises were over the
deputy sheriff approached and secured his arms
He never spoke but once, and that was in answer
to the question if he was tied too tight, he
sponed affrmatively Throughout he exhibited
great calmness, and such was his bearing that
every one spoke Of it rs remarkable. In the In
term he conversed with his spiritual advisers and
before leaving, affectionatey embraced the guard
"a a nCP ri val at tha
| Jail.
| Rev. Messrs Brooke and Hidt Crops spirit
ual advisers, certify that the following note was
written by Marion Cropp about ten minutes be
| fore nine O'Clock on the morning Of his execution
with the request that it be not opened until he was
dead. 1T was me that shot Rigdon, but have
The Sheriff and his assistants then entered the
| cell Of Corrie. He was neatly dressed in black
and was found attended by the Rev. Mr.. Foley
/ his spiritual adviser At one end Of the cell an
/ altar had been arranged. with crucifix candles
! flowers, &c. He shook hands with the Sheriff
/ who told him be came to pinion him He stood
-.irmly while his hands were secured in front and
| his arms behind A young man, friend Of the
| condemned, fell on his neck and kissed him.
They babe each other farewell In 4 very affecting
| manner In reply TO some question which we did
not hear distinctly, Corrie smiled and said 81 am
\ willing TO de- A black shawl was then placed
about his shoulders and the white cap Of the CON
demned upon his head, and over il, partially
! concealing it, his cap was placed. He then sat
! down, and having shaken hands with the deputy
! who had piniOned him, was left with his spiritual
adviser His attitude was firm and composed
! The Sheriff then proceeded to the adjoining cell
| occupied by Gambrill. He rose, looking pale and
\ agitated. The Sheriff having announced his bust
ness, he collected himself and held out his hands
for the cords, at the same time exclaiming Sher-
/ III, there Is one innocent man you will hang to-
| day" Sheriff Dreamer, much affected, replied
! whatever was In my power to do for you l have
done" You may depend - continued Gam
brill, 81 am an innocent man But you do your
duty. l die innocent Of the murder Of officer
Benton, or having any connection with il; but
God. will is my will" In answer to a question
whether he had any apprehensions, he answered :
| "No, sir, ! am sustained by the grace of God {"
| French 5. Evans then advanced to him and
! asked him II he was guilty of the murder Of
officer Benton, or was Privy to it, or had any
| Peatedly and positively in the negative He said
"my first statement Is my dying QUE"
In answer to the inquiry how he felt. he said
VI am calm The sheriff then produced the
black shawl telling him it would cal the cords
by which his arms and hands were bound and
also protect him from the chilly air going out
1t makes no difference il il is now cool re-
piled Gambrill - l shall be out OF the air before
long The fatal cap was then placed upon his
head, and his own cap over 1t. Gambrill seated
himself In chnr and closed his eyes. His man
ner had no effort or aiiectation Of firmness lie
was calm, but evidently felt acutey his situation
The sheriff then left him with his spiritual adviser
1 the Rev. john w Hedges. At n o'clock the
procession moved from the Jail to the scaffold in
the following order: Sheriff Creamer GambriII
Corre, Crop, CyPhus. each of the prisoners being
/ attended by his spiritual adviser and a deputy
sheriff, and the officers of the Jail following
! Arrived at the scaffold. the condemned mounted
the steps, each with deputy sheriff by their side
though none appeared 10 need assistance They
were placed Oh the scafiold in the following order
! Gambrill Oh the left, looking south; Corre and
! Crop In the centre, and Cyphu. OIL the right
Having been placed In position Henry GsmbrilI,
front Of the scaffold, and in a clear steady voice
| and with much earnestness Of manner. pronounced
| the following words:
"Fellow-citizens-I am not ouIitv of I'm. ,,,,,r
| der OF officer Benton. When YOU see this drop
| fall from under Inc, you see an innocent man
launched into eternity. Good bye, one and all y
| the HYMN
Former friends now must leave YOU ,"Sc.
He sung with clear, steady voice ALTERING IN,
an instant at the opening of the second verse but
regalning his nrmness. continued. with a compo-
sure that perhaps no one else surrounding him wa,
able to maintain. The others Joined i'm the sine
ing, Gambrill with his eyes elevated, and appa-
rently inwardly praying. The hymn concluded
Crop. In a round, full voice, that seemed almost
In sartle by its freedom from all terror or alarm
exclaimed, looking towards the mass below
Farewell all -
Cyphus then advanced to the front Of the scaffold
and with considerable rrmness, but in a hurried
utterance., said:
s'Gentlemen You see here another innocent
man, who is going To be hung. They have given
me false name-One that never was known by
and convicted me for what didn't do. But am
going home to Heaven To meet my God Ny way
all clear there. So just good bye, my friends.
The ropes Were then adjusted around the necks
OF The criminals the caps drawn over their faces
ana the sheriff and his deputies, after pressing
snelr hands, left the scaffold. For moment the
Iouf hgures stood defined against the dull leaden
SKY, terrible sight, the wind blowing about the
| shawls and the covering over their faces The
.le platform fell with sharp crash and the
unfortunate men shot through the opening For
ulohent thelI forms whirled around without an
palent nc. Ihsn the muscular action commenced
Sorhe appeared TO suffer none ut all and no mo
tion OF his limbs was exhibited C;ambrin sis,
suffered but little, slight and short Of
the legs only being seen. Crop, who was he
most muscular man Of the four, Struggled The
most violently, drawing up his feet and throwing
them out. Cyphus struggled longer, but not 20
violently as Crop. fs- - =