, 1859-04-12


BAI17xoRE, April sth. ls;9.
The quadruple execution Of Henry Gambrill,
for the murder Of policeman Benton; Of Marion
Crop and Peter Cor1ie, for the murder Of police
man Rigdon, and Of John CFphus alias Stevens,
for the murder of John KIM, took place in the
yard Of the county Jail this lorenoon.
The erent caused great excitement among
the rowdies. Verify, a severe blow has been
city. The men executed at least, three Of
them-were chiefs among these rowdy organi-
zations, and their loss will be scnsibly felt by
every member of the "Plugs," "Rip Raps,''
" Blaeksnakes," &c. In the hanging Of Gam
brill l. Co. the conservative portion Of the COM
munity hare gained signal victory oyer the
forces Of the shoulder hitters, which will serve
for time to check the spread Of crime and
hloodshed with which the fir fame Of our city
has so long been tarnished.
nownY ORGANIZATIONS 1s BALTIMORE
In Baltimore there are some twenty-five or
thirty well organized clubs, ostensibly Of po-
litical character, but really composed Of persons
who have no other motive than that Of blood
shed and riot At our elections they appear
armed with knives, pistols. muskcts, and even
cannon on many occasions have been brought
into the field. The authorities, until within q
few months past, have been awed and intimida-
ted BY these clubs, and respectable citizens have
been driven away from the polls, until the priv
llege of the elective franchise has become null
lity and furcc. With such immunity could
these organizations perpetrate CRIME that the
pubic prosecutor and the courts could not puA-
ish them, and it is only now that the first blow
has ever been struck at the roots Of this crying
evil.
Foremost among thee dangerous and cvcr to
be dreaded organizations is the Plug Ugly Club.
The Plugs number some two or three thousand,
md predomnatc in the Twentieth Ward.
Young Gambrill vas member Of this band, and
always took an active part in its movements.
The Twelfth Ward is also controlled by this fac-
| tion, and whenever assistance is needed, the
entire force can be concentrated here BY hoist
ing 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 organiza
tion.
The Rip Raps hail from the Fourteenth Ward.
and arc considered second to none in point Of
| ferocity and rascality. Crop was = member Of
| this club. The Rip Raps were organized in 1854,
and have been in active operation ever since.
1t was this club that raised the riot in Washing
ton in June. l,57.
The Blacksnakcs inLabit tic Eleventh ward,
IN the outskirts of thu city, where Nally wAs
! murdered and are much dreaded gang.
The Empire and Pioneer clubs hold out in the
First, Second and Third wards, and ut one time
| were powerful organizations. They are COM
posed Of Democrats, and deadly opposed to the
lug Cylics, Rip Kaps and Blacksnakes.
THE PROCESSION TO THE GALLONS.
At ten minutes past II o'clock the procession
started from the prison in the following order:
First came the Sheriff, followed by Gan,bri!l
and Corrie. then Crop, and last Of ail the negro,
| Cyphus. The culprits were attired in black
clothes, each having shawl Of the same color
thrown over his shoulders to conceal the pinious.
They walked with firm step through tile file Of
| spectators. Gambrill especially was manly and
collected, and attracted much attention.
The prisoners were very pale, but all bore up
| with remarkable iirmness as the cortegc slowly
passed on its WY to the scafod.
IMMENSE CROWD or SPECTATORS.
Soon the multitude on the outside caught
| glimpse Of the procession, and suppressed
shudder ran through the frames of fifty thou
| sand persons Ncrer shall forget the sight
that this day behclA. For half mile on every
side Of the scatfo!d the streets were lined with
men, women, and children. The rich and poor
alike crowded forward in order to obtain view
Of the proceedings, yet tl.e strictest order Ap-
peared to reign among that mighty gathering
ull were breathless With attention. The house.
tops in the vicinity were black with human be-
ngs; in fact, us far the eye could reach, there
was nothing butheads. 1t was au imposing and
melancholy spectacle.
ARRIVAL At TUE scAFFoLD.
And now the procession reaches the front Of
the scaffuld. The Sheriff, in company with
Gambrill, first ascends the steps. Then Corrie
followed, slowly. but untaltcring. Next comes
Crop, stout, thick set man-a perfect model of
physical strength. He, too, seems collected, but
there il not that aire Of composure and resigna-
tim about him which characterized Gunlbiil.
He appears the most nervous Of the party. The
negro reaches the ga(lows last, und ranges him
self BIZ the side Of Crop. lie appears sclEpos
sessca, but like Crop, is somewhat agitated.
SERTS HIS INNOCENCE.
Gambril was the first to break tic silence
which reignsd supreme at that moment. Step
ping forward to the front Of tile platform, in a
c1eur aud manly voice, which could he heard
far and near, lie thus addressed the immense
gatherings
Fellow citizcns-I am about to die, but before
God all III innocent man. " hen yOu see this
trap full from undcr ME, you will sec I'LL inno-
cent man depart from you. Goodbye, fellow
citizens, goodbye.
The cnlprit then resumed Ills place in The line,
when Crop advanced pace or Two and sang
hymn, in which all joined.
Gambrils yoice was especially clear, sounding
louder and more distinct than Crops cycu. At
the close Of the hymn Crop exclaimed Fare:
WELL" in loud voice, in which be- NILS followed
by Corre and Gambrill.
Crruus ALSO ASSERTS HIS ISoocEScE.
Cyplus then stepped forward, and addressing
the crowd us follows -" You are now going to
hang another innocent man. | was wroagtully
convicted, aud am now to BE- unjuss1y published.
Thank God, hare the opportunity Of telling
you III! that anl innocent man. Farewell.
TIE LAST or EARTH.
All being now in readiness, the exccutioncr
took charge Of the culprits. The white caps
were drawn over the f1cts Of the unhappy men.
The ropes were then drawn down fr'n, the cross
beam above, the knots were properly adjusted,
the condemned uttered their FAST farewell to the
world, and in q moment afterwards the trap was
sprung and the unfortunate men were launched
into eternity.
THE CLOSING SCENES.
The fall varied in each case from four to five
fret. Gambril and Carrie, who had tile lowest
fail. appeared to suffer least. Indeed, their
bodies were motinnless three minutes after the
trap fell With Crop and Cyphus the case was
different. They had fall Of fully five feet,
Yet they struggled violently for six OF seven
minutes Crop especially died very hard, aud
his srasms sent cold shudder through all who
were spectators Of the awful scene. Cyphus,
too, struggled Aard his body swinging to and
fra in tile ar, and presented must horrible
picture.
As ;he platform fell suppressed vail burst
from the assembled mulltuac- Thcn, all was
still as death itself. The struggles Of the dying
men were watched with breatnless intention;
and not word was spoken above whisper,
unit! all signs Of lite had gradually erased H.
tently that vast concoutse gazcd upon the bod
les Of the criminals, they dangled high in
mid air aud remained fixed in their positions,
until the corp>cs were lowered and removed
from their sight.
4 Stron:c Efopcment-PRct Stranger
tllnn Fiction.
IF:n:n the st. Jrseph. Mo-, Gaz4t:e, Eh lnst1
Mr. Isadorc Poulin, an independent and sue
ccssful merchant Of our city. has been living
ssE.ncIy in the comforts Of quiet home, where
u faithful wife and smiling babe gave buoyancy
md ieetne>s TO the happy hours. She was the
socnnd ,riE. If Mr. puuIip and lad born to him