Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-10-31
NO. 10.
Hanging at Pixies Peak-The Exacu
ton and Confession Of Gordon, the
Murderer.

ton and Confession of Gordon, the
Murderer.
James A. Gordon, the murderer of John
Giants, who was hanged at Denver City on
the 9th instant, confessed his guilt but al
legged that he committed the deed while in
toxicated, and was not sensible of what he
was doing at the time. The circumstances
of the murder, and subsequent arrest and eX-
ecution of the cuiprit, created unparalleled
excitement in the mountains. On the
morning of the execution Gordon expressed
himself several times as willing to be shot,
and hoped some friend would shoot him ; he
did not want to be dragged to the gallows
and there hung up like dog. "If some one
will only shoot me can die content" he
said; the clergy called upon him during the
morning, and religious services were per-
formed in the room in which the condemn
ed was confined, in which he appeared to
take deep interest.
At three o'clock Sheriff Middaugh entered
the room, and told Gordon that all was
ready, and that he must put on his coat and
CO. The prisoner said he preferred to ride
to the gallows in his shirt sleeves, and then
asked the sheriff if he had personally exam
amined the gallows to ascertain if il vas
rightly constructed and strong, for he wanted
to die quick. The official assured him that
all Was TlSHt. Lucy IIlen ueSCeHdcu the
stairs into the street together; unassstea,
Gordon entered the buggy, stood up in it
moment, gazing around upon the crowd, and
| then sat down. There were no manac
| upon his limbs. The sheriff seated himself
! beside the prisoner, the order was given and
the guard formed in line, and moved OF to-
wards the place of execution at slow pace
| On the way Gordon recognized a friend on
the street, waving his hands towards him,
and attempting to smile, burst into tears =
When he came in sight of the gallows, with
the rope swinging from it, he asked tie sher-
iff if he was going to attend to the hanging
| himself
Middaush answered in the negative, say
ing he had appointed deputy to do it. Cor
don then insisted upon his doing it. Stand
by me now this is my last hour on Garth
prefer that you should hang me-don't
leave it for another, German, or anybody
that hates me- Nov ed by his earnest sup
plications, the Sheriff finally consented to
perform the unpleasant duty. The prisoner
mounted the platform with hurried step,
accompanied by the clergy; al kneit III
prayer.
The condemned then addressed the people,
thanking his friends for their kindness, and
hoped they would take lesson from his
dreadful fate and abstain from the use of all
Intoxicating drinks, assuring them that ho
was reformed man, and if he could have
lived he would have proven it to them, but
5 as it was, they could only have his word for
it. Then turning to the sheriff he begged OF
, him to be sure and fix the rope SO II wou
disocate his neck Immediately, exclaiming
/ oh! my God my God! that some frient
: would shoot me- The rope was adjusted
the drop fell, and James \. Gordon was n,
more. For twenty-five minutes The BODY
!, hung; it was then cut down and delivered t,
: his friends, and the crowd quietly dispersed
o DRINKING IMPURE WATER-Set a pitcher
;, of iced water in room, inhabited, and in
: few hours it will have absorbed from the room
! nearly all the respired and perspircd case
of the room, the air of which will have be
# come purer. but the water utterly filthy
This depends on the fact that the water ia
n the faculty of condensing and thereby Absorb
a ing ali the gases, which it does without ir
. creasing its own bulk. The colder the waite
,I is, the greater its capacity to contain thes
Ia gases. At ordinary temperatures pint {
9 water will contain pint of carbonic acid ga,
and several pnts of ammonia. This capacit
II is nearly double by reducing the temperatGr
J. to that of ice. Hence, water kept in ii
% room awhile. is always unfit for use, an
=, should be often renewed whether it has b
- come warm or not And for the same re
Iv son, the water in pump stock should all
~ pumped out in the morning before any
n used. That which has stood in the pitch
ba over night is not fit for coffee water in ii
,ir morning. Impure water is more injurior
in to the health than impure air, and every pc
nd son should provide the means of obtainir
No fresh pure water, for all domestic uses