Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-03-08
An Execution i'm Pioneer
Times.

Semo, killed two white men at Pike Creek,
near Sandusky, Since killed himself soon
after he was taken, and John being ar
raigned and indicted before the Supreme
Cou,t for Cuyahoga county, in MAY, 1912,
was convicted and sentenced TO be hung
at Cleveland on the Gath of June. The
gallows stood Oh the public square, on the
north side, not far from Ontario street,
The Hon. Elisha Whiltlesey was present,
and has given an account of what took
place. He writes:
was present at the execution, and as
distinctly recollect the facts shall mar
rate, as | did the night of the day they oe-
Cured. was not at the trial, but l un.
derstood that Peter Hitchcock was assign
ed as counsel for the accused. The custo-
dy of the prisoner was assigned to Loren
20 Carter, (there being no JAIL because he
was man of uncommon energy, and be-
cause he had more influence over the In
dians than any other man in the West, or
at least in Cuyahoga county. Mr.. Carriers
house was on the high ground near to the
bank, to the right of the road that decend-
ed the hill to the ferry across the river,
and 10 the left of the street that leads to
where the lighthouse stands. The prison
er was confined in chamber of Mr.. Cal
ter's house. Strong irons were above his
ancles, with which was connected a staple
that was driven into joist that supported
the floor, SO that the prisoner couldn't go to
any window. Probably should have said
with more accuracy, that chain was at
tached to the fetters, and staple was at
tached to the other end, which was driven
into the joist etc. After his convict ion,
Omlc told Mr.. Garter, and Sheriff Baldwin
(who was from Danbury,) that he would
let pale-faces Sc how an Indian could die;
that they need not lie his arms, but that
when the time came he would jump from
gallows.
Before Mr.. Carriers house, in the direc-
tion of Superior street, was an open space
somewhat extensive and covered with grass.
The religious exercises were held there
Several clergymen were present, and think
the sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr..
Darrow, of Vienna, Trumbull county,
The military were commanded by Major
Jones, fine looking officer in full uniform,
but he was in the condition that Captain
McGuffy, of Coitsville, said he was in when
he was commanded to perform an evolu-
tion by his company and could nc do it,
His explanation was, 81 know Baron Steu-
ben perfectly well, but l cannot commit
him to practice
Omic sat on his coffin in wagon painted
for the occasion. He was fine looking
young indian, and watched everything
that occurred with much anxiety. The
gallows was erected on the public square,
in front of where the old court house was
erected. After the religious services were
over, Major Jones endeavored to form hol-
low square, so that the prisoner should be
guarded on all sides. He rode backwards
and forwards with drawn sword, epauet-
les and scabbard flying. but he did not
know what order to give. The wagon
with Omic moved ahead and stopped but
as the Sheriff doubted whether he was to
be aided by the military, he proceeded on
ward. Major Jones finally took the sug-
gestion of some one who told him to ride
to the head of the line, and double it round
until the front and rear of the line met
Arriving at TIE gallows, Mr.. Carter, the
Sheriff and Omc ascended the platform by
a ladder. The arms of the prisoner were
loosely pinioned. A rope was round his
neck with loop in the end. Another
was let down through hole in the top
pice, on which wa, hook 10 attach TO the
rope round the neck. The rope with the
hook was brought over TO one of the posts,
and fastened to it near the ground.
After some little time Mr.. Carter came
down leaving Omic and Sheriff Baldwin
on the platform. As the Sheriff drew
down the cap Omic was the most terrified
being, rational or irrational, ever saw, and
seizlng the cap with his right hand, which
he could reach by bending his head and
inclining his neck in that direction, he step
ped to one of the posts and put bis arm
around it. The Sheriff approached him
to loose his hold, aud for a moment it was
doubtful whether Omic would not throw
him to the ground. Mr.. Carter ascended TO
the platform and negotiation in regular
diplomatic style was had. 1t was in the
native tongue as l understood at the time.
Mr.. Garter appealed to Omic to display
his courage, narrating what be had said
about showing the pale face how an Indian
could die, bnt it had no effct. Finally
Omic made proposition, that if Mr..
Garter would give him pint of whisky.
be would consent to die. The whisky was
soon on hand, in large glass tumbler,
real old Monongahela, for which an old
settler would almost be willing TO be hung
if he could now obtain the like. The
glass was given to Omic, and be drank the
whisky in as little time as he could have
turned it out of the glass.
Mr.. Carter again came down, and the
Sheriff again drew down the cap, and the
same scene was again re-enacted, Omic ex-
pressing the same terror. Mr.. Carter
again ascended to the platform, and Omic
gave the honor Of an Indian in pledge that
be would not longer resist the sentence of
the Court, if be should have another half
pint of whisky. Mr.. Garter, representing
the people of Ohio and the dignity of the
laws, thought the terms were reasonable
and the whisky was forthcoming on snort
order. The tumbler was not given omic,
but it was held to his mouth, and as he