Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-04-02
rnE FIRST WOMAN EXECUTED IN THAT STATE
OF THE SCENE.


We learn from the st. Paul Pioneer, of
March "a, that this unfortunate woman
was hanged on Friday, the %. The allcg-
ed crime was that of poisoning her hus-
band on the 18th of March 1859, Every
effort had been made by her counsel
to procure her an acquittal but without
effect. She escaped once from the hall of
the iail, and, after a weeks absence wasr re-
taken with person supposed to be her
paramour At the seatfold the following
scene occurred, in the presence of about
one hundred persons, among whom were
a number of Dacotah and Sioux Indians,
who had come to witness this exhibition
! of Christian civilization.
When the prisoner had arrived on the
platform she was led forward and kneeled
upon the drop, the clergy, jailor and Sisters
of Charity and other ladies in the same
posture around her. About five minutes
were then spent in reading prayers, by the
clergy, in which she seemed to take deep
interest, Upon rising she was asked ifshe
had anything to say. She said:
az die without having had any mercy
shown me, or Justice die for the good
of my soul and not for murder. May you
all profit hy my death Your Courts of
Justice are not Courts of justice-but will
get Justice in Heaven. am guilty wo-
man l know, but not of this murder,
which was committed by another. ] for
give everybody who did me wrong. I die
n sacrifice to the law. hope you may all
be judged better than have been, and by a
more righteous judge. die prepared to
meet my Cod" ....
DR.. Miller, the deputy sheriff, then ap-
preached her with the rope, when she ex-
claimed, "Dr. Miller, how can you stain
your hands by putting that rope around
my neck-the instrument of my death?"
He assured her that duty compelled him
to do it, and she made no resistance, and
only said, $40, for Gods sake, put it on so
it will not sufIocate me-"
After it had been arranged DR.. Miller
took tine black cap from his pocket, and
proceeded to put it on her head, when she
said, "Be sure my face is we'll covered.
All this took place in less time than it
will take to read it, during which she said
several times: "God have mercy-God
have mercy on my soul" Her last words
were: Lord Jesus Christ, receive my SOUL
She was requested to take step for
ward on the drop, and then every thing be
ing prepared, DIR. Miller made motion to
Sheriff Tullis, who pulled the fatal rope,
and in an instant she fell. The fall was
about four feet, and machinery was so
nicely adjusted that the noise was scarcely
heard outside of the enclosure.
There was scarcely any movement in the
body after it dropped, slight convulsive
motion and a heaving of the chest was all
that was observed. 49,
The body was allowed to hang about
wenty minutes. during which time prayers
twero read audihly by the clergy, who re
mained kneeling on the platform.
The physicians having examined the
body several times, then stated to the sher-
if' that life was extinct, and she was cut
down and placed in plain black coffin
that had been placed in front of thegallows
during the whole period of the execution.
Her dcmeanor on the scaffold was excel
lent. She was not defiant or stoical, nci-
thcr did she shed tear. 1t is the opinion
of many that she expected pardon or re-
prievc to the last moment.
The most disgusting feature connected
with the affair, says the Pioneer, was the
eageruess and persistency with which fc-
males sought to obtain eligible places to
view the dying agonies of one of their own
sex. --..... -....