, 1860-07-11


thoaa present uncovered ,l.rir heads. and tho
clergy who stood BY his sids sither knelt with
with him or bowed their heads. Harden prayed
4. follows:
sob, Lord Jesus, pray Thee to look down
upon me, miserable sinner, mud pardon my
many transgrcsslons. l hare sinned against
heaTen and earth, but feel that the redeeming
blood Of Christ i suiIi- i-ient to wash all my sins
away. Jesus, hare mercy on me, pardon me.
admit me to thy presence, for Christ's sake,
Amen"
This prayer was uttered in 3 low tssmulous
voice, and but few heardit. Nhenthe prisoner
ross from his knees large tears trck!sd down
his cheeks, and the struggle, it WIS quite evil
dent, had commenced.
TUE ylHrwkLL-
Harlan, after he had arisen, and in \ degree
Sheriff, saying. "Ar. Sweeny. teel much
Obliged to you, for Jour many kinduesses, and
hope to meet you in heaven. Farewell, fare.
The Sheriff, who was much Affected, shook
the miserable man by the hand, and by this
time haf the crowd were in tears. Those out
SIDE. too, seemed to have gained knowledge of
what Was going On iSsiue, and nothing was
heard aboEe low whisper.
Harden next turned to the Rev. Mr. Day, and
a9sk1ng h'ai By the hand, remarked that be felt
ms .lns to be forgiven, aud hoped his friends
might meet in another and better world. "This
is my last chance to say farewell, but hope it
may be but for short time"
Then, turning to Ar. Kirk, he a1sn bada him
farewell, in siniilar tezms, the audience, in tho
meantime, being deeply affected.
Lie next shook hands with several old friends
on the scattold, but said nothing TO the sptc-
tators.
TIE EXECUTION.
The prayer and shaking of hands did not oe-
cupy ase minutes, for 1t WIS only halt past cue
when Harden said he was ready, and the Sheriff
culpEis looked at the drop, and then turning
around looked At Ar. Sweeny, and said,
'tSherif. get on there first" The Sheriff com
piled, and Harden, without moments hcsita-
ton followed, aud placed himself under the
rope. Some tears could be seen in his eyes. but
ness he exhibited, seemed TO surprise almost
every one, the general opinion bting that he
wonld need support on his way to the scatfold.
Al this time the clergy all joined in prarer.
and Harden whispered word or two to the
Sheriff, who began to adjust the Moose. After
getting 1t in its proper ptece, the black cap was
drawn orer his faee. He still stnoa AZ tirm -
= rock, and when asked to move little further
one side, he readily complied.
The Sheriff then put while handkerchief in
to the prisoners right hand, instructiug him to
! throw it on the ground when he was ready to
| 60. The officer then stood ready at the drop
weight. and for q single second the convict
groaned aloud, as though in terrible mental
| agony. At precisely thirtv-ore minutes past
one o'clock be threw the handkerchief on the
| ground. and down vent the drop, a loud cry, ns
~ sudden pain, arising from the crowd, as II
fell.
| lard DEATH OF TIE CELrRlT.
| Harden fell with heavy jerk, but his neck
| being very thick one, it va. NOT broken. For
five seconds the body hung mosionless, then
the legs were suddenly drawn np to tie stom.
| acb, the arms we're Violently jetked, as though
endensoriug to escape from their pinious. the
chest heaved, the hands cleuched, and the body
swayed to and tro with its terrible agony. These
convuisious grew worse, and in cne minute be-
came 10 terrible that many shriekeJ, aud sey.
eFal rushed from, the court yard in IN utmost
fainting condition. 1t w1s quite two minutes
life gradually departed.
At minutes. the pulse beat 20; ut minutes
81; at 10 minutes. Is; and ct precisely II
| minutes Of 2 O'Clock, life was pronounced ex'
! tiuct- This was 10 exactly sixteen minutes
from the time the drop fell to the time pulsasiou
stopped.
The body was allowed to hang for something
about half an hour, and was then removed
to the Court House. Here the usual iugues,
was held upon it, and the necessary verdict
| pronounced.
Thus hus ended one Of tho most sadly inter
eatiug aad important cases on record Ii should
be warning 10 all who mediate the taking o
human life-par ticnfarly By poison, for the 1ate
| Of Harden proves that the vile poisuucr, though
accomplishing hls hel;is deed, while utterins
! protest.:aus Of love. vet cannat succeed aruirs )
chemical science, CT by expecting falso sy,npa
thy from a jury