East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-04-05
The Firs, Female Hanged i'm Minnesota.

The kirst Female Hanged Ina Minnesota.
The St. Paul papers contain full par
ficulars of the execution of Mrs. Anna
Bilansky, for the murder of her husband,
March II, 1856. On Friday, March %,
the day appointed for the execution, the
preparations were completed amid great
excitement in that city.
When the prisoner arrived upon the
platform, she wasted forward, and kneeled
upon the drop--the clergy, jailor, and the
sisters and other ladies' in the same pos
lure around her. About five minutes
were then spent in reading prayers, by
the clergy, in which she seemed to take q
deed interest. Upon rising she was asked
if she had anything to say. She spoke
for minute perhaps. There was some
repetition, but the following is very near
IL what she said
81 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 by my death. Your courts
of Justice are not courts of iustice-but |
will yet get justice in Heaven. am a
guilty woman, | know, but not OF this
murder, which was committed by another.
forgive everybody who did me wrong.
die a sacrifice to the law. | hope you
all may be judged better than have
been, and by more righteous Judge. l
die prepared to meet my God"
Mr.. Hoffman then whispered "good-
hyen to her-when she showed some agi-
tation, and said: 80, Mr.. Hoffman, you
promised to stand by me TO the last. He
assured her tina, he was not going to leave
her.
Mr.. Mixer, the Deputy Sheriff, then ap-
proached her with the rope, when she ex-
claimed: "Mr. 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: "Do, for Gods sake, put
it on so that it will not sufocate me-"
1t became necessary in fixing the rope
to lift the veil that was tied about her
neck, when she said: "Mr. Hoffman, do
leave that veil between the rope and my
neck"
He explained in word, the necessity
of its being removed, when she said
" Fix it any way, SO as not to sutiocatc
me-"
After it had been arranged, DR.. Miller
took the black cap from his poceeded to
put it on her head, when she said; "B,
sure that my face is well covered"
All this took place in less than it vii
take to read it, during which she sail
several times: "God have mercy-Go,
have mercy on my SOUL" Her last word
were: "Lord Jesus Christ receive m
soul"
She was requested to take step fol
ward on the drop, and then everything
being prepared, DIR. Miller made motio
teSheriff Tullis, who pulled the fatal rope
and in an instant she fell. The fall wa
about four feet, and the machinery wa
90 nicely adjusted that the noise wa
scarcely heard outside of the enclosure
There was scarcely any movement j
the body after it dropped; a slight cor
rulsive motion and heaving of the chest
was all that was observed.
The body was allowed to hang abou
twenty minutes, during which time prayer
were read audibly by the clergy, who re
NAMED kneeling on the platform.
The physicians having examined til
body several times, then stated to tn
sheriff that life was extinct, and she wa
cut down and placed in a plain blaci; coffi
that had been placed in front of the ga
lows during the whole period of the ex'
cution.
Her demcanor on the scaiiold was c!
cellent. She was not defiant or stoico
neither did she shed a tear. 1t is Il
opinion of many that she expected pa
don or reirieve to the last moment.