The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-10-25

This morning a gentleman visit
ed James A. Gordon, and request
cd from him his autograph, which
he wrote in o clear, legible hand
and gave it to him remarking
"Once Il wrote that name with
pride, now it is covered with infa-
my ; and is heralded from one end
of the country to the other as the
name of q cold blooded murderer.
Ny Godt hat-I-shonldzcome to
this. 1twas whiskey,rnet me, !
was frienzied with liquor land was
wholly unconscious of the act, and
to this day have no recollection Of
the committal of the crime charg-
ed against me-"
Gordon expressed himself sever
al times as willing to. be. shot, and
hoped some friend would shoot
him; he did not want to be drag
ged to the gallows and there, hung
up like a dog. eff some. one viii
only shoot me | can die content"
The clergy called upon him dur
ing the morning, and relig
ious services were performed
in the room in which the condemn
cd was confined, in which he ap-
peared to take q deep interest.
His last Interview with q young
brother was very affecting. The
condemned advised him never to
indulge in the use of strong drink,
and gave him q paper to be read to
his brothers often, urging upon
them the necessity,of leading sober
lives, and advised them when
tempted to drink, to goto his grave
and think what sent him there.
Al three o'clock Sheriff Mid
daugh entered the room and told
Gordon hat all was ready, and
that he must put on his coat andgo.
The prisoner said he preferred to
ride to the gallows in his shirt
sleeves, and then asked the Sheriff
if he had personally examined the
gallows to ascertain if it val right
ly constructed and strong, for he
wanted to die quick. The officer
assured him that all was right
They then decended the stairs in
to the street together, upassisted,
Gordon entered The buggy, stood
up in it q moment gazing around
upon the crowd, andthen sat down.
There was no manacles upon his
limbs. The Sheriff seated himself
beside the prisoner, the order was
given, and the guard formed
in line and moved OH towards the
place of execution at aslow pace
On the way Gordon recognized q
friend on the street waving his
hand toward him, and attempting
to smile burst intotears. Whcn'hc
came in sight of the gallows, with
the rope swinging from it, he asked
the Shcriffifhe was going to at
tend to the hanging himself.
Middaugh answered in the mega
tive, saying he had appointed %
deputy to do it. Gordon then in
sisted upon his doing it: t'Stand
by me now; this is my last hour Oh
earth. | prefer that you should
hang needn't leave it for anoth-
or, a German, or anybody that
hates me-" Moved by his earnest
applications the Sheriff finally
consented to perform the unpleas-
ant duty.
The prisoner mounted the plat
form with a hurried step, accom-
panied by the clergy; all knelt in
prayer.
The condemned then addressed
the people, thanking his friends
for their kindness, and hoped they
would take n lesson from his dread
full fate, and abstain from the use
of all Intoxicating drinks, assuring
them that he was reformed man,
and if he could have lived he
would have proven it to them ; but
as it was, they could only have his
word for it. Then turning to the
Sheriff he begged ofhim to be sure
and fix the rope so it would be sure
and dislocate his neck immediately
exclaiming, ooh my God! myGod!
that some friend would shoot me-"
The rope was adjusted, the drop
fell, and James A. Gordon was no
more. For twenty two minutes the
body hung (; it was then cut down
and delivered to his friends, and
the crowd quietly dispersed.
pA.Our neighbors of the Regis
ter m very much worried because
the Press has been established in
Eaton, and in almost every issue
they have an article upon Freedom
of some kind or other. They ad-
} wise Republicans moi, to p~atronize
us. What q trifing set Of Nfellowa
to BET themselves uplto dictate to
the masses. We think the intel
f ligent Republicans In this seetionOf