Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-17
Execution Of Iohn n,nIie.

the Supreme court for Ouyahoga county. IN
May, 1912, vas convicted and sentenced to be
hung on the cath of June. The gallOwS stood
Onthe Public Square, on the north side, not far
from Ontario street The Hon. EIIsHA WHIT.
rLEsEv was present, and has given an account
Of what took place IN a letter dated Dec. 23l,
1859. He writes:
vas present at the execution, and as dis
tinctly recOllecs the facts shall narrAte, as
did the night of the day they occurred. was
not at the trial, but l understood that Peter
Hitchcock was assigned as counsel for the &C
cused. Tho custody of the prisoner was
assigned to Lorenzo Carter there being no
jaiD because he was a man Of uncommon en-.
srgy, and because be had more influence over
the Indians than any other man in the West,
or ct least in CuyahOga county. Mr.. Carter's
house was on the high ground near the bank,
to the right of the road that descended the hill
to the ferry across the river, and to the left Of
street that leads to where the Light House
stands Tho prisoner was confined in cham
Der of Mr.. Csrter's house. Strong irons were
above his ankles, with which was connected
staple that was driven into jOist that support
ed the floor, SO that the prisoner could not 90 to
any window. Probably / should have said
with more accuracy, that chain was attached
10 the fetters, and staple was attached to the
other end, which was driven into the joist, DE.
After his conviction, 0mic told Mr.. Carter and
NhaN
he would let the pale faces see how an ludian
could die; that they need not tie his arms, but
when the time came he would jump of from
the gallOWs.
Before Mr.. Carter's house, in the direction
Of Superior street, was an open space some
what extensive, and covered with grass. The
religious exercises were held there. Several
clergymen were present, and I think the ser
mon was delivered by the Rev. Mr.. Darrow OF
Vienna, Trumbull county. The military were
commanded by Major Jones, fine looking off
Ger in iull uniform, but he was in the condition
that Captain McGufy, Of Ooitsville. said he
was in when he was commanded to perform an
evolution by his company and could not do 1t.
His explanation was, II know Baron Steuben
perfectly well, but cannot commit him to
practice"
Omic sat on his coffin in a wagon painted
for the occasion. He was a 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 endeaYored to
form a hollow square, so that the prisoner
should be garded on oil sides. He rode back
wards and forwards with drawn sword, epaulcts,
and fcabbard flying, but he did not know what
order to give. The wagon with O'Mic moved
ahead and stopped; but as the Sheriff doubted
whether he was to be aided by the military,
he proceeded onward. Major Jones finally
took the suggestion of some one who told him
to ride to tho head Of the line and double it
round until the front and rear of the line met.
Arriving at the gallows, Mr.. Carter, the Sheriff
and Omie ascended to the platform by ladder.
The arms of the prisoner were loosely DiniOned.
A rope was round his neck with loop in the
end. Another was let down through hole in
the top piece, on which was hook to 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 0mic and Sheriff Baldwin on
the platform. As the Sheriff drew down the
cap 0mic was the most terrified being ration
al or irrational ever saw, and seizing the
cap with his right hand, which he could reach
by bending his head and inclining his neck
in that direction, he stepped to one Of the
posts and put his arm around it. The Sheriff |
approached him to loose his hold, and for a |
moment it was doubtful whether 0mic would |
not throw him to the ground. Mr.. Carter as |
,ended to the platform and negotiation in |
regular diplomatic style was had. 1t was in |
The native tongue as understood at the time. /
Mr.. Carter appealed to 0mic to display his |
courage, narrating what he had said about |
showing the pale faces how an Indian could
lie, but it had no effect Finally 0mio made
proposition, that if Mr.. Carter would give
him half pint Of Ehiskey he would consent
o die, The whiskey was soon on hand, in a
arge glass tumbler, real old MonOngahela
or which an old settler would almost be will
ng to be hung if he could now obtain the like /,
he glass was given to 0mic and he drank
he WhiskeY in as little time ss he could have
urned it out of the glass. Mr.. Carter again
anne down, and the Sheriff again drew down
he cap and the same scene was again re-
nscted, Qmie expressing the same terror
ir. Garter again assembled to the platform,
nd 0mic gave the honor of an Indian in
ledge that he would not longer resist the {
entenee Of the court, if he should have anoth-
r half pint Of Whiskey. Mr.. Carter, repre-
enting the people of Ohio and the dignity of
ne laws, thought the teFma we're reasonable,
nd the WAiskey was forthcoming on short s
rder. The tumbler was not given 0mic, but |
was held to his mouth, and as he sucked ,
le Whiskey out Sheriff Baldwin drew the rope
lat pinioned his arms more tight, and the q
,pe was drawn down to prevent the prisoner
ON going to the post and to prevent him
ON pulling off his cap. The platform was
lmediatsly cleared Of all but 0mic, who run
le ends Of his fingers on the right hand be-
Veen the rope and his neck. The rope that
I'D up one end Of the platform was cut, and y
le body swung in straight line towards the 5
Ike as far as the rope permitted and returned,
nd after swinging forth and backward !
veral times, and the weight being about to J
} suspended perpendicular under the center
the top Of the gallows, the body turned in :
circle and finally rested still.
At that time terrific storm appeared and Q
me up from the nerth-northwest with great :
lpidity, to avoid which and it being doubt {
j whether the neck was broken, and to ac- !
mplish SO necessary part Of hanging, the c
pe was drawn down with the design of rais- =
g the body, SO that, by sudden relaxing $
the rope, the body would fall several feet !.
Id thereby disloeate the neck beyond any .
,ubt, but when the body fell, the rope broke i
readily as a tow string it and fell upon the
'ound. The coffin and grave were near the
FLOWS and the body was picked up, put into =
e coffin, and the coffin Immediately put into !
e grave, The storm was heavy and all
ampered but 0mic.
The report was at the time, that the sur
Ons at dusk raised the body, and when it !
= on the dissecting table it was easier to
store life than to cut it up.