The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-05
An Exaautinn An III,nn,..

| HORRIBLE SctNB-Dk8PkRATION OF THE cULPRIT
VIOLENT REsEsTAHcn IN HIS CELL AND ON
THB aALLows.
A man named James White was exc
cuted at Salem, Illinois, on Thursday, the
10Th inst, for the murder Of Andrew j.
Applegatc. The AdcOcGte, after giving
an account Of the preliminary arrange
ments for the execution, the assemblage
Of large thrOng Of spectators, &C., says;
Soon after this time, the public were
astOunded by the report that the convict,
White, bad possessed himself Of chain,
and, armed with II, threatened instant
death to any man who should dare to en-.
ter his prison. The report was found to
be true. There had been chain strong
ly fixed In the floor Of the prison, to
which It had become necessary on some
occasions TO secure the prisoners; this
chain White, with almost superhuman
strength, had wrenched from its fasten-
ings II was common sized ox-chain,
about three feet in length, and had upon
one Of its ends an iron ring nearly nine
inches in circumference.
White had armed himself with this
chain, and BY running the links through
the ring had made heavy knot Of iron,
which proved to be indeed q formidable
weapon. Standing thus armed inside Of
the door Of the cell, White declared, with
terrible oaths, that no living mao should
enter. In this dilemma, O pause ensued
in the proceedings. Sheriff Black made
an attempt to enter, assisted by four res
Olute and fearless inen. Driven to despe-
ration, the hardened criminal struck q
tremendous blow, which, happily. inflict-
ed but slight injury upon the left hand
of the Sheriff
It was now proposed to inject ammonia
into the face of the convict, and thus, by
his temporary suffocation, enable the OF.
6cers to take possession Of the cell. This
was tried, but failed. The miserable mur-
derer recoiled, for an instant, under the
effect Of the liquid, but speedily recover.
ing himself, he stood again in the door,
armed with his powerful weapon, and
looking the impersOnation Of fend.-
1t was now resolved to drench the cell
with chlorofOrm, and thus lull the turbu.
lent spirit within, until he could be safely
captured.
One or two bottles of chloroform were
procured, and the atmosphere Of the cell
was thoroughly impregnated with its
fumes; blankets were suspended outside
the grated windows Of the cell, and every
step taken to make the effort successful.
At first, the furious wretch laughed at
this attempt. It was clear that his wick
ed course Of life had made him familiar
with the use and effects Of chlorOform.-
Indeed, he said so, and told the officers
that the article was weak and poor. In
order to resist its effects, he wound his
bed quilt around his face, went OCCASION
ally to the window for air, and removed q
portion Of the blanket by reaching out
and drawing it through the grating, so as
to make an opening for the admission Of
the wi1a.
More than an hour had been consumed
in these fruitless efforts TO obtain possess
ion Of the prisoner and his weapon, and it
began TO be apparent that some harsher
means were necessary. He evidently saw
that he must ultimately submit, and,
though at first prepared to sell his life al
dearly as possible, his courage e A1eTength
now began to fail. He therefor .UpOsed
that, if the Sheriff would give him his din
ner and . drink Of whisky, and let him
live till o'clock, he would yield his wea-
pom and surrender himself This propo-
sition was accepted, and White gave up
his knOtted chain through the grating Of
the door. A diuner was prepared for
him, and . glass Of water, with . slight
infusion Of whisky handed him to drink
Il was the last Office Of apparent mercy,
and the Sheriff willingly performed it.
All o'clock, the Sheriff entered the
cell. White came forward and surren.
dered himself His arms were pinioned
behind him, and he walked resolutely
down the stairs Of the Jail, through the
hall, and into the place prepared for his
death.
The services concluded, White, accom-.
panied by the Sheriff and his assistants,
ascended the steps Of the gAlloWa without
apparent trepidaticn. He n altered
. moment, bat examined VI critical
eye all the appliances prepares lOr his ex.
ecution. And now occurred one Of the
most hOrrifying and painfufscenes in this
terrible drama.
When once upon the scaHold, and his
ankles being bound together, the usual
! white cap was produced, and he was in
formed that it was necessary to put il
upon his head. To this White objected,
insisting that no change should be made
in his apparel. He wore the little felt cap
with which he had covered his head from
his 6rst imprisonment When the Sher-
ifr removed the felt cap, and was about
substituting the usual white one, the
prisoner again objected, and, with fearful
| imprecations, declared that It should moi
be put on. Sheriff Black, in . decided
tone. endeavored to persuade the prisoner
but 10 vain.
For nearly an hour the officers were
engaged IN struggle to enforce compli
anCe. Pinioned and bound as he was, he
fought with desperation. He snapped
and bit at their fingers, b sieaped in the
cir, he crouched toward the ground, and
for some time It seemed doubtful whether
i he could be compelled to submit.
i After severe and protracted struggle
the cap was thrown upon his head and
securely adjusted about hls face. and lh'
\ strings dFa asenua Iisneck. Nothing
now remain nf - preparations but &
put the rope Hea DID neck and ad)usi
the fatal NOE. With spme difficulty
this Vas At lslA accomplished, the uni
ted efforts e - men being required fOI
that purpose. Z
As she Sheriff drew the fatal moose clio
ser 70 jt6 place and the knot beneath th'
eaF of the uul0EtunAte man, be exclAimet
with fearful iaprecationa sWhat in h.
are you choking nie now 1eFf-yOu arr
choking me for + can hardly speak,
These were the lzst WOrdsOf the wretcheC
man. The Sheriff gave the signal that al
was ready 20 bis deputy; in momen
the drop fell, and the unhappy man hunl
struggling.
; HADHAs C0RRus. - Attorney Genera
Bates has given lengthy opinion rslativ'