Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-09-03


ON rnH GALLONS.
a man named james White was executed Mt
Salem, Illinois, on Thursday, the 10th ult., for
the murder OF Andrew j. Arplegatc The Ad
poedie, giving nu account OF the preliminary mr.
Engagements fer the execution, the assemblage ol
a large throng Of spectators, etc, says:-
Soon after this time, the public were nstound
ed ny the report TINT the convict, White, had
= ssessed himself Of chain, and, armed with il,
threatened instant death to any man who should
dare to enter his prison There had been a chain
strongly fixed in the floor Of the prison, to which
II hnd become necessary on rome occasions In
secure the prisoners; this chain White. with
almost snperhuman strength, hal wrenchel
from lis iastenlhgs. II was cOmmOn.sized OK
Chain, about three feet in length, aud had upon
one OF its ends mn iron ring nearly nine inches in
circumference
White had armed himself with this chain, and
by running the links through the ring hal made
formidable weapon. Standing thus armed in
side the door % the cell, White declared, with
terrible onths that no living man should eater.
In this dilemma pause ensucd in tho proceed
Jugs. Sheriff Black made an attempt to enter,
assisted by four resoute and fearless men,
Driven to desperation, the hardened criminal
struck Il tremendous blow, which happily was
nut Sigh injury, upon the left baud uf the
Sheriff
1t was now proposed to inject ammoni, into
tho face Of the convict, md thus, by HIS tcmpo.
rary sulocaliou, enable the officers to take pos
session Of the cell. This was tried, but tailed
The miserable murderer recoile |, for an instant,
under the effect Of the liquid; bmt speedily ro-
covering HIMSELF he stood agnin at the door
armed with his terrible weapon, and looking tho
approximation of fend. 1t now was re
solved to dreuch the cell with ciiloroform, and
thus lall the turbulent spirit within until he
could be shftly captured.
Ohe or two bottles Of chloroorm were procured,
and the atmosphere of the cell was Thoroughly
'mPregnnted with its fumes blankets were aus.
pended outside the grated windows of the cell
and every step taken to make this effort success
iul. AZ first, the furious wretch laughed at this
attempt. II was clear that hi, wicked course of
lite had made him familiar with the use mud the
eiect OF the chlorOfurn. Indeed, he said 81, md
told the officers that the article they were using
WAS weak and poor. In order to resist itscllecls
he wound his bed quilt around his face, went oc-
cnslonNlly to the window for air, and removed
n portion Of the blanket by renehng our and
drawing it through the grating, 20 as TO make
an opening for the admission oil the wind
More than IN hour had been Consumed ia
these iruitess efforts to obtain possession OF the
prisoner aud his weapon, and ii began to he ap.
parent that hurshcr meaus were necessary lie
eventually saw that he must ultimately submit,
AMI, though al first prepared to sell his life as
dearly ms possible, his courage aud strength now
began TO ail. lie therefore proposed that, il
the Sheriff would give him his dinner NJ a drink
oil whisky, and let him live until one O'clock, he
wond yield his weapon aud surrender himself
rms proposition was accepted, and White gave
up his knotted chain thr ugh the grating of the
Il or. dinner was prepared for him, aud
glass OF water, with n slight infusion of whisky,
handed him TO drink. II was the last office of al
parent mercy, md the Sheriff willingly performed
Il.
NJ one O'Clock the Sheriff entered the CELL
White came forward and surrendered himself
Ills arms were pinioned behind him, aud be
walked resoutey down tho stairs of the mil,
through the hall, and into the place prepared Tor
his death
The services concluded, White, accompanied
ny The Sheriff. and his assistants a-ccnd,d the
steps of the galOws WITHOUT apparent terpda-
ton. lie never faltcreda moment, hut examined
with critical eye all the appliances prepared
for his execution. Aud now occurred one Of
the most honylying and painful scenes in this
terrible drama.
When once upon the scalIold and his ankles
being bound together, the usual white cap was
produced, and hc was informed that ii was
necessary to put it upon his head. To this
"hitc objected insisting that no change should
ne made IN his apparel lie wore the little felt
cap with which he had covered his head from
his first imprisonment. When the Sheriff rc
moved tho felt cup, and was about to substituting
the usual white one, the prisoner again objected,
ana, Wlth fearful imprCCations, declared that il |
should not be put on Sheriff Black, in dccI
cd tone, cndcavorcd to persuade tho prisoner,
hut in vain.
For nearly nm hour the officers were engaged
III struggle TO enforce compliance. Puionrl |
anu bound as he was, he fought with desperation.
lie snapped mud bit Mt their fingers h, icanpd il,