, 1861-03-06
The Execution Of OFT tho NJ urdefef-
- .fIt.,e..a- 4ho. .Panrfa Irnnscfint "a.

. -. from the Penrta Transcript. IT. 4,
:: An immense crowd ct people assembled as 1t
Pekih yesterday, torwitness tae execution ~.
John OFT, who was convicted ot tn's muades 1.ies
OF the Oraend0Ff family, conslating 81 vile
aid two children, 1T Dsievan: Frairie in 4aze-
....;a71 .o,,y,4v r., =.
sI HA scatIoia s was erected in one corner of the
jail Jard,. and surrounded by an enclosure
eighteen feet high On the evening previous:
to The: executionI q 1a1gei number. OF people:
were present, Who loudly, proclaimed their.
dissatisfaction at the arrangement, ano e3-
pressed q determination that q public exseu-
lion should take place. In consequence OF Inc
feeling, the Sheriff forwarded zequisitlon 70
Washington, TazsWen county, summon1nS tea
-RifIe Com mpany nt that place 70 be il attend.
auce, also sending an urgent request to the
Tn1ious military conpanits- Of FeoTla 70 90
present on the occasion, to aid in the enforce
ment Of the laws and to quell the non, Hnacn
they complied with, on being placed under t6e
anthoritlve direction Of 1Adjutant gfne[M 4,'soa
,aIather of Springfield The National Blncs,-
: Captain Cunning ham, LETT on the steamer
Nebraska Mt midnight, as par. aequest OF me
authorities Of Pekin, It having been discover.
ed that there would be s: concerted act!on u
the popu1aee 1t some fine daring the nlgot.
On their arrival at Pekin there Eas nos
symptom Of excitement. the crowd o; tne
previous evening having quietly dispersed
The Washington military company were
/ 1uartered at the American House, md the
Peoria companies at the Court House, nnaet
the orders Of the Adjutant. At ten minutes
past five in the morning, the quiet T. Of tHe sisy
was disturbed By the noise OF filling tlmDef,
and in less than i've minutes, and before LIE
military could be possibly called ont, the en-
| tire enclosure around the scatfnid had been &c
-mo1ished, aud the mob, consisting OF not more
| than thirty or forty men, dispersed US quickly
t IS they had made ~tlcir appearance. sAs fai-
| light the crowd began to thlckeD, but with
| the exception OF. ratious expressions OF de-
| Termination that the execution should be pnE-
| lie, there Was no appearance of dGcord. Inc
| military surrounded the jail, and cannon were
/ placed at the entrance for Use IN case OF n7ed.
! At eight O'Clock the reverend gentleman,
| whose attentions t. the criminal have been
I .nnremfttinr arrived at the jail. Tho crowd at
this hour numbered from-tive to six Thousand
I people, who manifested no diEordesly dis
| position; their attention, being somewhat oe
cupied by the troops, who We're going tnroussl
t various: :evolutiorG.
n, AZ. ten O'Clock the Sheriff mounted th,
scaffold, and placed the rope to thu BEAM Thu
excitement for the moment was INTENSE. The
military were placed on guard at the foot o
the sesfold, and ssnt:ies placed around thl
entire yard; thus taking e7ery pTccautio1
against my assault upon the jail which Nigh
have beca contemplated
l AZ fifteen minutes to eleven o'clock, III
J. procession moved across the Jail yard, and OF
mounted the g1bbet with !. firm, undaunte'
\ step, conyersing freely with the clergyman, AM
those around him. Some minutes WcIe spen
In feryent prayer to God, at the conclusion @
which OFT addressed the multituas in firm
even voice, declaring that he, and he alone va
the guilty man, and that Green, nor any othe
eleven O'clock the drop fell, and his guilt
soul was in the presence Of his Creator. III
crowd quickly dispersed, and iii g few nc
ments all Was quiet, and orderly as usual.