The New York herald., 1862-02-22
EXECUTION CT CAPTAIN CORDON.
HISTORY OF THE SLAVER'S CAREER
His Attempt to Commit
Suicide.
SHOCKING SCENE At THE EXECUTION.
Interesting Details Of His Las
Moments,
&e., &C.. &c.

the preceding night he attempted to commit suicide by
taking strychnne, which conveyed to him segars
bat through the untirng exertons Of Drs simmons.
Hodgman and Wood the poison was removed
from his stomach, and he resuscitated.
He very weak, however, during the
morning. and had il not bsen for the free administration
Of smuans it would have been necessary carry him
to the gailoas.
TIE body remained suspended twenty minutes,
and at the end OF that time, life hsvng boen
extinct, tho corpse lowered and placed in a coffin,
preparatory TO being delivered TO his friends.
THE HISTORY OF CAPTAIN GoRDoN's CAREER.
The unfortunate Nathaniel Gordon was born in Port
land, Mane and at the time of his excavation about
twenty years Of age. The circumstances elected
upon his trials folowsfor he tried twice'
the first occasion the jury not agresng His father
captain in the American merchant marine service,
and frequently took his wife with him his voyages
One Of the points insisted for the defence OF the
happy Nathaniel was that his nativity not proved to
| be American, as he born at sea- and in British
waters, under the British Tag.
On the first trial, before Judge Shipman ezd Jury
there was conviction. On the second Trial, before
judges Nelson and shipnan, which occupied the
for three days--the 9th, 7th, and Sth of November
lass-he was convicted. Testimony sdduced by Mr.
j. Delafed Smith, United States District Attorney even
from the West Indies and that ndefatgabe official
II
sentence Of the law Yet the counsel Of the unfortunate
man not remiss. Fx-Judges Beebe and Dean we're
untring in their efforts 20 prevcH. what they ccnscu
ionsy believed to be ts mnoac.on of poor miserable
| man the altar Of faCsticism.
They failed alike before the and the President Of
be Union. the as,h Of November the folp-sng order
made by the Judges In the United ssaes Circuit
| Court
Motions for an srrest OF iwgment and for new tris,
l for he ont
and the prisoner, and masnre detberaoE having been
had, it is now ordered That said motions be den,d
Wbereuron the United States District Attorney moved
for judgment upon the prisoner.
The Court then proceeded to pass wtgment, as fol-
| lows
That you ec taken back 10 the Cie7 Prison wb-nes
you were boeught and remain there unta Friday the g
day Of February next and then and there ps,s
OF execution. between the hours ofg~elve oclock at
and three O'Clock in the afternoon that dsy
be hanged by the neck until you lead and ,yshe
! LORD have mercy on your soul
The history OF this case which hes been from tr.s TO
time fully reported in the HEK.seo, bo better
summed up than in tho sentence of Judge Sfs,riaan
which published the time. q is as follows
appears from tho evidence ir this case that ia the
sumner OF lse0you sailed ia the sap Erie irosn gavana
the island OF Cuba, bound TO the OF Afr,oa You
master Of the vessel aud hed board conpetent
crew, snda large amount of provisions of a aind and
quazDty appropriate for food t7a large numbs of per
aud such as is usually carried in vessels which
Sa;.ned Tor the slave trade, The ship sso had ON
bparu large number Of water casks as ~re as a
|
probably exchanged the Freight which yoreuderto ok
20 being back TO cuba In cgamand OF this ship thus
manned and provided proceeded 10 the Congo river
on the West Coast of Afrcs snd there after sadng
car.o and subsequently resppng all nearly all but
the irouor and filling your ver casks with fresh water,
you dropped your vessel Down the river e. a point
miles from lie mouth, and ia a few hours on the
afernoon OF the th Of August, you took board ss7
! OF the inhabitants or tfat country, Gtrust them,
GcIney packed and crowded, between ke decks tho
ship and Immediately set sail foe Cuba. 0n the
ng or the sth, III the Atlantic Ocean akopt ifiy miles
from the coast. captured by the United
vessel Mohicsn, your snip taken Hrovi where
sil she unfortunate victims OF your crane then living
put shore and you brough. your ship TO
tbs port. Upon these fscts you have been accused,
brought 20 trial before jury OF your oeulrymen and
cn,i guilty cf a crime for which the Of your coun-
Try sdudge you pirate ed inhict you the punish
nent death Ia the verdict OF the tirr il is my duty
Say tina, the Court folly ooncurred. The evidence Of
| your guilt full and complete 60 exclude from
tie your all doubt You are soon 10 be
eostonted with the terrible consequences Of your crime
and dit - proper that should call to yotx mind duty
OF epar ng lor that event which " IN socs yor
mortal existence and usher you into the presence
supreme Judge. Let me tmpore you to seek the spiritual
guidance Of the ministers of rsg and l your repent
aSceoe thorough and humble crime great
10 not attempt t. hide s enormy frozn yourself think
of te cruelty and wickcdness OF .eizng nearly thou
sandfeow beings who mover did you harm, and thrust
ing them between the decks Of small snip, beneath
burning tropical sun to die Of disease su cation
be transported to dstantaands and consigned they and
their postery, 10 fate far cruel than death.
1hu of the suffering Of the unhappy beings whom you
crowded the Erie OF their helpless and
you took themrrom their native land and especially
think Of those who persisted under the weight of their
|
to honncvia. Remember that You showed mercy to
noncoarrying m as you did not only these Of your
sex, bat women and helpless children TO not fat'er
yourself that because tnsy belonged 90 q different
fran yourself that your guilt therefore les
sened. Rather fear that IT is increased Ia tho just and
generous heart the humble and the weak Inspire compass
sion and call for pity and orbelrance and you
into the presence OF that God OF the black
man as ws u ~ the white man, who Is no respccter Of
persons do not indulge for moment the thought that He
hears with Indifference tho cry Of the hurbest His
children 10 imagine that because others shared In
|
but remember the awful admonition Of your Bible,
although hand JOIN in hand sas wicked shall not 10 un
punished" Turn your thoughts towards HIN who one
pardon who s not deaf 10 the suppcatioos OF the
wlo seek Iis snercy rems.ns only to pronounce the
that you be taken back 10 the City Prison from whence
you were broushi and remain thsre until Friday, the
seventh day OF February next and then and there the
place Of execution between the hours OF twelve O'Clock
and three clock in tbs afternoon that day
you be hanged by the neck until you dead and may
the Lord have mercy upon your soull
The death warrant then sigssd, and the esnvict
| handed 10 the Marshal.
Nathaniel Gordon followed the profession Of ths sea
from early is beg ming persons of that prsd.
lection do, q cabin boy and be then by degrees
70 the position OF captain Il 10 said-how truly we do
no. Know-ihat on one occasion when he vas leaving
the coast OF Africa with cargo Of slaves be was pursued
by British man efwsr, his vessel captured and
| Gordon escaped in female attire.
| Gordon was pale faced, dark eyed little man, and
with an appearance which would negative the idea da
dealer in flesh. He leavessnd this ia the mosl
mournful scene in the whole usgsdyan inter sting
young wife, native Of Nova Scotia, only twsnty -four
years Of age and lovely, curly headed boy,to lament
the hours accursed thirst for gold, illegally pur.
sued and painfully and degr scinely expiatsd on
/ TIE public scaGold.
II appears that. q last resource, ex-Judge Beebe
went to nterceds with Governor Morgan but his Excel
looys despatch failed 10 have any effect upon the Pres
dent and the sentence of the law carried effect
TIE EVENING BEFORE THE EXECUTION.