The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-27
NashriIle AniOa.
office ON PeInters' Alley, between
Union and beaderick streets.
SATURDAY MORNING, DEC. q, 1862
Horrible Scene at an Execution-A
Gulprit's Head Pulled from his
Body.

,
On Tuesday, in front of the Jail in
Woodstock, Thomas Cook suffered the
extreme penalty of the law, for the muir
der of his wife, at Innerkip, in July last.
The murder was committed under very
aggravating circumstances. Cook was
totally blind, and the only assistance he
had in procuring living was that af-
forded by his wife. Immediately prior to
the murder, Cook and his wife had re-
turned from begging tour, which ex
tended over seven months, and, on the
opinion of many of their class, they
were supposed to possess means to con-
siderable extent However this may be,
the couple started from their home at In
nerkip early on the day of the murder,
accompanied by person of the name of
Colver On the way from Woodstock,
Cook and his wife quarreled repeatedly,s
and at Innerkip seemed to settle their
dispute by the aid of whisky, which
they procured at an inn. On reaching their
abode, small log hut about half a mile
from the settlement, Colver appeared to
start for his home, and Cook complaining
of fatigue, retired to rest in an inner
room. He had remained but short time
in bed when he was aroused by noise
in the house, and on getting up, he heard
or fancied he heard, a person escaping
through the window of his house. OF
this he complained to his wife, whose
faithlessness was but too well establish
ed. The wife only Knocked his sensi-
bility, and, in intoxicated levity, laughed
at him. This conduct Cook determined
to punish; and, according 10 his own
statement struck her several blows with
his fist, and at the same time grasped her
by the throat. He disavowed the use of
any other means by which she met her
death. Colver, who, instead of leaving
| the place, was a spectator of what was
transporting, testified on his evidence at
the trial. that Cook used stick, and
thus, by desperate violence, effected the
murder. Upon his testimony Cook was
found guilty and was sentenced to death.
On the morning of the execution, Cook
appeared in good spirits, partook of
hearty breakfast, and such other sus-
tanning requisites as the kindness Of the
estimable Governor of the prison sugges-
ted AT no part of the trying ordeal did
Cooks manhood fOrsake him, and he
stepped from the prison on the way to
the gallows with surprising firmness.
On reaching the. scailold, the condemned
man was placed at once on the drop, the
rope adjusted about his neck, and all was
ready for the fatal fall. Cook remained
for moment engaged in prayer, when,
at a given signal, the bolt was drawn,
and with the swiftness of thought, the
unhappy man fell through the trap. The
fall was a very long one, the rope being
nine feet four inches in length. 1t was
now that the unlocked for and terrible
scene which sickened all who beheld it,
took place. The fall being SO eyeat, and
the mans body being in diseased con-
dition, the vertebr@ and muscles con-
Meeting the head with the shoulders gave
way, and, terrible to relate, the head
rolled of, while the body fell with a
scallold The life blood of the criminal
poured out in liyid streams from the
headless trunk, while the torn muscles
and gaping arteries presented a sicken-
ing spectacle. The crowd, seeing the
body disappear from their view, and the
rope swaying TO and fro, at once sup
posed that some catastrophe had occur
red but il was not for few minutes that
the real nature OF the horror became
known. When it was bruited around
that the man whom they lad but min
ute before seen alive 90 the scalTold
was now a mangled headless orpse, 0
thrill of horror seemed 10 settle ap0n all
For few minutes % hpiy lay - it fell
the authorities appar nll shrinking from
the task of touching ihe mu' de-, IS re-
mains.
The body was at lc1ig'h put IN coffin
and delivered TO Mr. Brown, near rela.
tive of Cooks first Nic Brown was
strange 10 say, present in the capacity o
special constable Toe IN, dical theo
ry relative TO the severance II the head
from the body is no, raSly explained
High authority on the pro-, attributed
this result 10 Cooks emaci4 d condition
the effects OF dissipation and bad Twins
combined, and to the dis ased state o
the body,
The Common Council of New YorI
have passed an ordinance TO issue shin
/, plasters TO the amount Of three million
of dollars.