The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-15
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT;
Execution at Fort Leavenworth.

Execution at Fort Leavenworth.
From the Leavenwort> Conservative, July %.
Jeremiah Hoy was shot at the fort yes.
terday morning, having been found guilty
by the military commission of treason and
murder.
The military commission was appointed
on the 23d of May, and consisted of the
following officers of the Sd Wisconsin cav.
airy: Captain D. s. Vittum, Lieutenants
O. A. Perry, L. B. Reed, and Asa w.
Farr. The trial of Jeremiah Hoy, alias
Solomon p. Hoy, of johnson county, Kan.
sas, took place on the 22d of July. Captain
Vittum, and Lieutenants Reed, Kiser, and
Farr were present.
1t was proved that Hoy was a member
of Quantreli's guerilla band that be was
accessory to and guilty of the murder of
Allison, a citizen OF Missouri, and of q
United States soldier of Major Banzhaf's
command, on the 10th of March, at the
bridge crossing, jackson county, Missouri !;
also of burning said bridge; also of trea-
sonable acts in levying war against the
United States.
The following is the material part Of the
testimony of Samuel w. Carpenter. He
witnessed the murder and bridge burning
1.-TWO men and boy passed-one citi.
zen, Allison, and one soldier. They met
Quantrill and his men. The three dismount.
ed. Saw Allison and the soldier shot.
Quantrill then turned to the boy and said {:
Boy, go back to Kansas City and tell the
sons b-s you saw Quantrill's band kill
your father The next l heard him say
was Boys, bring the d--n dead carca>
ses on the bridge and we'll roast Them The
boy crossed the bridge and it was then fred.
Hoy was captured the next day by Colonel
Mitchell"
Hoy admitted on the trial that he was
present on the day charged that be fred
with the rest when ordered to do so, but
urged in eXtenuatiOn that he was forced to
join Quantrill's band.
The military commission sentenced How
"to be publicly shot to death according to
military usage at such time and place as the
general commanding the department of
Kansas shall direct"
The proceedings were approved by Major
E. A. Calkins and by General Blunt on the
26th instant, and the 18th was fixed by
General Blunt as the day of execution.
The execution took place on the open
field just south of the barracks. ColOne
Burris was present with the troops at the
garrison, and Captain Oonover acted as the
officer of the day. The prisoner was
marched on to the grounds by the soldiers;
he wore black suit and felt hat; his arms
were pinioned. Hoy was brought to the
place where he was to be shot, made to
kneel and bis hat removed. In this posi-.
ton some clergyman asked the divine bless
sing. The prayer probably lasted ten min
utes; it seemed century. We did not
hear what was said, but the sight of that
poor creature kneeliDg there with loaded
muskets before him, and the delay prolong-
ed and prolonged, as If he were to be killed
by inches, was the most torturiDg we ever
witnessed. Hoy was then marched back to
the line of soldiers and his sentence read to
him. After this be was placed on his knees
again and his eyes bandaged. He had
maintained the utmost GOODNESS throughout,
but now his composure was forsaking him
and his frail body swayed little. There
was no delay, no torture, no bungling in the
military part of the programme. A de-
sachment of soldiers stood about twenty
yards distant, and the moment the guard
left the prisoner the command Was given to
fre-twelve volumes of fire leap from the
rifles, and Hoy is dead.
He fell over upon his face and died with
out struggle. One ball went through bis
head and two through his body. After an
examination of his body by Drs. Quidor
and Sinks, it was placed In a coffin and
bore to the military burying ground. The
soldiers marched of, the band playing a
lively air.
Those who knew Hoy say he sustained a
fair reputation until the breaking out of the
war, when he Joined the murderous bush
wbackers. He has father and brother
living in johnson county-both Union
men and good citizens. He was captured
with five other prisoners, by Col. Mitchell,
in the fight near Little Santa Fe, at the time
Maj. Pomeroy was wounded. They were
taken to Shawneetown, and forwarded to
the fort. The other prisoners were releas>
ed by Sturgis.