, 1864-06-24
FROM NASHVILLE.
Execution Of Five Rebel
MuFderer8.
Scenes at the Scaffold--Sketehes Of
the VictimA

Scenes at the sea6old---sketches Of
the VictimA
[From Our Special Correspondent
| NASHVILLE, Tenn, June 1R
Five villains respectively suffered an tgno-
minious death yesterday at the State Peni-
tentiary, in this city. They wera tried be-
fore, found guilty. and sentenced By, mill
tary commission at Tullahoma, Tenn, in
] March last, Col E. l. Cameron. OF the 18th
New Jersey, acting as President Of the Com
mission. They were charged with and found
| guilty of-as follows:
| william Lemmond, citizen, was chaged
hfst with murder, second with sssault with
| intent to xii, aud third, With robbery. Cy.
rus Lee Cathey Was also charged as above.
Jesse B. Nerron, citizen, likewise, was
charged, frat, with murder, second, with A.
sault with intent to kill, and With robbery.
| Thomas R. West, citizen, was severalIv
charged with murder, assault with intent to
Kill, robbery. and With "bushwhackIng.'
Benjamin F. West, citizen, was char Jed with
being murderer and robher. The prison.
ers zach pleaded "not guilty." but the Com
| zoiksion wisely concluded differently, fouad
them guilty, and sentenced thsm to bb b ~uE.
ed, At such time and p13ce II the command
Ing General might direcr, tWo-thirds OF the
| members Of the Commission concurrIus
therein.
The proceedings, findings and sentence of
the commission we're approved by the com.
n4apdipg General, the records were tr.aus-
Mitted to the President OF tbs United Statea.
who approved of the sentence and directed
that they be carried into execution, where
npon Gen. Thomas ordered that they be exc
cuted on the 18th of June, 1864.
TIE CONDUCT OF Tu1 PRISONERS PREVIOUS
TO THEIR H1ECuTIoN.
For the past fifteen days the prisoners
bare manifested every inclination to make
themselves as fully prepared for eternity ~
the short space allotted them terrcstialIY
would permit In their religious exercises
they were attended daily bY the Rev j. J.
44nom1son. q OF Hamilton, Ohio and the Rev.
and Nerron in particular were devoted, while
the two above named. Lemmond and Benia-
min West, were baptized few days ago,
Cs1hey's wife aud child remained with him
the night before the execution.
PREPARATIONS FOR THB EXECUTION.
Al due preparations were made for the ex-
CARDS the mechanical appsratus and the spIr.
it1al condition Of the victims. Major Shsr-
man and Captain Trent were the officers de-
tailed BY Col Homer to carry out the tragic
performance In front of the Pententiary
Wgre dra~n up several companies Of the 3lst
ment surrounded the institution to guard
against undue excitement. TIE seafofd was
erected in little yard to the LEFT Of the main
entrance, and Was surrounded by about
hundred men Of the 3lst Wisconsin, under
command Of Col. West.
sCKsR At 1HA scAEroLD.
The arrangement. for the execution were
HtGqr A1f fttrnr rh--$
the wisdom and humane pTomptings OF an
efficient Provost Marshal, aud but small
number Of spectators we're present. I be.
Heve that less than twenty persons witness
ed the execution, who had assembled alone
ments after halEpast ten O'Clock The culprlte
assembled the terrible platform, &c ccompanisd
BY their spiritual advisers. squad Of SOL
diers, and the officers who had charge Of the
execution They all walked up to tho scat
1old with drmness, and stood side by side,
evidently with slight emotion, and lmmedt.
ately gave themselves up to religious exer-
cises.
After the usual ceremonies upon such occa-
sions, the process Of binding their bodies,
arms and legs commenced, anl In a short
time al was arranged, and the dreadful ropes
we're adjusted properly around their necks
The moment Calhey felt this rope around bis
neck, and who had for some moments be.
trayed uneasiness, he became unconscious
and fell - far - tho moose permitted him
This Satnfn1 episode, coupled with = grim
cepting Nerron, maybe, who although irm,
gave every exhibition Of penitence,) pro-
suced = sensation which ehau never for
get.
TEE DYING WORDS or TuH MEN,
Each one Of the men made few remarks,
the tenor Of which WAS proclamation Of
their innocence Cathey and Ne1ron car
nestly asseyerated the!r freedom from the
crime, but added thst they wero happy, and
believed that they ehoxld flnd rest and tran.
guilty with ths Savior. Lemmsnd made
1e" incomplete remarks regarding his lnao-
eenee, put Wa otherWi.e calm and reaisned.
Bepjanin and Thomaa West, tbs TWO young
est Of the party, II ths scene waa prolonged,
graW more bold and less penitent, and atler
asserting their innocesce, stated that they
mere but honest rebs1 soldiers, and conclud-
ed BY saying that they believed ths rebel
rebel soldiers.
At precisely II o'clock the white caps were
drawn over their heads, ths scaffolding Was
made to give AWAY, and their souls wore +!
ushered into eternity.
s1KTCuE5 or TH8 vIcrINS-C1RuG LEE
CATH1Y.
Cyrus Lee Cathey, candor eompels me to
say, did not look like murderer, although,
his guilt. Cathey was born in North Caro-
lina in the year 1881, but camo to this State
with his parents few mo1ths after his birth.
He il = married man, and leavss 4 disconso.
late widow and babbling child. His father
is dead, bpt his mother. two brothers, aud
two eietere, are living in Lincoln county,
Tennessee. It is said th2t he had, up to tue
breaking out OF the rebellion, been Al e1eu-
plarJ map, and member Of church. C,taey
had teen In the rebel army, and WAS seriously |
dad ~ $n1tn
Confederacy as private. soldier In the 44th |
Tenuettee- he WAS really fine looking |
man, about fire feet ten Inches In he1ghth.
square shoulders, and possessed Of an open |
taco. beaning blue eyes, and = handsome |
forehead. |
JESSE B. AERRoN.
Jesfee 3: Eerron, was born In Marshal Co. |
Alabama in the year 1889, and has a father. |
step-mother and sister living in Lincoln |
county, Tenn. lie was far from being vii |
lalnous looking man, although convicted of |
the most terrible of crimes. He was single
msn, and had been formerly a member OF the
I'D lrebtD Tennessee regiment, bat was
a visit to his home. Nerron had rather an
amtable face, soft blue eyes, aud Was well
made man, standing five feet ten inches, and
exce1lentlJ-wen proportioned.
w1L114M P. LEAMoND. 4
Lemmond was tall, hsndsomo.bullt mnn,
elI teet IN height, and 8u muscle. He mas 4
born iu Lincoln county, In this State, in the
year 1S20, and has mother, two brothers,
and sister living in the above named coun.
u. Lemmond had good-looking face, NTH
the least little sinister expression, light blue
eyes, sangnine temperament, and in my estl-
nation, looked unlike person who could
deliberately take the lite Of his fellow, Al
though native of this State, he had for
loug time been member of the 17th Miszis-
sippi, and was captured while on fnrlough
just year ago.
HESJAM1E 2. WEST.
Benjamin F. West was quite q Young man.
having been born in 1912, In Lincoln county,
Tenn, and bas mother, two brothers and
Two sisters living in Marshal county, in this
State He bad been soldier in the rebel
army upwards Of three years, and was =
member Of Forests cavalry at the time of
his participation In the com mmitt i OF the in
human deed which sealed his fate. As q
murderer, Vests appearance would arrest
the attention OF the most casual beholder.
He was about five feet, eight and . half inch
es in height, and Was built according to the
most athletic model. Anatomically speak
ing, be was finely symmetrical, admirably
knit and rounded In al his parts. There
was grandeur In bis fine black eye, and m
intellectual tone In bis face which would al
mcet imperative1y forbid the observers en-
teftQiumeut of the facts In his eftuatfon |