, 1864-04-20
EXECUTION AT DAYTON, @.


John W. Dobbins, deserter from the U.
S. army, was hanged ut Dayton on Friday for
the murder, on the 18th Of Feb, 1863, Of
farmer named Lindenmood, who had wan
dcrcd out Of town with Dobbins, both being
intoxicated, when tho: latter killed him and
robbed him of his money. Dobbins :vas ar
rested soon after, and tried in the June fol-
lowing. Tie jury failed to agree, asuin.trled
in November and convicted. Tie case was
then carried to the Supreme Court on writ
Of error, when the verdict OF the court below
vns sustained, and sentence ordered to be
executed. TIC Journal says:
While pobbins was in prison he was noted
for an utter indifference to the propriettes OF
life, We are advised that at no time did be
cxprcss coutrition for his crime, aud invuTia.
blV rejected the counsel Of the ministry who
came 10 talk with him about death and etcr-
pity, He generally trcated them kindly, but
told them that he bad no need Of any Of their
advice; that be had made up bis mind to die
Us he Was, and t.ko the chances,
Of lis life, which was beques tied to gentle
man who had attended to him when afflicted
in prieon. He was generally in excellent
spirits during his imprisonment, aud at times
shocked persons who had access to him, By
his ill-tincd 1cvity. lie was particularly Sc
we're upon lHe JuuEe WHO pIEsIaeQ IL Ills lll1l,
| and who passed Judgment upon him; aud sill
whom he deemtd obnoxious to him, in any
| way, cnnue in for q liberal share Of anathe-
mas, But what most excited the wonder OF
thoee who visited him, was his recklessness
| of his own fate.
On Wednesday night he attempted to com
with vii plece Of looking. glass. IL was dis.
covered, however, In ti'ne to check tile how
| ut h1ood and save Ills IH..
A little before 12 On Fridny morning be was
led cut foz execution, lie attempted to
dance ssho-down'' on the way from his seil
| to The scairold, but be Was restrained By the
SHERIFF. Dobbins assembled the steps rapidly
and uualded, and cyinced no more tre2lda
t;on ti,au il fe had intended to make stump
snrcch and be began to dance On the traE
doors as preliminary to The executiv.
! THE sheriff and the ministers took positions
IN the nlatform near the prisoner, and chat,
beipt handed to Dobbins, he gave ehoF!
eketcb Of his life, saying that be ~as about
| twentyone years OF agc, haa , ueen q negIect @
listed ond deserted several times, and hae
worked 10 the intervals as coal on refiner
| IN The dny the murder was mmitted he be
came drink after fonr months Of sobriety
IL met Iinotnmood In saloon. the latte
beiuc very much overcome BY liquor. inel
| randered OFT together to the III 9 oank, "nef'
| 7 inHEnmO0Q W8nLE1 ~
pap3ou had sense enough, to- enaeasor
rrull him I'D, but the latter got the loe'
That t DO Doebint wanted 70 rob him, t9oqsl boz 81
| i,c eaId lie had then no iutentioo o. oolag
nnythias N @ Of The kiad: Iiadenmood ts bsgs, e.,
and stl,fS fSrnM n hm gooas o sa
lien frcnzied with the liquor he had beel
drinking, took his pocket knife on. n1t ent
| with Lis teeth opened the blade, when Ma' as
shout W two inches and half long, and des
sparE of getting the ola m.ns ,, b91a Ss !oGas En
jest then Lin jenuood {who was striking on
right and LETT threw up his arms and tn
kIife struck deer1y In his neck The bio.
,ras repeated and the old uan let go immedi
ately md sunk down.. Dobbins thought b
bloody work, rau away, to the Main stree
river bridge, where he sat on the abutmen
ebont twenty minutes. The liquor -Was work
| Ing upon his system. md he hardly kneV