The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-05

sustaining appreciation, discovers no one
who does not wish him dead Does ne
think of this! His impassive face gives no
sign it, and he shakes the few prof1ered
hands in almost perfect silence: once or
twice that silence is broken. When Mr..
Foote, the murdered woman's father, APP
prOaches him he asks:
us this Mrs. Coy's father p and when
an affirmative answer is given, adds:
"As there is God in heaven, am lnno-
cent Of your daughters murder" !,
To Rettig, who recaptured him, he sad
almost playfully alluding to his capture:
II assure you that ! regret having met
YOU under certain circumstances. BE
kind to my wife, as you have always been
to me-"
All are gone now, and after minute 9
waiting it is annOuncedthat the condemned
man will say few parting words. rustic
in the crowd, cut short by intense stiffness!
All looked up to the scattold. They see
that Streeter hestates, that he is addressed
by those around him and seems for mo-
ment, but a moment, -irresOlved. A thrill
runs through them. Will he, at the last
confess the atrOcious crime, which all pres
ent feel that be committed. Their dOubt
is soon resolved. Summoning all his phys
zeal powers for the task Of standing up
right, he rises, facing the South where the
greatest cOncourse is gathered, wipes his
then, standing there in his CHASTITY robe,
his clear face rs calm as ever, and his eye
seeking the utmost verge OF his vast audi
ence, he speaks, deliberately and distinct
ly, not loudly, though all hear him.
"Of the crime for which l am about 10
die, / am entirely innocent. May God for
give all those who have wronged me"
That is all. A brute shouts Played
OUT horror-stricken thrill went
through the crowd, who are awed by tie
declaration, though convinced OF its truth.
Let us not linger upon these terrible de-
tails. The time is tying. He is placed,
still sitting upon the drop, his arms bound
to his sides at the elbows, mis- face covered
with the whole cap, and the rope passed
tightly around his neck-he is left, a white
shapeless figure, nothing more. No emo
tons shook that figure. What passed be-
hind the veil we know not, but the last
time that mortal eyes beheld the living face
of Frederick Streeter, it bore the same un-
daunted courage as before. Two minutes
yet! They are passed in siience-a reflect
ed agony of suspense to allan agony OF
suspense Of untold terror to the waiting
criminal. Silence reigns-
! Broken suddenly by the quick bang OF
the drop, the fall of the Gathering chair, the
dull thud Of the body as it reached its linn
it. 1t falls eight feet clear, and life is al
once extinct. But its vestiges and traces
remain. The hands are caught up, IN
tense death struggle 10 the chest and then
tremble slowly back again. The legs
twitch fear.ully once or twice, and the bo-
DIV oscillates III the air. All this IS over III
Il moment, but for several minutes after
the shoulder blades witch percep;ibly.
A half hour slowly passes during which
the crowd IS difficult to keep at Il distance
bv "A guard. At last the body is examined
life pronounced extinct, and the cofiined
| body entrusted 10 lis friends.-CieuetGad
| I