The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-03-17

oalur aY, contrary 10 Tue usual cuSLoih VI
king Friday as the day for executing the
,rder for caiital punishment.
The last night of the unfortunate man
vas passed in uninterrupted slumbcrs -
tie retired at the usual hour, after having
,een visited by number of his friends,
with whom he conversed with great free
dom and spirit To these he spoke of the
part he bad taken in the war, and men,
inned with pride the names of the battles
which he had been engaged. During
he evening he was also attended by the
Rev DIR. S. H. Weston, Chaplain of the
It'll regiment Of this city, with whom he
united in prayer with true Christian fer
ency. He partook of the Holy Com
uunion, and declared his preparation to
meet the fate which hung over him. To
Dr.. Weston he coufded many facts rela-
i've to his family and his life, but as these
we're received under the "seal of the con-
ession" 1t was not proper that they should
he made public. Daring the night his
lecp was refreshing aud he arose on yes
erday morning in the most cheerful spir-
is. S ,on afterward he was served with
breakfast, of which he partook heartily
lie then arranged his toilet, after which
e was engaged for some time in writing
etters to his friends, and, it was reported,
sketch of his life. A little after 10
''clnck he expressed desire to have his
photograph taken. This request was
granted, and C.ptaIn Beall, accompanied
~ the off ser of the lay, was conducted to
the photograph gallery on the north side
of Garrison Square, where his wish wa.
gratiied. His spiritual adviser visited
him Immediately afierward, and again al
mntStered the sacrament The doomed
man acknowledged his dependence upon
his Mtker, and was firm in hShope of a
blessed hereafter. He jnin' d fervently in
prayer and expressed his readiness to die.
The sacrament was also, and for the last
time, Administered to him at liz o'clo TX.
He tod Dr. Weston that be experienced
no regret for what he had done, and said
that # he died on the scafoli he would
die the death Of martyr. He said he
would die firm in the faith of the cause
which he hal espoused During the
morning two of his friends from Baltimore
visited him, but their names were not
made known.
At half-past twelve o'clock, Lieutenant
TaInan, Provost Marshal of the fort, ac
companiei by United States NJ ,r,hal Mur.
ray aud the cxecutioner, enterei the cell
Captain Beall received them with smile
and bowed as he was told to prepare for
death
Rising from his seat, he said 81 am rea
dy, gentlemcn." He then submitted with
most .nderful composure to the pinion
ing of his hands behind him and to the
adjusting Of thu moose about his neck
He then requested that "the execution
should be as brief as possible" and said,
81 want you to make the work as short as
you can when you get there. | suppose
that it will be but mere muscular effort,
after all, aud | think | can b ar it,
A mi itary cape was then thrown over
his shoulders, the black cap placed upon
his head, the drum beat slow march, and
the prisoner left the cell.
The scatfnld was erected on Tuesday on
the south side of the STAND, within few
hundred feet of the water, and comman-
ded full view of Staten Island, Opposite.
1t Was simple structure, arranged in
the usual manner, with the ordinary APP.
planes of rope and weights A platform
was placed on the ground under the beam
on which the prisoner stood previous to
the execution. AT eleven clock the exc.
cutioner arrived upon the spot and began
the adjustment of the weights and rope
the weights used upon the occasion being
about $50 p unds or hundred pounds
above the probable weight of the prison.
er, and about the same hour prisoners
who had been standing upon the balco-
mics answering aud proposing queries to
the spectators, were removed to their cells,
aud preparations began. The drum. beat
ing called the soldiers from their quarters,
and they re speedily formed within the
enclosure.
At Ia precisely the procession began
to move with step measured to the martial
music of a drummer beating slow and
measured tattoo? The sight was one of
peculiar impressiveness; one of those
sights which linger in the memory for
years with a vague sense of mingled So
Iemnity and horror. Two or three times
before the procession halted at the foot of
the galows, the prisoner lost step, but
with wonderful self p 'sses sion quickly
regained it aud passed on.
The manuer of the prisoner, during the
brief period of the movement of the pro.
ces-ion, was marked by a peculiar ease,
self possession aud mauliness of bearing
His step was firm, his head erect, aud
every movement indicated frmness and
courage seldom evinced even by the bra
vest men in the presence of death.
The procession, having arrived at the
summit of slight eminence or undnlation
overlooking the scatfold, halted for few
moments in regular order at signal from
the officer of the day, and the prisoner,
turning to DR. Weston, said, with a quiet