Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-05-02
Execution Of J. ). Stralney.

From the Louisville democrat ofthe 2sth
The execution Of j j. Strainey took place
in the Military Prison.yard, yesterday after
noon, at four o'clock As the execution was
not made public, there we're very few specta-
tors present besides number OF officers al d
soldiers A crowd of men and boys we're
outside of the inclosure, peeping through
the fence, while few were seen upon the
house tops, and perched upon the limbs Of
the neighboring trees.
James ]. Strainey was a private in Ben
Wigginston's 8 company of guerrias, and was
captured at West Point, Kentucky, January
20, 1865 When brought to this city, he was
severely wounded In the left shoulder with
buckshot which he said was done by one of
his companions in a iracas Proper medical
attention was paid him, and he entirely re.
covered He was presented before a
courtmartial converting in this city, ar
raigned, and tried on the charge Of being q
a guerrilla The evidence was very strong
against him, and he wsu sentenced to be exc
cuted at such time and place as the Major
General commanding the Department may
suggest The time appointed for the execu-
ton TO take place was fixed for last Wednes-
day, out Major General Palmer respited the
sentence until further orders, on account of
the day being observed as one of sorrow and
lamontation over the death of the late Presi-
dent of the United States Major General
Palmer since issued an order to have the SEN
tence complied with, and fixed yesterday az
the day for the execution to take place. The
scaliold was erected in the center OF the lot,
three companies of the Thirtieth Wisconsin
regiment were marched out, and formed
hollow square around it..
At about four o oock The prisoner, accompa-
MED by Father Brady of .he Catholic Church,
aud guard of ten or twelve men, walked,
with steady STEP to the foot of the scaflod,
and stood perfectly composed while his arms
and wrists were being tied His eyes were
downcast, his beardless face seemed deprived
of all expression, while his eye, with an i'm.
ploring look, viewed those who stood nearest
to him. He stepped upon the scaffod, ac-
companied by his spiritual adviser, the sur
geon Captain George L. Swope, and one or
two others. Captain Swope then read the Or
der for his execution, after which Father
Brady and the prisoner knelt in silent con-
fession. which lasted about five minutes
The prisoner was then placed upon the trap,
and his ankles and knees bound together
with ropes. Captain Swope asked him if he
had any thing to say He raised his eyes
mourniully and fixed them upon the Captains
face, but stood mute as a statue The cap
was placed upon his head, and in the twink.
ling of an eye the body of James J Straiuey
was swinging between earth aud heaven. His
neck was broken by the fall, and he died al
most without a struggle.
The prisoner was eighteen years and four
or five months old He was about five feet
five inches high, well built, dark complexion,
dark hair, hazel eyes, and would weigh about
one hundred and fifty pounds, During his
confinement in prison, he seemed careless in
regard to the awful doom that awaited him,
until, within the past two weeks, be became
more easy in his manner. During the past
few days he has been visited by his spiritual
adviser, Father Brady, and he began to realize
that the hour Of death drew near, and became
earnestly engaged in making preparations to
meet his fate, reading the Bible continually,
which enabled him to meet death without "a
murmur, without fearful eye and without
fear and trembling
His remains will be sent to Mount Wash
ington, Ky, for interment He has mother
and three sisters residing there.