Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-11-01

dleston was mentioned, he said in firm
voice: III can tell it better than that" Whel
Col. Shafter read as follows "to all whicl
the accused pleads not guilty." he replied
But I don't now"
At the conclusion of the reading of tht
sentence, Col. Skater remarked to the priso
ner: "In accordance with this sentence,
am now going to have you executed.n :" Fur.
guson bowed his head, and rejoined: avery
we'll" Rev. Mr.. Bunting then made an ap'
propriate prayer, at the conclusion of which
Furguson bowed profoundly towards the
minister, as if inte1aing to thank him, utter.
ing some iuaudible words.
He was then asked if he had anything to
say before proceeding with the execution. He
replied: "Nothing to say particularly at all.
No, don't think I have" The moose was here
placed around his neck, and then, for the first
time, be displayed signs of emotion. His face
flushed to a deep scarlet, the perspiration
broke forth profusely from his face, and his
lips closed with conYulsive culver. The re.
alization of his awful situation seemed to
have flashed over his mind in oil its cullness,
overpowering his fortitude. Colonel Shatter
wiped the sweat away, and the prisoner grad
ually recovered his equapimity. He expressed
himself much opposed to having anything
placed over his eyes when handkerchief
was called for. Then heyolunteered the state.
ment: ~ don't know some things in those
specifications, but I don't deny anything I
ever DONE" For moment ortwo he seemed
to be depressing an impulse to make fuller
remarks. After a brief pause he added, ~
want to be sent to my family; l don't want
to be buried on this soil" After another
pause, he continued, in an excited tone:
T" DON'T give me to the doctors; I don't want
to be cut up here.' Colonel Shafter answered:
You shan't, Mr.. Furguson." A short siA
lence followed, when the prisoner again
spoke: I" I want to beFput in that thing"
pointing to his coffin, aand taken to White
county, where I can hare my family around
me. If had only hatimy way, l wouldn't
have been here. Whenever you are ready l
am done. My last requests to be sent away
with my wife,"
The white cap was then drawn over his
face. His last words were 30 Lord have
mercy on me, l pray thee!"
AS he uttered the last word, at serenteen
minutes to twelve o'clock, detective Bsnvlle,
at one blow of a hatchet, severed the rope
which sustained the drop, and the body fell
some two feet with aheavy thub. He died
easy, there being no death struggle, asis often
the case. Twice he: e:.slightly shrugged his
shoulders, and soon the desperate guerrilla,
whose crimes. and cruelties had made his
name terror, hung oEpae. and the guilty
spirit was ushered into that eternity at whose
threshold the wicked shrink back aghast
Whether he entered that new life repen-
tant man is question between his God alone
and him. The grave. has closed over his
vices, let us forget the !wror rs he uas perpe-
trated; for the places th, new him shall
know him no more forever.
The neck was not broken 10y the fall, but
the rope had completely imbedded itself in
the front part OF the neck, the knot having
slipped to the rear. Considerable extravasa-
ton of blood occurred from the nostrils, as ex-
hibited the cap which covered the head.
At twcnty-four and half minutes past
twelve the body was cut down. In accordance
with the opinions of the attendant surgeons,
the immediate cause of death was cerebral
apoplexy, from strangulation, the fall not be-
ing sufficient to break the neck. 1t is proba-
BILE that he suffered little or none, for, though
life was not extinct for some time, yet sensa-
ton ceased the moment the body dropped.
The remains were placed in the cofiu, She
lid was screwed down, and the spectators dis
pcrsed.