The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-02-21
THE EXECUTION.

The morning of the 18th of February.
the day appointed for tie expiation Of the
great crime, was cloudy. ard snosing
moderately. The streets were wet and
unpleasant for locomouon. A military
company from kirkvIlle arrived q. an early
boar, aud with companies A, and B, Of
this place, repaired TO the Court Hous e
TO act as gnari. Up to ten o'clock The
number OF strangers in town was eoas;d.
cradle but not noticeably large. About
that time, however, people began 10 ar
rive more freely, until at twelve the crowd
probably numbered 1000
The Mayor of the city had i.sued his
proclamation, requiring all the saloons 10
be closel. and the order was universally
respected So far as is known. Il was a
wise precaution to preserve order.
The following twelve persons composed
the jury summoned BY the Sheriff, accord
ing TO law, to witness the execution: E
Fl. Stiles, X w. Boyd. j w. McGlas-
son, Chas. Dudley, Thomas Foster, A.
Melick, B. D. Baker. John Newman,
Wm. A. Nye, NJ. J. Williams, T. J. Zol-
lsrs, and Thomas G.. Haskins.
The prisoner did not sleep well the
night before the execution, as be had NJ,
for several nights previous. He was
cheerful, however, as he has been gener-
ally, during bis imprisonment. He par
took of food in the morning moderately
About o'clock Rev. Father kreckle,
Catholic Priest Of this city, with clerical
assistance from abroad, attended 10 tie
prisoners cell, to prepare him, according
TO the rites Of that church, for the great
change about to take place.
The gallows was erected during the
night in lhe west end of the hall, in front
Of the cells, the platform raised about FIVE
ieet from The ground AT about Ia the
Jury were sworn and proceeded 70 the
place OF execution. No other persons
were admitted except the guard, Clergy
men, Physicians, Drs. Williamson, and
Hinsey, and two or threo representatives
ot the press. The hour Of l2 drew near.
The officiating Priests were still enysg d
with the prisoner in his cell, he still a.
pearing calm and collected.
The clergymen left tie cell and the
Sheriff assisted by Deputy Reed, proceed
ed to robe the prisoner for the execution
While this process was going on, Nc
Comb remarked to Reed, "Bill, I'd make
a good Priest =
a. precisely IL o'clock, allowance being
made for the difference of time pieces Nc
.Comb. accompanied by Revs. Fathers
Kreckle and DeCaily, the Sheriff and
Deputy Sheriff Reed, came from the cell.
He walked with firm step. At the fool
of the gallows pause of few moments
was made, while the Priest offered pray
ers, the prisoner responding. At the con-
clusion Of the exercises the prisoner walk
cd quickly back across the length Of the
hall TO the cells of his fellow prisoners, OF
whom be took leave; returning towards
the eallows. through the dense crowd. be
shook hands with such persons as be
knew, pausing few moments and speak-l
ing ia ! low voice to Judge Trimble. He
then ascendsd the scaffold, walking stead
ily aud firmly, and at once deliberately
took hold Of the rope apparently testing
its strength. Bling called upon by the
Sheriff. he stepped forward near the front
of the platform and spoke distinctly as
follows:
THE CLOSING scsNEs.
You have come to see an innocent man
hung. am here upon the gsilers With
but very few minutes to live, sn1 / say
| 10 you I am an innocent mAn% ~ vaai