Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-29
FXEgBFION or KENNEDY.
Robert Cobb N enneGy, the Sr- Il
Hotel Burner, Executed ut FOII La
fayette.-ExtraOrdina Conduct OF
the condemned--.He Dies Singing
a Ssng--Hts Confession.

song-His Confession.
We take the following, in reference to
the execution of Robert Cobb Kennedy,
the rebel spy and hOtel-burner, at Fort Ls-
fAystte on Saturday, from the New York
Herald, Eus'siHg Post, and Times.
The Herald of Sunday has the follow
ing:
BIOGRAPHY OF THE CULPRIT.
Kennedy was q native Of Georgia, but |
was brought up in Louisiana. He entered |
the Military Academy at West Point in |
1854, but left it two years afterwards, and, |
returning to his home in Louisiana, led |
the life of planter. He was among the |
first to enter the rebel service when the re- |
bellion broke out he wss one of the |
chief conspirators in the attempt TO fire the |
CITY last faH, and was detected in trying to |
burn Bsrnum's Museum at an hour when |
its destruction would have involved the loss |
of largo number of lives. The incendisry's |
fight TO Canada, in order to avoid arrest, |
and his subsequent return to Detroit and |
capture there by the detectives, are too |
fresh in the minds of our readers to need |
recspitulation. Suffice it to say that he |
was brought to this city, tried before 8 |
military commission, and condemned to die |
Yesterday, by order of Major General Dix,
commander of the Department of the East.
In person the Condemned was about five
feet eight inches high, light build, with
brown eyes, and hair and whiskers of the
same color. He was usually attired in q
suit of gray cloth, and his general air was
that of an educated and well-bred person.
THE MORNING OF THE EXECUTION.
Kennedy rose from his bed about seven
o'clock, apparently but little refreshed by
his sleep. The chaplain was early in at.
tendance and unremitting in his efforts to
comfort the culprit, who was by no means
resigned to his fate. The prayers for con-
demned prisoners, according to the service
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, were
read by the clergyman, and every effort
was made to minister TO the wants Of the
unhappy man.
his INTERVIEW WITH HIS COUNSEL.
Colonel Stoughton. who acted as the
prisoners counsel on the trial, visited the
condemned, in company with General
Beale, of the rebel army. They found the
prisoner much detected, but he chesred up
when they spoke to him, and tried to be IS
lively as the circumstances of his case
would permit. When cutting off lock of
his hair, however, and handing it to Gen
ersl Beale to be delivered to his friends as
q memento, he broke down, and shed tears
as freely as a child. He begged that Gen
ersl Beale would remain with him until
the last, and upon receiving an assurance
in the Affirmative he seemed to regain his
lost spirits, and was cheerful again.
THE EXECUTfoEER VISITS THE CULPRIT.
The executioner visited the prisoners
cell during the forenoon, for the purpose
of finding out his weight, height, &c, SO
that he might arrange the gallows accord
iUgly. The hangmRn tried TO get the de-
sired information by little piece of STRAIT
egy, that the prisoners feelings might not
be hurt; but Kennedy was so gruf with
him thst he was thrown off his guard and
unwittingly revealed the object of his visit
Kennedy did not relish the executioner's
visit much; but nevertheless he gave him
the desired information in regard to his
weight and height saying he weighed
about one hundred and thirty-fve pounds,
and was about five feet eight inches In
height. The table at which the prisoner
sat was strewn with writing materials
books, letters, &c. The prisoner had also
an abundant supply of tobacco on hand
there being no less than four packages OF
the table, besides what he carried in his
pockets.
The Evsnilg Post of Saturday, describes
the closing scenes of the execution as fol
lows:
SCENES IN KEENEDY's CELL.
Atl2.55 O'Clock, Colonel Burke, the com
msndant of the fort, Marshal Murray and
his deputy, the executioner, and two repor
ters for New York newspapers, entered the
cell of the condemned man { No. 2, the samt
recently occupied by Joseph Howard, Jr.
General Besle (the rebel officer now on
parole in this city to provide supplies fol
rebel prisoners), Captain Wilson and Chap.
lain Burke, of Fort Hamilton, were found
in the cell with Kennedy.
As Marshal Murray entered the cell
Kennedy rose from table at which he had
been writing, and the following colloquy
ensued.
Marshal Murray have come to pre-
pare you for the execution.
Kennedy-I know what your errand is
prepared for it. am ready.
The executioner here approached the
prisoner.
Kennedy-(to the exucutioner)-I don't
know you; 1 don't know who you are.
General Beale here approached Kenne.
dy, speaking in low voice, and apparently
endeavoring to restrain him.
Kennedy turning to the oficers)- All
right! lam prepared for this thing. Bind
my arms.
Kennedy then turned to one of the re.
porters, and begged him to do full Justice
to his memory in the account he was to
write.
He then said farewell to Captain Wilson,
and requested him to give his pipe to Gen.
ersl Beale, to forward to his mother.
Turning to the company, Kennedy then
spoke as follows:
"This is hard for you id Yankees 70
treat me this way. have been a regular
soldier"
The executioner now began to bind Ken
nedy's arms. While this was in progress,
Kennedy asked General Besle for hand
kerchief, and used it. When the black cap
was placed upon his head, he asked, GAm 1
going TO wear this thing to the galows?"
The answer was "Yes."
The preparations being now complete,
the procession formed in line, and as it
passep out of the cell door, Kennedy turned
to General Beale, with the remark: "This
is cowardly murder"
MARCHING TO THE GALLows.
About five minutes past one o'clock the
procession marched to the gallows, Chap
lain Burke and Lieutenant Black, officer
of the day, walking first followed by Ken
nedy snd General Besle. The guard
brought up the rear. The garrison Of the
fort Seventeenth regiment of regulars
stood in two lines on either side of the
scsfold. One hundred and ninety bounty
jumpers and brokers, previously marched
| ont Of THAR calls ooorniad tho hooIzoronrd