The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-21

7 was ss much justified n killing him, e
Federal generals We insexecuting spies. IL
assisted in pursuing me, two or three times
and res lived 10 kill him, and we accord
I ingly took him prisoner, aad put him out o
; the way. / did not, however, Intentionally
torture Kim.
Rep According 70 the 22d specification
you are charged with .orturing, and killing
q negro soldier, in Fentress county, Tenne
see, in October 1868, while he was a pris-
f oner.
Champ didn't think the niggers had
any business in this wsr, aud l killed him
Reptile 23d, and last specification
charges you with killing an old msn named
Tabor, 10 Clinton county, Kentucky, IN the
fall Of 1862 Is thst charge false one?
Champ 1t Is net. killed him, as
charged in the specification, or nearly Is
charged.
APPLICATION FOR PARDON.
Immediately after the sentence was
knosn, Ferguson determined 10 make an
application for pardon, and = sum Of money
was raised, By contribution from various
parties request having been made to all
those emplo, ed about the peDiiontiary, 70
contribute IS each, which some, however,
refused 70 glve-to defray the expenses Of an
agent 10 70 10 Washington, TO intereede vita
President Johnson; and his nephew, Andrew
johnson, Jr,, the keeper Of the prison, was
selected. He ca led IN the President, and
had an interview, but as to what passed be-
tween them, We know nothing, save that
Champ was not par ioned- Mr.. johnson re-
turned on Thursday night, and was present
at the execution yesterday.
Ferguson, however, had no hope, though
like drowning msn, be caught al straw.
In q conversation with our r. porter, be re
/ 4 al hss
third day Of my trial bef 70 hat / hal
but from what I learned after came here,
! knew that my fate IVES sealed
| "DO you think that the court was preju-
diced against your or did The witnesses
swear falsely 20 we asked
! 81 have nothing to say" hefaid, against
the Court; l hsrdly thought Judge BACK
man used me ia rly, but ! charge wrong
10 no one"
WHAT BE THOUGHT OF DYING.
"Have you any horror of the method of
your death Would you prefer to be shot?"
We inquired.
>''No, hsve no particular objection to
I hanging" said he at il no worse than shoot
/ ing; it is only death, after all OF course all
/ Of US hate TO die, or be killed. Ii makes no
difference TO me, as to how l am killed"
He then stated that he knew, that he must
die and although he had not then heard
| the result Of his application for pardon, he
had no idea that there was the remotest
/ hope but he would die without a shudder;
he had resolved upon it, and he claimed
that he had sufficient self-eontrol TO meet
his end without giFing way. This was on
| Thursday night, and at that time, We must
say that be did preserve as much equanim-
ity as he ever possessed. His nerves were
in splendid condition, and his face ruddy,
l az ha haA Init maj ,aA
in his native hills.
HIS BEALTH IN CONFINEMENT.
We inquired of DR.. Walker, the able sur
geon who has SO long had charge of the
penitentisry, as to Ferguson's general
health, while imprisoned, and learned that
it had been excellent, save that he had had
little touch Of dyspepsia-the result Of the
sudden change in his habits.
He had taken no medicine Of conse-
quenee, since his confinement, and none
at ell lately. 1t was usual for prison
ers 10 be attacked billiousness the night
before execution; result of prOstration of
the nervous system, and of an agonized
mind; but such was not the case with Fer
guson.
he REFUsEs TO eliminate ANY ONE.
The rule of Misconduct was, that he would
never utter a sentence calculated to impli- !
cate any one, and render them liable to
punishment; neither would he, he said, |
speak rshly Of any Of those employed in |
his prosecution. From this, however, he |
slightly deviated, on two occasions; he |
criticised Judge Blackman, as already re- |
lated, and he was severe on DR.. Paul, one Of !
the parties engaged in the prosecution. On |
the latter, he was quite severe.
he, hoWeVer, spoke Of the Military Com |
mission in general, in the highest terms, |
though, he said, he would have
PREFERRED a CIvrL TRIAL.
He objected seriously to the whole thing
Of military commissions, and trials. Had /
be been tried before Ejury of the citizens Of |
Clinton county, KY, or Fent,ess, or White /
county, Tenn, he was certain he would /
have been acquitted, without difficulty.
"But," said he, 'they wouldn't give me
that chance"
NO." responded his wife, who was pre-
sent, ''they knew you had 100 many friends
up there they were determined to hang
you, any how"
Champ toither assented to, nor dissented
from, this broad assertion.
WHY HIS BROTHER DID NOT VISIT HIN.
We inquired why his brother Ben did not
visit him. He referred us 10 Mrs. Fergu-
son, who said that he had been involved in |
a quarrel, with some citizens, relative TO !
Champ, and got shit, a d wounded, and
that he was unable - come. Ben had re-
fused to appear as a witness against Jhamp,
he was Union man; aud it was
out Of this that the quarrel arose. His
wounds are not dangerous. At this point
Champ used some bitter expressions regard
ing his brother jim, who hsd been killed in
the Union army; but he spoke respectfully
Of Ben.
ale was an uncompromisiug Union man."
said he, "but We were always friendly when
we met"
DESIRE TO sEE RELATIVES.
We asked him { he had any desire 10 see
his parents, and he replied that he had, but
as lie could not do it, he had reconciled MIN
self 20 the fact. He said he felt much bet
ter, now that he had seen his wife daugh-
ter, who had been with him ell day-Thurs-
day; the interview, he said, had braced |
him up, very decidedly. He said his pa |
rents resided in Clinton county, Kentucky,
where he was born, and had lived the great
sr part Of his life. His wife, he said, had |
chosen q place on Calf Killer Creek, ten |
miles from Sparts, as her future home, and
be was anxious she should suit herself about
he matter. He would make no reQues S,
Is to her future course.
In regard to his age, he said he would
have been "A years old, on the goth OF No
gember, 1865. "But," said he, 81 will be
n eternity, before that time"
ISTEsvIEE WITH A CLERGYMAN. I
On Tuesday or Wednesday, he had an in
erview with Rev. DR.. Goodlet, of the Cum
lerland Presbyterian Chu oh, but We learn
d nothing Of the result. Previous 70 that {
lime, he had expressed no desire to see any
clergyman, and even then he appeared to
olcrate, rather than relish the idea Of an in ;
erview, relative TO religious matters. On /
Thursday, however, hesbecame DESTROYS of /
eeing a clergyman, and as Dr.. eoodlet was
.bssnt, Rev. Dr.. Bunting, Of the First Pres
)yterisn Church was called in. We were =
present at a part of the interview, but during :
hat time he said but little. On being asked if
ie had studied the subject Of religion, he
ePlied, " not till lately only since have
,een here"
"You have read something on the subject '
Turing your l;fe," suggested the Doctor.
" Yes" said he, % nave read a little-not G
much" 9
You realize the importance of prepare {
ion for death, do your" asked the Doctor. Q
.. Yes, think do"
The DR. told him Of the mission Of Christ, G
f the faith required TO secure salvation,
md talked Of kindred subjects, when Fer .
-usOn requested private interview, which !
vas granted, his wife only, being present. J
DR.. Bunting was with him again in the
morning, privately; and he informed US
hat the prisoner expressed some hope, but
was i exceedingly slight, underlined 4
nd vsgue. He had evidently read the BIZ 4
lie but little, and reflected upon religious s
objects less. 0
INTEEvIEw WITH HIS FAMILY. D
His family--wife and dsughter-were y
nth him the greater parg Of Thursday, and a
n Friday morning, till a few minutes be- \
IRE he was lead out % execution. Mrs, I
ferguson is a spare, delicate woman, and
ppeared deeply affected, all the time. His
laughter was calm, until Just before the =
mai parting, but evidently deeply felt the
rrors Of her situation. She, too, is deli d
ate in appearance, and is but seventeen I
ears Of age.
Il was half pSst ten Of yesterday, when
ne parting came and seldom have we wit g.
essed scene more heart-rending. Mrs. v
:. clung 20 her husband and wept aloud
Ny God my God 20 ssid she, shave / not .
lready suffered enough Is my agony
ever 20 ceaseT" and her tears chOked her
tterance, and she remained long, clasping
er husband, who stood like 3 marble
.atue, showing no outward signs OF emo =,
A ~ ~ q L