Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-03-30

1hE EXECUTION OF KENNEDY, THE
HoTBL BURNER. - Capt. Robert Cobb
Kennedy, convicted by military com
mission at New York of being rebel
spy and Of having attempted to burn
Barnum's Museum last November was
hung on Saturday at Fort LAFAYETTE,
New York. There were about a humid
red spectators, including dozen report
ers, besides the garrison OF the fort and
the bounty Jumpers and brokers now
contlned there. Kennedy is reported to
have made partial confession in pri-
vate, but his demeanor up to the mo-
ment Of his execution was strikinglv
defiant, and his language was shock
ingly profane. He seemed to be entire
ly without religious convictions, and the
advice and counsel of his spiritual ad-
wiser had no effect at all upon him.
While Gen. Dix's order for his execution
was being read he was perfectly COM
posed and occasionally smiled, remark
ing to one of the charges against him
chat is id lie !" After the chaplain,
DR.. Burke, had read the burial servi-
ees for the condemned he knelt in front
of the prisoner and offered a touching
plea in his behalf. Kennedy still stand
ing, looked down upon his spiritual
guide and made no remark until the end
Of the supplication. Or. Burke then
shook Kennedy's hand, babe him fare
well, and implored him to act as man
and Christian. Kennedy bowed in re-
Spouse to this appeal, and then, calling
to Col. Burke, said Colonel send me
a drink before | go I"
After the clergyman had retired Ken
nedy said in a loud voice: Il consider
this judicial, brutal, cowardly murder
There was no occasion for the United
States government to condemn me-
He commenced another sentence, but
left it unfinished after saying, Tell my
friends, and the eXecutioner then came
forward to adjust the moose. Kennedy
then suddenly broke out with the fol-
lowing verse, which he sang in a loud
clear voice, to rolicking Irish air, and
with touch Of the brogue -
Trust to luck trust to luck
Stare fate in the face
For the heart will be aisy,
If it's in the right place"
The verse had hardly been finished
when the signal was given, the cord was
cut, the weight fell, and Kennedy sprang
into the air, dying almost instantly-the
sudden violence Of the shock having
broken his neck. After hanging for
twenty minutes, the body was lowered,
life was declared extinct, and the re-
mains, placed in common stained pine
coffin, were delivered to Kennedy's
friends.
In person, Kennedy was of light build,
and of medium height. His hair and
eyes were dark brown, and his beard and
moustache rough and shaggy. He APP
peared under the gallows in a full suit OF
dark grey cloth, with a turnover collar,
and black silk neck-tic. His general
air was that Of man who had never
cultivated the graces Of social life, and
whose disposition was wild, almest reck-
less. The conformation of his head
showed a preponderance of the animal
instincts over the intellectual qualities
and the profanity and ribaldry of his
last moments shocked all who heard
him. As he stood upon the gallows hi
showed no symptoms of fear, but betray
ed the effects OF over-indulgence in slim
ulants. His speech was thick and his
gait unsteady. Kennedy was born il
Georgia, whence his parents removed tC
Louisiana. He entered the military
academy at West Point in 1854, and lef
1t in 1866. Returning to Louisiana. hi
was among the first TO enter the rebe
service at the outbreak of the war Hi;
age was about thirty-eight years.