Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-13
THE EXECUTION or THOMAS MARTIN
The shessing Conducted An secrecy
The PreIiminaries 20 the Tragic
s~cene-stoic Conduct OF the Prisoner
His Last Moments, &c.. &c.
From The Cincinnati ypou;r.-

HIS Last Moments, &c.. &c.
From The Cincinnati Epquirer.
Our readers are already familiar With the facts.
given IN The Enquirer Of last Saturday morning,
OF the conviction by a court martial and sentence
TO death of Thomas Martin, an alleged guerrilla
Of Kentucky. The reader will also remember
that the execution was suspended on Friday,
May 5th. by direction Of the president, until fur
ther orders. When this telegram arrived. the
prisoner was within fifteen minutes of being bur
RED into eternity. The action Of the president
vas. at the time. commended By all parties. as a
humane and generous manifestation Of execu-
i've clemency, and not the slightest doub, existed
but that the sentence OF Thomas Martin would
be TO imprisonment for a specified
term, or that be would receive a pardon upon
taking the oath of amnesty. In all these expec-
tations, the public are doomed to disappoint-
ment.
On Wednesday evening a Geographic order
was sent 10 MsjOr General Hooker, that order
No. 81. temporarily suspended on Friday last.
should be carried into execution, and that Thos
Martin, sentenced by court martial to be shot,
should be executed on Thursday, May lIth.
lo65. between IL m and | o m.
General Hooker Immediately sent word to
Martin tibet be would be shot on Thursday noon.
Martin received the announcement with surprise.
but with GOODNESS. An order was sent TO General
Which, directing him to carry the execution into
effect.
Martin sent for. Father Garresche, who soon
responded to his request, and administered to
him spiritual comfort. During Wednesday night
Martin rested but little, and frequently expressed
himself that he felt that this time he would GER
tainly die. He said, yesterday morning, that he
felt fully prepared to meet his God; that he was
not guilty OF the charges for which he was con-
demned to death. but that be would die like n
brave man. As We stated in our issue Of S.tur-
day morning last. Martin could neither read nor
write. and was, in every respect, an ~illiterate
youth.
In pursuance Of orders, the 37th Iowa regi-
ment, and one company of the 1920 PenDsylva-
MIA regiment, were formed into column inside of
Kelton Barracks. and marched out to Broadway,
down Broadway to Court; thence around through
Deercreek Valley TO a point about halt way up
the old road leading to Walnut Hills. where
they were halted. The officers nor men of this
command did not know where they were going
or their errand, such was the secresy OF military
duty with which the execution was 10 be conduct
ed. AT the same hour a carriage, containing
Father Garresche and the prisoner, with a militia
~ guard. left Mclean Barracks, and moved to
the fatal spot above stated. Arriving at the
head OF Deercreek road, the carriage was halted
and the procession was formed in the following
order:
Provost Marshal, Captain McCleary.
Band.
The firing party, consisting of eight priyaies and one
Sergeant.
The collin, supported by four men.
The prisoner, Thomas Martin, supported on either side
by Father Garresche and a Sergeant.
Reserve party OF twenty EIGHT men from Mclean Bar
racks, under command of Lieutenant Millspaugh.
The procession moved up the hill in this order
until il reached the ground selected for the exc
cution. The troops which had preceded this pro
cessioD we're formed into a hollow square, with
three sides of soldiers, and the hill forming the
background, or fourth side. The troops we're
formed in open order, and as the procession ar
rived at the head of the column, and marched
through, the band played a mournful dirge, and
the firing party followed, with arms reversed.
AS soon as the procession had moved through
between the columns, the firing party entered
toe interior OF the square, and took their posi-
tons. We might here state that the coffin was
taken to a house near the fatal spot early in the
morning, aud when the procession arrived, was
in its place on the ground, awaiting for the arri-
val of its occupant The prisoner took a position
near the head Of the coffin, and Capt. Booth,
adjutaDt general to Gen. Which. read General
Order No. 30, Gas published in Saturday morn
iDg's Enquirer and the telegraphic order fixing
that hour. of yesterday. for his execution
Martin listened attentively to the reading of
w ViuNiS, anu "ucu dchtu, at tue COuCIuSlOD, III
he had any remarks to make, he merely said, II
have nothing to say" He was then led to the
rear Of the coffin. behind which he knelt, on the
ground Captain M'Cleary stepped forward to
bandage his eyes, when he requested that his
eyes be not covered, and that be might witness
the shooting. Upon the persuasion of Father
Garresehe, he finally consented, and that divine
tied a white handkerchief around his eyes. placed
a cruci6x in his left hand, and babe him good
by" The firing party were eight PAGES from the
prisoner. Captain M'Cleary. who had charge of
the execution, then gave the order
Observation-Disclosures
The sharp crack of the guns, and the prisoner
instantly fell back without a sonnd or struggle.
He was dead the instant he was struck. His
hands were not pinioned. and he died as brave as
he promised he would in the morning. Upon ex
animation, ii was found that two balls bad
pierced his heart: one ball entered his right side;
one ball passed through bis throat; one ball en-
tered his left shoulder; one ball missed him: one
gun missed fire, and one gun was loaded with
blank cartridge. Surgeons Dorm and Finley
made the examinations, and pronounced him
dead. HIS body was then placed in rhe coffin
fundamentally taken to the catholic cemetery
and placed in the vault
The execution took place at precisely half past
~ O'Clock, and was wituessed by about one hun
dred persons, men, women and children. from
the immediate Deighborhood, and the military
already named. The rain was falling during the
entire ceremonie
Martin was dressed in light pants. steel colored
vest, black cloth frock coat, a small neck tie
around his neck. white stockings and bro
gans. When shot he wore on his head a light
slouched hat.
Thus passed from earth Thomas Martin. n
youth who had not reached his maturity.
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