Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1865-11-15
From u. E4ilcdelpkia TnGnirer.
THE EXECUTION OF WE'RE.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 10, 1865.


simple justice. The soldiers of the Union
gathered on the house-tops round about
the scene, .ypiied the popular heart when
they gave a loud, exultant ehOut as the
drop fell.
Just before he was led out to die, one
Of the clerks presented him with an auto
graph book, and asked him to give his
name. He did 50, and wrote in q clear,
plain hand the following:
"Old Capitol Prison.
"Nov. 10, 1865,
"HENRY WE'RE,
Captain and A. A. c.
nv nc. s. a."
and remarked, "there is the last signature
I shall ever make" He made ell the
punctuation marks with as much care as
though it was to stand for all time some
thing to be proud Of.
At fifteen minutes past ten the prisoner
was brought from his cell, and walked to
the scaffold with a steady step and un-
q%uailing eye. He was attended by the
officers of the guard and two Catholic
Priests, Fathers Boyle and Wiget (the lat
ter having been Mrs. Surratt's spiritual
advisory
On ascending the gallows, which he did
without any assistance, lie stepped to the
centre and sa: down in a.chair which was
placed directly under the poose. Father
Wiget took a position on the west side
and Father Boyle upon the east eide, the
culprit looking northward.
His appearance occasioDed a pressing
forward among the spectators, all Of whom
felt a strong curiosity to see how this man,
associated with atrocities such as history
can scarcely parallel, would bear himself
in the presence of death. But there was
no manifestation Of feeling. Silence pre-
vailed, unbroken save by a whispered re-
mark as to tn. appearance and behavior
of the p%risone:.
During the reading Of the order, enu-
merating the crimes which he was just on
the point of expiating, he manifested no
uneasiness. His Contessor, Father Boyle,
desiring to prevent the awakening Of any
such passions as might be rekindled By
the reference to his past crimes and the
"reminiscences which they were calculated
to bring before him, continued to pour IN
to his ear words of peace, and to inculcate
the spirit Of Christian resignation. We're
would shake his head, and reply, ooh,
that doesn't trouble me at all"
1t was only occasionally that he appear
ed to give attention to the reading Of the
order, and when he did 80 It was doubtless
as the mention of some crime, still fresh
in his mind, touched the spring Of his
memory. On such occasions he would
take a brief glance at the reader, and then
Withdrawing it again give his attention to
the words of the priest.
What bis thoughts were during those
brief intervals there was nothing in hi,
expression to 5etray, bu. the spectator, in
to whose imagination the story Of thia
mans brutalitie. had been indelibly burn
ed, az with a branding iron, could vividly
recall the crowded prison pen with its
.curvy eaten, starving, vermin infested
victims the yelling Of the dogs through
the woods aud swamps, where poor escap-
ing fugitives had sought refuge from the
unspeakable horror: of their confinement
the sickenins scenes Of the hospital, where
gangrened wounds ate the life out of pool
unfortunates with prolonged agonies and
among all tEese scene,t this man, stalking
over the ground which his foot polluted
an irresponsible despot, now stamping q
helpless, t~alf-dying creature with his heel
now issuing his brutal commands to blow
out the brains of one or other of the C
Yankees" as in his own choice language
the poor prisoners were designated, e1ecu.
ting, without protest, and with apparent
pleasure, the work Of hi, masters, the
Devil ard JEFF. Davis. s
Another thought was suggested, a tho't
which will 80 into history as a warning,
to be echoed down through all future ages.
How secure felt this man We're in the
terrestrial hail when he had been made su-
preme ruler. A power that called itself
a nation authorized his deeds the barri-
ers between him and justice we're frown-
ing earthworks and walls Of bayoncts.
Never did criminal have stronger guar
antics for the IMMUNITY OF his crime
But the blood Of his victims cried to
Heaven for vengeance, and he sits here
now listening while his appointed execu-
,;onar roads tho racial Of his crime Var.