Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-08
Almost n Military Execution.

THOMAS MARTIN, a citizen of Kentucky, was
arrested and tried last fall by a military com
mission in Cincinnati upon the charge of "being
a guerrilla" and sentenced to be shot The find
ing of the court was approved by the president,
and the execution was to have taken place on last
Friday. The Cincinnati Enquirer gives the fol-
lowing account of the suspension of the exeeu
ton. when the prisoner was within a short dis
lance of the place where he was to be shot. and
within a few minutes of the time:
During the morning of yesterday, the an
nouncement that a citizen of Kentucky was to
be shot unto death in this city, for the first time
became known to a few o. our leading citizens,
and the first dispatch was sent to Secretary Stan
Ion at ten O'Clock and twenty minutes. asking
tor a suspension of the sentence. Mr.. Logan,
the prisoners counsel, sent "A similar dIsDstch.
and Colonel Hart. oil General Hooker's staff. also
forwarded a telegram To General Hooker. now
IN route from So iDgield To Cincinnati. Gene
raj Hooker replied that the matter was beyond
MS control, anu entirely out of his hands. and
that the president was the only authority TO be
addressed in the prem SEA. Secretary Stanton
replied that he could not interfere, and that un
less the president suspendel .rhe execution, there
was no remedy, and Thomas Martin would have
10 be executed.
Ieiegram- we're then sent to President John
-on. b, Col Hart AID leading citizens. Ii was
now ~ meridian. and within the 100 hours 10
come the unfortunate man was destined TO pay
he penalty. Anticipating a reply from Wash
ington, a swift horse was IN waiting In front OF
General Hooker's headquarters, and a messen-
| ger ready TO carry the dispatch. One O'Clock
snd no answer. The troops had moved. and the
prisoner had started Halt past one O'Clock, and
still no reply. On. The suspense. the anxiety. and
the mental excitement of the many sympathizers
in the young map's fate, The prisoner was halt
way To the place of execution. and in twenty five
minutes more the volley of musketrv would have
been fred. and the soul OF Thomas Martin would
have been usbered INTO eternity. Still there was
hope; and as the nervous operator sat at his in-
stru ment. ready to receive the fash of electricity
from Washington. a few citizenS we're by his
side in waiting with almost breathless suspense
At twenty FIVE minutes of two o'clock the quick
click of the instrument. and the operator said
Here is the reprieve" The dispatch was then
received. which read as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, May 5 1865
Msjor General Joseph Hooker, Commanding
Northern Department
Suspend the execution of Thomas Martin, 10
be executed in Cincinnati this day, until further
orders.
By order ofthe President.
(Sigsed) Z. NJ STANTON.
Secretary of War.
The telegram was Immediately sent to General
Hooker's headquarters. and instantly Colonel
Hart dispatched Lawrence Sands, chief clerk of
the headquarters. TO the place where the execu-
ton was TO occur. The courier dashed through
the streets. across the fields. over fences, along
by paths. at John Gilpin speed, reaching the spot
In seven minutes. the horse in a foam of perspi-
ration. and the rider painting for breath. The
procession, with the prisoner, was a few PAGES
hey ond the residence OF Hon. G.. Il. Pendleton,
and in sight of the fatal ground. In a few mo-
ments a~fterward. General Which. who also re-
ceived notice that a ~reprieve had been granted by
the president. came up rapidly. Receiving the
dispatch. the troops were ordered TO re form and
return TO the barracks. and the prisoner was or
dered TO be conveyed 10 the Mclean Barracks
Young Martin received the announcement with
calmness and manifest qualification. He took
Father Garesche warmly by the hand. aud sp-
pesred grateful at the very benefcent and highly
eommendsble action Of the president.
The announcement OF a suspension of the ex-
ecutlon was received By the crowd with universal
satisfaction and thankfulness. The soldiers re-
turned TO kelton Barracks with a light and lastic
sep Inc prisoner went back TO his quarters in
Mclean barracks. greatly relieved in mind. aud
much affected at the happy result. The nine
men detailed To do the shooting were under com
msnd OF Sergeant hollincamp. and we never
saw so HAPPY a set of men in our lives "a these
soldiers. CAPTAIN MeCIesry. OF General VII
lieh's staff. had charge OF ali the arrange
ments
Too much commentator can not be bestos Cd
upon President johnson for his promptitude in
thus, at the ontset of his Official career. Initiating
the humane example of hi illustrious predecess
or in putting his veto upon the shedding of any
more blood. while 10 General Which. Colonel
Hart. aud the military officers having charge Of
toe execution. there - just prAire aud gratitude
due for staying the tragic scene until the very
last minute, and using the utmost diligence in