Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-03

dible and faltering voice, said that he wished all
to take warning by his fate, and that he prayed
God to look down upon him and all assempied
there, and bless them. He them resumed MS
seat, ard bid adieu TO several gentlemen on the
platform.
Platter then, still sitting, said that he lett
relieved as be sat there; Jesus had Deen WIN
him; it was hard to die, but all was Tor the
hest. Hc thanked all for the little k'ndnesses
they had shown him while in prison, and SAID
that though he had entertained harsh feelings
towards some present, if God would forgive
them, he would. Jones and Davis had moth
inc to saw MIR. Kershaw here read the ser
vice Of the Church, at the conclusion OF which
he hid them each farewell, and the black caps
being placed over their heads, the chairs
in Which they we're sitting were removed,
and they stood, toIerably frm-with the eX-
ception of Platter who reeled backwards and
would have fallen had he not been sup
ported by the guards-Jones and Luckctt,
singing stanzas of the hymn, when | can
read my title clear''-until at concerted sig
nal, the Sheriff pulled the trigger, when the
drop fell, and four writing, convulsed and
choking bodies, with heads aWry,, and frothIng
mouths--for the caps Of some of them had be,
come displaced-were spinning around and
dangling in the air. Alter they. had hung
about twenty minutes they, were lowered ex-
ahmed by Doctors Mundell, Hurd and Us.
borne, pronounced dead, and deposited In their
collins, which had been previously placed d.
rectly beneath the scafold, and shortly after
wards buried in the yard of the Jail now in,
course Of erection.
On Wednesday, the wife Of Platter. as also
the wife and a friend of Lucl1et, visited them
and took their fual farewell. Platter exhibited
little feeling, but Luckett was very afectionate,
kissing his child again and again.
On Thursday night in an interview with the
prisoners, during which, however, Platter pro
iessed to be too unwell to take part they man
Tested no apparent concern about their rapidly
approaching end, and Jones asked the writer
for ten cents with which to buy loaf OF bread
| to eat in the morning preparatory to his going
off. He also sent his love to his friends in this
CITY. Luckctt, the best one OF the four, and
who seemed to be really sorry for what he had
done. and not scared into contrltlon, sent his
love to all his friends with a request that they
would pray for him; sent his respects TO the
Messrs Wilson with whom he had formally
lived ans! asked that Al Jones, Il negro, to
whom he had sold horse, and who owed him
ten dollars, would pay that sum to his wife.
The fate of these four, young and likely ne
eroc men may, we trust, prove a warning to
all others O! their caste and condition, 10 avoid
| the idleneSs and temptations incident to city
| lfe Three of them came from the country
where they had good, comfortable and happy
| homes, and where, after their days labor, they
were content to spend the hours OF the nlghtln
refreshing sleep, to the crowded city where
work was scarce and labor cheap, where Incl
tivcs to villainy surrounded them on all sides,
and where cmiSares from abroad-as was Pal
tcr-were continually employing them Is cats
paws, and urging them on to the commission of
! such hcipous crimes as theft. arson and muir
der: md there was contained much sense and
Justice in the assertion Of Mr.. Magruder, one
of the counsel for the defence, during their
trial. that the indictment against these men
should rot read as against Platter and his ass0-
ciatcs, but against that newly established lnstl-
tuition through whose evil influences the poor, Jig
norant and ductilc negroes were induced to quit
| the homes Of their childhood for the excite
ment Of such life as is ordinarily led in 4 city,
by the dissolute Of their unfortunate race.
A negro man named William Jones' who
was convicted at the September term Of the
court Of committing rape upon Mrs. An
derson, at Spring Hill, was condemned to Ec
hung yesterday also. but Governor Swami on
Wednesday rcspited him until The l4th Of De-
cember. 1t is stated that evidence has since
been discovered which mitigatas his crime
somewhat When informed that he would not
be hung until the date mentioned, lie said
''Won't have good time )" and expressed
| but little concern as to his fate.