Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-16
How a Man Felt who was Hanged.
A snERIFFs STORY.


From the Chattanooga Gazettel
Wait till you hear it. Ten
wears ago I was elected Sheriff of this county.
This was my first election, and have been
returned regularly ever since. My hrst at
tempt to open court was made during an I'M
portant trial. The criminal was a depraved,
desperate wretch, who had been indicted for
an atrocious and brutal murder. The fellow
was greatly hardened and seemed TO care but
little how the trial went-the evidence was
strong against him, and when the case was
submitted TO the jury, they returned
verdict of guilty without leaving their
seats.
The execution was fixed for day, two
weeks after the trial. OF course il was my
duty 10 put the rope around his neck, and
launch him into eternity. IL was distaste-
full duty, / assure you; for, though / knew
full well the man deserved his death, / did
not relish the idea of hanging him. / got
through with it, however, and set him 10
dancing in the air. He did mot struggle
much, and | thought had an easy death.
After hanging the usual time he was pro-
nounced dead, and was cut down, and his
body given 10 his friends for .interment. ]
thought | had seen the last Of the man, as
the wagon containing the body drove out Of
the Jail yard; but was mistaken.
About four months after the execution, /
happened 10 be passing my barn, when / saw
a man sitting in the doorway, with his head
resting on his hands. i did not like his
looks, 80 i approached him, and asked him
what he wanted there. He raised his head,
and looked at me in silence. i am not given
to superstition, and don't think Pm very
timid, but felt my blood grow icy cold, as
j recognized in the man before me the per-
son whose execution i had conducted. His
face showed no traces Of his violent end the
only indication of it, now visible, was
slight Disagreement Of the neck. i scarcely
knew what TO say or think, for / had seen
him hung, and heard him pronounced dead
and had delivered his body TO his friends for
burial, and yet after lapse of four months,
there he sat, looking at me with face as
white as sheet. The terror that was exhibit
cd in his countenance convinced me that he
was no ghost, so asked him, with as much
GOODNESS as / could command:
" Jack Larkins, do you know me?"
"You're the man that hung me-" he re-
piled, doggedly, at the same time making
away.
"Before you go, Larkins," said |, II would
like to hear how you cheated the gallows."
helped me, will your he asked.
"No," / replied 81 will not get them
into any trouble. j simply wish to know
hcw you felt while you were hanging, and
how you were resuscitated."
He hesitated for some time, but upon a
renewal of my assurance that rome of his
friends should be molested, he told me the
following story:
When put the rope around his neck and
left him on the gallows, he felt fainting
about the heart, caused by his realizing
his fearful situation for the first time
but before he had time to think the
trap was sprung and he fell through the
opening. The shock of the fall was rather
more startling than painful, and did not pro-
duce either insensibility or confusion. His
thoughts were Remarkably clear, and he
seemed 10 have he power of seeing far
above, below, and all around him. Every
thing assumed bright, vermillion hue, and
a soft dreamy languor gradually stole over
him, until he became insensible. There
was nothing painful or unpleasant in any
thing he had undergone. He seemed to be
sinking gently into a gentle sleep, and all
his thoughts were pleasant. The next he
remembered was being wrung by the
most agonizing torture. The pains were
not confined 10 any particular place, but
extended through the whole body. His
first thought was that he was in perdition
and was suffering the penalty of his crimes
The pains increased each moment, and al
last became so intense that he started to his
feet with a scream Of anguish, at the same
time opening his eyes. Great was his sur
prise TO find himselfin his fathers house, in
the midst Of his friends and relatives. lie
tainted at once, and when he recovered
found himself in his own bed. As soon as
il was thought safe to do so, his friends in
formed him that upon bringing his body
home, they had determined to try TO resus-
citate il, although they feared it would be
useless. They worked faithfully, and al
last succeeded.
"But, sir" said the man in conclusion
"coming TO life again was much worse than
dying"
The man promised to leave the State and
try to do better had but little confidence
in him, yet / let him go. He kept his word,
however, and a short time ago / heard he
was well TO do farmer in one of the terri
tories.
This, gentlemen, is the manner in which
got my ideas about hanging, and think you
will admit their force.