Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-27


1000 WITNESSES
In pursuance of the sentence OF the Mill
itary Commission, the murderers OF cur es-
teemed fellow-citizen, WILLIAM HEFFER-
MAN, have suffered the awful penalty Of their
crime. From an carly hour people were
vending their way 70 the place OF execution,
and the crowd assembled to witness the
dreadful spectacle was one Of the largest we
ever saw at a similar place. Are you go
ing to the hanging?' was on every lip,
and many attended chat never had the
slightest disposition before to witness a scene
10 repulsiye 70 refinement Of soul and to the
common instincts of humanity. Every face
seemed to wear frown, and the glcominess
Of the sky was reflected on the countenspce
Of the bcholder. Said one in the crowd, sit
was one of the most atrocious murders that
ever took place in the annals Of crime-the
wrctches murdered an innocent man in the
presence Of his family. They had no pity
then and have none for them Ror." Not a
word Of pity was spoken. Not regreiful
eye rested upon them.
"Bedad," said an irate Fenian, tits meself
that would like to be after giving them the
Jump" What horrible condition, and
what dreadful warning the fate eff those
fonr men ought to be to those who travel the
road leading 10 sin and death, and who
snatch from the jaws of crime a wretched
existence, to be paid for surely and inyiola-
bly, by an igDominious death. rfs %
During the forenoon, in the Penitentiary,
the condemned were attended by Father
Bergrath, but during the intervals they
indulged in ribald jokes upon their
coming end. When he talked with
them they appeared serious. Perry's
brother was with him for an hour or more,
during which time both were much moved
and the condemned wept copiously. When
his brother had gone, he rallied under the
aweful chatting Of his companions, and final
Iy achieved that stolid state which he bore
during the final scene. Lysaught, the
youngest, had the most of the bravado about
him; he made light of the whole thing, and
expressed fear that his light weight would
prevent his neck being broken, various grim
Jokes and flashes Of weird merriment passed
away the time up to the moment when Col.
Inness announced the fatal hour. AT eleven
o'clock the process of pinioning began One
after the other they came up to have their
arms bound, one or two exhibiting feeling,
but all made some light remark upon the
occasion. Wher the prisoners were bound
they took leave of Mr.. johnson and their
other guards in the most affecting manner,
and to the last expressed their regard and
affection for the officials Of the Penitentiary.
They were marched from the prison and
placed in pairs in two wagons, seated upon
their collins, and escorted by guard OF the
9TH U. s. c walry. 30 ''s
The cortege arriving at the gallows, about
which the Post Command was formedi in
hollow square, and around which was assem-
bled an immense crowd, the four culprits
were marshaled to their proper positions.
Father Bergrath conducted the final religious
services. administering extreme JUNCTION to
each. Upon being asked If they had any
thing to say, Lysaught said: 81
al am no scholar; ! have no education,
but wish, gentlemen, to say, that hope !
am going to better world; l forgive every
BODY. and hope no man in this crowd has
ANYTHING against me; if he has hope he
will forgive me. This is all have to say;
but, gentlemen, / want to give my
thanks 10 Mr.. johnson and the other officers
of the Penitentiary for their kindness They
have treated us more like brothers than like
prisoners, and we thank them. II we had
staid in Nashville Jail We should have
Starred to death. This is all, gentlemen, 1
am going TO a better world and hope to meet
Won all there" The other condemned ex-
pressed similar sentiments, and after shaking
hands, and bidding each other farewell, us
ing in the last moment the old aliases by
which they were known TO each other, after
the white caps had been drawn over their
faces, without culver of muscle or symp-
tom Of fear, apparently believing that their
sinful lives were forgiven, at Eve minutes
past noon the rope that sustained the trap
was cut and they were no more among the
living.
The neck Of Lysaught was instantly broken
and ke made no nervous motion as his body
slowly y.brated under the impetus Of the
fall,
Perry died hard. The knot slipped around
to the back of his neck, and he died from
sufFocation, as did Knight. Both drew III
their legs and suddenly extended them a.
thew were trying 10 end a dreadful agony
For moment or two hoarse gurgling wa
heard. and the white head caps were moist
ened by the froth from the lips OF the dyin'
men.
Graf died in similar manner, bot NOR
easily.
When the bodies had been suspended
about fifteen minutes, the attendant surgeon
pronounced them dead, and they were Pu
into the collins prepared for them.
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY.
/