Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-28

GheL AiB1t Ee spent M muir III A5AsAou
exercises in his cell, and at nine o'elocl
he went TO bed, and in ten minutes wa
sound asleepl The officer on duty during
the night, says he lsy thus the whole
night Il was nearly six o'clock thi
morning when he awoke.
After g parting interview with hi.
counsel at eight o'clock this morning
ouuSc prrIv--f WIZ Pr-siuCu ~ VIZ
entered his cell. Alter some conversation
the Judge arose and said:
Good bye, Sam, 1 shall not see you
again"
Good bye" said Sam, rising, and look
ing the Judge in the eye; ''but remember
my last words-you passed sentence on al
innocent man"
SIS that true ?"
AS true as there is E God in heaven.
"Weli, if that be so, 1 hope you do moi
feel that l did you a wrong"
Not a particle. l know you did youl
whole duty. You showed it even when
you passed sentence on me-
"Well, it Is terrible calamity if thai
De true"
"Thst is so, but I am innocent. These
are my last words. If it was not so !
would not say so.'
he PHILOSOPHERS.
He was then left for a considerable
time with his spiritual advisers. To one
OF them he said:
Il hate to die thus, as a criminal, when
l am innocent. / am not afraid to die,
but l hate to die this way. LIDO not think
my death is q misfortune, for If this had
not happened / would have gone on in
my sins, and God would have cut me of
when l had no time to repent. 1 am
willing to die, but there are some of the
witnesses against me who viii not sleep
well tonight"
The death rope was placed on his neck
in his cell and hid beneath his coat. While
this was being done his courage almost
forsook him. On stepping up the few
steps that led to the gallows, CooYert
could scarcely lift his feet and had to be
supported. He took his seat beneath the
iron hook from which the rope already
around his neck was soon to hang, and
with a sigh looked over the little assem-
blage.
Sheriff Butler then said "Coovert, have
you anything to ssy?'
After a moments unsteadiness of man
ner, he spoke without apparent hesitation
as follows:
81 have a word TO ssy. I ha ye passed
through two dreadful trials. In regard
to the circumstances of these trials, 1
must say that the officers have treated me
justly, but l cannot think so about some
of the witnesses. As to the murder IF the
Rosa family, l can lay my hand on my
heart, and say before God, st whose bar /
shortly expect to appear, thst I am not
guilty of 1t. In reference to that paIs of
the evidence about my telling of the muir
der, l hope | may never see God if 1 knew
.ofthe murder before Thursday morning.
l hope to see you all in heaven"
An impressive bat brief PRAYER was
then offered by Rev. Mr.. Snowden, during
which Covert seemed deeply affected,
but ne shed no tears. His ministers then
took leave of him and retired.
While the Sheriff was adjusting his pc
sition on the scafold, Covert in looking
over the assembly, perceived David Hicks
before him. With q clear voice he said
"Dave Hicks, 1 hope you forgive me u
"Certainly, wal the reply, Il have not
the slightest particle Of malice against
you, Sam"
TIE LAS Words
The black cap was then let down so as
TO his head from sight. He uttered
Two or three audible signs or means, once
ooh, dear, dear, it is terrible to die
an innocent man. Then just before the
drop fell he added in . calm tone, "An in
noeent man, gentlemen, lam"
The Sha-iT pnIla1 4ha Tovar -LsaL LA
lp the drop at five minutes past twelve
precisely, and after q few c~onvulsive shud-
the body of Samuel COovert ceased
e move.
Thus has closed another scene in the
Roosa tragedy. The mystery, however.
'emains still unexplained, form the minds
# many, Converts dying declarations Of
innocence are conclusive evidence that he |
vas not the murderer. There is some
eason TO hope that in the trial of his
,rother-in-iaw, McNeal, some new light
viii be thrown on the now uncertain
~uestion of who is the guilty party.
EXECUTION OF CASPER D1REcks AT NE
BRAsKA CITY, n. T.
Chicago aug. "a Dispatch to the \. Y. Hersls.1
Casper Direeks, a German, the murder
r of a man named Henry Hamilton, was
xecuted at Nebraska City By Judge
lynch, on the 18th inst. The circum-
.snecs Of the murder were as follows:
About a week before the commission of
deed, Direcks mades proposal to one of
is friends, named Deitch, to steal some
attic, offering a share of the proceeds
hen sold. Deitch refused. On the fol-
wing Sunday the proposition was again
Jade, and again refused. Direcks then
roposed to steal q herd of sixty cattle
-hich were being herded by two German
oys, a short distance from Nebraska CITY.
'eitch, however. refused, and Direcks sue
,eded in getting a man named Ira Ford
help him. Arriving at the place where
lie cattle were herded, they found but one
y Henry Hamilton) who was Dispatch
| with a pistol by Direcks, and the cattle
ere driven off and sold. The BODY of
10 boy was subsequently found by his
ther, head ~downwards, in a pool of wa
T, and completely stripped OF clothing.
hlch was hidden some distance off in the
H,prairie grass. There was a bullet hole
the corner of the right eye and another
the right arm.
The announcement Of the horrible deed
used the utmost excitement both at Ne
sska City snd Plum Hollow. a village
ar the place where the murder was COM
tilted. A large crowd of citizens started
pursuit of the murderer, and arrested
m on the 18th. He Indignantly denied
wing committed the crime, but was will
g TO accompany them TO Nebraska
ty-
At daylight on the 18th they reached
Q city, and In less than an hour the 4
VS. spread throughout fireplace, and the Z
tire populaee soon concentrated at the
'Urt House on the public square where
3 prisoner was confined, and in the
eets discussing the deed. By ten o'clock !
least two thousand persons were as :
nbled, Snd from their excitement it
s evident the prisoner stood little chance
The crowd then resolved themselves into
itizens meeting by e~lecting a president {
d secretary, and empannelled g iurv of :
elve men. An impromptu court room
5 made in the park by enclosing a space Z
twenty feet in circumference with a
', so that the mass of the crowd coul6
Kept out. Witnesses were sent for
Tyers for the prosecution and defense " y,
nmoned, and the trial was had as
sely under the form Of law as circum-
noes would permit Both Deitch and
I'd turned States evidence. After the
of witnesses, the counsel on
h side reviewed the evidence. and the
e went to the jury The jury wentout- -
3 the rope for consultation. and soo :
in a verdict of wilif,1 -r-5.-