The New York herald., 1866-07-21
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Two Youths Executed in Springfield.
( ~ Munois, for Murder.
I JpMEssIcN OF THE CuLPRlTs.

" she Circuit Court of Sangamon county, in April last
4 The murder OF John Saunders at Pawnee, were exc
bhcd icday in the yard OF the county jail.
~ HISTORY auaDERsRs
s. <rhenurdcr took place the 7th OF March, 1860 and
w-4 thecssnax OF awiess acts committed bg
t.e etiesperadoes which Van Arsdall ani Lem
siuns belonged Sangamcn and the adjoining counties
infested for many weeks that spring by this gang
and rcbeeries and other ortrages committed
which have been since traced 10 their instru-
mentality. There other parties Of bush
whaescrs from Missouri prowling about tho
neighbohood with whom Van Arsdall and his associates
IN coluson The citizens in constant fear of
MEM bt no measures taken for some time to check
seir burglary and robbery but part OF
abc,r crimes add becoming bold by npunity, they add
murder 10 the catalogue The history of the murder
may b. best cleaned from the confession or Van Ars,ap
made times since his arrest in Bloomfield
1owD, May, 1886. Among other robbcios the plum.
acrng of soren hechanicsbprs in this State Of which
clue could be discovered previously was acknowed.
Ell by Van Arsdal to be OF his partys transacons
The confession he stated that he was born IN
Morcsr county, KY eighteen years of age for two
years lived with his father about four miles south ot
Rochester, IN this county. He gave detailed
o. The rOhbng OF Mr. Ekns store At Mechanicsburg H.
IN February 1865, and stated that the robbery
miited by Mat Ballard James p Lemmons AMI Craw-
ford three Of the gang. In March tho gang were
informed that pawnec good place to operate In
ihcTe wero banks in the place, and for
that reason hcv would quite likely find money
with the merchants OF the place Acting upon
ths advice. the party, consisting of Ballard Lemmons
snd Van Arsa started for Pawnee, and arrived there
about dark the 9Th OF March. They first to the
STORE Of Mr. Bodge, but found Il closed. Ballard
tT Mr. Bodge, and, returning with him. asked him TO
pni up some groceries for him. During this time Saun
into tho and made purchases. On
leaving the store be was shot down by Van Arsda who
stationed al the door with Instructions to shoot any
enc who might attempt to eave the store on the
suppnstion that he would he likely TO have the money.
Van Arsdal stated he did not take aim at Saunders for
ss dark couldn't him: he fired random,
snd did not know Saunders was killed until the citizens
81 The place began 10 gather in the street After rob
bne Bodge OF about two hundred dollars the four ,wor
shies rode about miles, encampcd IN mb r, and
sNided the spois AT this point the party separated
mons sarted for home, and Ballard and Van
Ar,dali proceeded 10 Iowa, where Lemmons
with his family promised meet them After being in
stsc viciniy Of Bloomfield Iowa, few days, Ballard
went 10 visit house short distance from there ard
during his absence pursuit OF bushwhackers rode
up 10 the house where Van Arsdal concealed The
,aicr bad just stepped ont in the yard and seized by
abe party who though; he belonged to the bushwhacker
all aboht him and advised him To confess. He,
thinking they knew about the crime he had
ard gave them a full account Of tho murder.
lbcy ~ took him To the ail and sent HIM
te whom they tecgraphed concerning tho matter. Bal.
iasd nso his escape, and has not yet been captured
BSmnlonS went 10 Missouri and attached himself
paxfy Of buswbaekcrs In that State. Having bccn dc.
seeted stealing horse and other similar being
proved against hm he arrested convicted and sent
20 the Missouri Pcnentiary for ten years Van Arsda
an his arrival in Springfield, information 0 the
whereabouts Of hs accompce in the mvrder, and Lem
brought from Missouri 10 stand his trial
offence than that which sent him TO State Prison.
HEIR TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
A. the trial in April last the only evidence against
both men was Van ATssalls confession oil H. They
condemned.
syxr.rHy ron HEN on ACCOUNT OF THEIR yorru.
Van hefu nlv pinafn
years age and Lemmons twcntynduced their relations
and friends TO endeavor 10 procure communication Of
to take eject the I'D Of June, but they were
,cved until to-day by Lieutenant Governor Bross dur
highest respeotability in this city circulated .
position urging the Governor TO commute the death
sronger pressure has been broug, 10 bear upon apy
one,a than In this one; but Governor Oglcsby in.
rsorsble to-day. The misguided young men paid the
efforts made by their friends in their bhalf inspired
them with hope but when they heard tia: tho Governor
yegased tho petition OF their mothers, who prayed
their lives bonded knees they prepared for DEATH
PREPARATIONS ron THE ExEcUTIoS.
A. an early horr crowds began 10 assemble front OF
Che Jail gazing with morbid curiosity the preparations
which made for the tragcil event. The execution
acc1rn. 10 The laws OF the state being reouircd 10 no
strictly private enclosure boarded on in the al
yard twenty feet in breadth aud twenty length
and OF sufficient hegh for the creation Of the CHASTITY
arressorics OF the execution The building is about SIX
ten ieet high, the platform which ned the W l.
nesses OF the execution and the condemned being
confined in the same cell.
ExEcrroS.
Last night, after parting with their parents they snpt
well but the mofnins. when visited by the Rav. Mr.
lavdeon and Rev A. Hale, they seemed nervous and
depressed The presence OF the clergy med
have a nenolcal eject them they expressed the
300, heartfelt eonirton Tor their horrd crime.
BorT A
tsoveivor Ogleeiy, who reached this city last night
hal the matter of communication consideration until
To-Day. AZ that hour sheriff Grafton received the
J foii"vins lote from the GOVERNOR
SrAIE or ilfNois ExEcu1ivs DsrAnrvrNrl
srisIS9lihLp, July %. 1866 ,
ur Shclju CrssroN.--
ASs fuii and nla,1rr de'iberaon as am able TO
commend aud tI1si not partial Judgment aids me,
spiit a Communication II the sentence OF law pro.
sannccd sgsns. VEN Ardall and Lemuon. rhcy are
rcoa hnaly lolt IN Your bands. ! shall interfere
with you. N,ur dgly unplfasant know |, to he Is
ample. plan The both with you Very
Ihis ana isci.ion deeply aaccted tho inlie crowd
sAyoGd The dss. o ne condemned cell and before
Jrev NJ. Davidson offered mp brief hu, fervent prayer
tbe Make -. iil strengthen His servants In this
"ir time of nIs' Aner winch Rev. Mr. Hale read the
h si ds patch ~ Ihe prisoners.
rRFfsrsrIoss
few n,lnoses d,cr one O'Clock the jury cmpanelied
u, ,de Sheriff a. witness the execution entered the ial
MA all. spnGemncd took affecting farcAc eli of th IL
taC,s pro- ta zach they addressed a solemn warn
81 a. prOnt their example and 10 Hail and Rabbns
D t'ls As,y gsse advice % put their IN hnsvcn
;, Ane trv tbcn asci TO tho scnod a,terng prayers
y ssssnJr mi uos thctr srats on The dron, chairs
~ sv.dcl Va th' sheriff.
.usr ssns sIi soonn PRAYER by Ecy. Mr.. Davidson
~. ,sbcrn @o fc-e tue prisoners aud read the leah
rs tsot
GpDnnsUS ~ NV rffsSNFrs rNtFH Cs'Dvs
ui,. NJ afrf ltlc bssatien next arse amt sald
A. :. No. S'ssce Just nc had committed crime
Z. wyn ,fca,sl could atone ~ el ~. sins
csnr y.I rc ~ H. at Il M months he llaa paved
'-r sryily 4, ~ forgiven. Nan NT1lii addressed ITO
- ,tpt.a1n irs 'iriar sifsn. Both ~, sed their
I,aa.u.l b IL ,i.ra nd tieir ,se, ior ne Nindn
!, ~ NhisN "a cy wtie treated.
rfH IXtsNrN
au., -, v,E1v uTastr ftom ~ tlc t'ergyr,en The
l,n 80 A 10 srgess tied AID ihe iaial shland and
lsn pacct .ssAr iho,a ~ I've wiputes ls.t two T. VI
10 sba,lv ,eAd, s8rc yau ready ~ iomnons an.
.vcrcd .syes Van Arsuli s1it eNns. meet in
heaven as,a ~ IN --- Rerc tbe drg icr, snd The
.t,ct,a.d 6ss ~ paried wlH tuclf soulE iNfv ~.
,..,eo "a sul,f BOT Lllc. ard there ss srsrceiy
,trgsri. usgtcpS sie IN thei" bldics AncF blne,ng
,hiytv.one tnrsta tbcv were pronounced lead by Le
sttetiinr 1et - v.qs IuG were Gu down.
ur vfrlos ~ frr InNgya
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