The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-08
DEATH sENsATION.
BY A SHERIFF..

n
81 don't know" said the Sheriff; ''but. IL
always struck me that 1t does matter how the
end comesp
you. alter few brief minutes ?n
Every true,n responded the Sheriff. "a mans
life is easily taken, and all modes have the same
result But, then think one ought TO consider
the amount of suffering or disgrace involved in
the method"
"Most persons, l suppose, would prefer TO die
in their beds, said Gibson. "This do not refer
to, however, speak of death by violence. II
were doomed to death, would be careless as to
the means used.n
''You think so now,n remarked the Sheriff
"but if II should come to the scratch, think
you would shun a death that involved suffer
ing.o - ,.,u r..
ing?' g2, ,.,. -. .,v ,...,.oo b
ing guillotined would be far preferable to being
burned at the stake. Indeed, the gutllotne is
really a humane mode of punishment The
knite drops, the victim feels cold pressure on
the neck, and then all is over"
''You are quite eloquent" said Gibson, laugh
ing. what do you think of the garrote"
81 have been told that method was not a tor
ture," was the reply. Eminent physicians have
informed me that, besides a slight choking SEN
sation, there is no pain in this method. The hor-
rble contortion and blaCkening of the face has
caused many to think the garotte fearful tor.
ture; but these changes in the face are accounted
for upon the simplest grounds
$50 much Tor these" said Gib1on, smiling.
"Now tell us your tavorite (it may use The eX-
pression) mode of punishment
"But for the shame which attends it, should
prefer hanging" replied the Sheriff.
upon what grounds"
"It is the easiest and least painful method
known"
"How C you know this?"
81 once had description of the whole affair
from a man who was hung.n
The party burst out into a laugh; but the
Sher1fs face did not relax muscle. .
"a iokes a Joke Campbeln exclaimed Glib
son; ''but this yarn is rather too much for our
credulity.n
Nevertheless, it is true," replied the Sheriff;
and if you want the matter explained, may
as well tell you the whole story"
every good,r said Gibson. "Lets have good
one, for it will take tough yarn to sustain your
assertion
The Sheriff laughed good-humore6ly.
''Wait ill you hear it,n he began. 'Ten years
ago l was elected Sheriff of this county. My
first attempt at opening court was made during
an important trial. The criminal was de.
praved, desperate wretch, who had been indicted
for brutal and atrocIous murder. The fellow
was greatly hardened, and seemed to care bat
little how the trial resulted. The evidence was
strong against him; and when the case was sub
mitted to the jury, they returned y verdict of
Guilty" without leaving their seats.
| 1.-THE execution was fixed for certain day,
| two weeks after the trial. OF course, 1t was my
duty, as Sheriff, to put the rope around the fe1
| lows neck and launch him into eternity. 1t was
distasteful duty, assure you; for, though
knew full well the man deserved his DEATH did
not relish the idea of hanging him. l got
| through with it, however, and sent him dancing
on air. He did not struggle much, and thought
| he had an easy death. After hanging the. usual
down, and his body given to his friends for in
| terment. i 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 to be passing my barn, when saw a
man sitting in the doorway, with his head rest
| ing on his hands. l did not like his look, so
| approached him, and asked him what he wanted
| there. He raised his head and looked at me IN
| silence. l am not given to superstition, and
don't think am very timid, but felt my blood
! grow icy cold, as recognized IN the man before
me the person whose execution had conducted.
His tace showed no traces of his violent end,
and the only indication of it now visible was a
| slight Disagreement of the neck. | 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 q sheet.
| The terror that was exhibited in his counte-
nance convinced me that he was no ghost; so |
| asked him, with as much GOODNESS as l could
command, "Jack Larkins, do you know me?"
'''You're the man that hung me- he replied,
| doggedly, at the same time moving away.
81 covered him with my pistol, and told him
| If he moved q foot would shoot him.
HE paused, and looked at me fiXedly.
| "What do you mean to do with me ? no
| asked. DO you mean to hang me again?
at was, strictly speaking, my duty to arrest
| the fellow; but could not do it, The idea OF
| having to hang him again was revolving, and
| determined TO let him escape. told him il he
| would promise to leave the neighborhood and
| never come back again would let him go. This
he readily promised, and assured me that he
| would never cross my path again, as nothing
but mere chance had led him to encounter me
| this time.
"'Before you 60, Larkins,' saidI, would
like to hear how you cheated the gallows:'
| "'You won't peach on any OF them folks as
| helped me, will you p he asked.
| No. / replied; 4 will not get them into any
| trouble. ] simply wish to know how you felt
while you were hanging, and how you were re-
| suscitated.'
"He hesitated for some time, but upon re-
| newal of my assurance that none Of mis- friends
should be molested, told me the following
| story:-
''When put the rope around his neck, and
| left him on the eallows, he felt iainness about
! the heart, caused by his realizing his fearful
| situation for the first time; but before he had
time 10 think, the trap was sprung, and he fell
through the opening. The shock OF the fall was
| rather startling than painful, and did not pro-
| duce either insensibiitY or confusion. His
thoughts were remarkably clear, and he seemed
to have the power OF seeing far above, below,
and around him. Everything assumed bright
vermilon hue; and a soft, dreamy languor
gradually stole over him. until he became insen-
sibe. There was nothing painful or unpleasant
IN anything he had undergone.
he seemed TO be sinking gently into deli
clous sleep, and all his thoughts were pleasant.
The next thing he remembered was being wruno
| by the most agOniZing torture. The pains were
not confined to any particular place, but eX-
tended 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 at last became SO
! that he a