New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-11
THE CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL
SCENES AT TEE GALLoWs.
LAST WORDS OF The DYING NAN.

individual adudged guilty OF capital onense Ias Oe'
come so infrcquen and so revolving 10
the majority of persons that the fact, when 1t oecuis
although Il may cause shudder throughout the entire
community general curiosity and Is seldom
witnessed by any those who attend the execution
as a matter Of duty, and the few who prompted by
morbid desire TO crafty thc sense with an nnusn' sSh'
ere consTainpd seek the place of death because -
other opportunity may never occur to them
The scnsbiities Of most persons are shocked even ~
the knowledge that thircs cf this hnd transpre; anu
vet there exceedingly widespread desire 10 Know
how any one thus condemned meets DIS iat1.. me
mystery that surrounds the bourne iro,n "r,d" @ o nv
traveller returns il universally Ineresiihe ana an!
death matter how long il may NJ waited i1f nrhes
the mind somewhat sudden and unexpected " ntn'
however the doomed one has for Weehs-mohtis ~
hans been aware of the precise moment when ne
should pass from life ipto the awfuly obscure anu III
called realms Of death. the question: as ~ % Mn nj
irc"t MISUNDERSTANDING tho fact that le living may
have been unworthy OF either the esteem vi fcsPe' "
his felow-rnen. -, -
I Newark, n j. was yesterday the scene of the exc.
cution Of a mIrderer-we use the term IN us leRai
sense for the judges of the Jaw decided that DIS gun'
had this extent-and yet there was no cro"d ABOUT uc
ail and very little curiosity manifested among the IN
haban,s. Dozen or score perhaps, oi Do,s hnu
Young men stood about the entrance and talked over
The circumstances of the homicide and specuated upon
the manner in which victim of the law wOuiu CD
dure the penalty Inflicted upon him. hut there was 10
excitement and met namber of persons resi-.
dents of the city who were unaware of the horor '.a
was being enacted in their midst. They had Asard
the line at the tire OF its commission ana Tecoeeteu
il with difficulty. SO soon forgotten BY all save inc "o
minstrators Of Justice and her relatives the murdered
woman sleeps al unconscious of the doom OF Der inHr-
derer; also now the criminal is almost "tSotenn
and but for the record Of the execution the fact wond
sink into the ABYSS of the past leaving no lesson Ne
hind il and no warning 90 the world. i
No event of the kind perhaps, attracted so hl,le o'
public attention IL took place in the heart OF popu-
lous city and witnessed by less than 200 persons
although nearly 400 had tickets. No officers were
needed 70 protect the entrance the jail no crowd
ed ah.uf the bullinO Each citizen seemed
Of the fact aid pursued his avocation as II no
tragedy had occurred as If none was oe!ne re
peated.
During the Sumner Of 1861, Morris Ellsworth, at
that time the servant OF officer IN tie army, marred
a young mulatto girl Of Newark who, 1t appeared,
simply desired N avail herself Of the BOUNTY money she
expected the husband would get because o MS services
during the war. Failing in this she apsnuohru hi.,
notwi ihstanding his protestaiions and his wish lie
pleaded with her. and threatened TO no purpoie:
Finally, the night Of the 2eth of August. l-o3 ne
saw her coming from a ball and followed her 20 house
in Markct.st, which she entered III company with an
other woman and couple of men. Ellsworth went to
the room she occupied and asked her 10 go Lone VIII
him; she refused he drew pistol and shot her dead
, THE CRIMINAL.
The crime was clearly proven the trial. The hoIn.
icide was sentenced 20 death, and the time for the
execution nxed for some day in November laet; but
through the exertion OF bis counsel, who made
every possible effort 10 have The sentence computed TO
imprisonment for life respite was obtained and the
: execution delayed until yesterday The criminal was
young man, scarcely q years Of age; about feet I.
-
have been able 10 learn his character had been previous
y good; his bearing and disposition amabe and be
liked by all who knew him FOR those qudIitles ne
seems to have had all the emotional nature of human
being very largely developed with the reasoning acul
ties correspondingy small and weak He bore himsei
with considerable fortude throughout. seemed faly
70 realize his position and although not entirely reck
less his fate or reconced 20 H. met IL Win Ger
tain degree OF dignity and passed from the present as
one who was fully prepared to enter upon 'he HE 10
come.
THE PLACE or DEATH.
Tie execution took place III large room IN the JAIL
the center Of which occupied with cells or prisoners
The manner In which these built left space De-
tween them and the walls Of the building each SIDE
about 20 in width and passage each end OF the
tiers of cells SO that the prisoners looking through the
grating that confined them, were enabled 20 witness
The execution. galOws had been erected near one
end OF this room which is probably 100 feet IN length,
by placing two upright posts about IS feet hlgh upon
the stone floor and connecting them at the top by
beam similar in breadth ana thickness, though shorter
I The rope passed through pulley IN the eross'Dean
and thence by the side Of Ol the upright posts into
ibe basement where the weights were attached. The
weights were made to fall By pressure upon spring IN
SCENES BEFORE TIE EXECUTION.
While the prisoner awaited death, lie was attended
by Dr. Thorn Of the Panest colored church almost
daily and passed the greater part OF his time III prayer
Hreakfist was furnished him yesterday morning about
o'clock but be ate very little. and although somewhat
detected he conyersed freely with his spiritual adviser
and after the meal, engaged in prayer.
/ About II 80 he examined by Drs Dodd, Zen and
Ticknor who advised the administration Of some sm-
nlarts and whisky was accordingly given; AT this
time bis clothes brought In and be dressed for
the scafod. He was executed in plain suit Of black
clothing minus a coat being vested in white shirt,
back vest ana pantaloons, and boots
After these preparations, Sherin /. W. Rieord. ac.
companied by his deputies entered the cei ana tod
the prisoner his time had come 10 which he replied.
II ready He was then taken into the hall of exc
cutiOn where rehg services. consisting OF singing
and prayer, took place
I THE EXECUTION.
/ The Sheriff then preceded the prisoner, who
COMMANDED hy the Rev Drs THOMPSON and Parker, to
the eallows where the death.warrsnt read. Els.
worth was then asked If be had anything TO say when
he stepped forward short distance and uttered in
low voice words someW hat like the following:
Il thank the Sheriff for his kindness TO me- and the
Keeper and this gentlemen (ponting to one OF the eer
gymen present. for they have been verv kind to me-
am willing to die, and am happy. am ready 10 die,
for Jesus will direct me and give me mansion in the
skies l am going TO heaven, and lope 10 meet You
there. hope all young men VIII take warning by me.
Farewell Farewell iOreycri"
| The Rev Mr.. Thompson then read portion Of the
SIS Psalm, when Ellsworth said, "LoId remember
me when I shall come into thy pTcsence' Sheriff
Ricord then said I" am here 10 execute tine sentence
Of the law upon this man. and may God have mercy
upon his soul"
The Rev DR. Parker made The closing prayer. at the
end Of which Ellsworth looking at the Sheriff said
{" Meet me in heaven meet me in heaven" The black
cap was then drawn over his face 40 rope adjusted,
and l2:I5 o'clock the Sheriff tou " ,oe spring and
IN 40 instant the prisoner was ha' ID The AR.
! For few minutes his struggles were continuous
though violent. The force was insufcient 10 break
his neck and death therefore ok place through sran
gulafion When be had been hanging or z minutes
there coDyulsye twitchDg Of the lower extremI'
ties u long breath if the soul would pass away in
sigh single heaye OF the chest sudden relaxation Of
tie entire system, and Morris Ellsworth was dead.
He was permitted to hang about 20 minutes. when
coffin was brought in, and of a word from DR.. D0dd
the rope oosed and the body gradually and gently
lowered irto H. The deceased. after post obi'um ey
animation was delivered INTO the hands OF his friends
CONCLUSION.
I Ellsworth served creditaby during a term Of ls
months in the 7fh NewJersey Volunteer InfanTy and
D IN Dan vi rpgiu,opf I{o