The Shasta courier., 1866-04-14
NUMBER 7.
Death on the GalIows.

Ten years ago / was elected
Sheriff of this county. This was nv first
election and | have been returned regularly
ever since. My first attempt to open Court
was made during an important trial The
criminal was a depraved, desperate wretch,
who had been indicted for an atrocious and
brutal murder. The fellow was greatly
hardened and seemed to care but little how
the trial went-the evidence WAS strong
against him, and, when the case was SUBJ
mitted to the jury, they returned verdict
of guilty without leaving their seats
The execution was fixed for day two
weeks after the trial. OF course it was my
duty to put the rope round his neck and
launch him into eternity. 1t was distaste-
full duty | assure you for, though | knew
full well the man deserved his death, did
not relish the idea of hanging him. got
through it however, and sent him dancing in
the air. He did not struggle much, and 1
thought had an easy death. After hanging
the usual time he was cut down, and his
body given to his friends for interment.-
| 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 tie execution, I
happened to be passing my barn, when 1
saw man sitting on the doorway, with his
head resting ON his hands. | did not like
his looks, SO | approached him and asked
what he wanted there. He raised his head,
and looked at me in silence. | am not given
to superstition, and | don't think Pm very
timid, but felt my blood grow ce-cold as l
recognized in the man before me the one
whose execution | had conducted. His face
showed no traces of his violent end and the
only indications of it now visible. was light
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 sheet. The terror that was ex.
hibited in his countenance convinced me
that he was no ghost, so | asked him, with
as much coolness as could command:
"Jack Larkins, do you know me ?"
You're the man that hung me-" be re.
piled doggedly at the same time moving
away. .....,T
Before you go, Larkins," said l, "I
would like to hear how you cheated the gal.
lows"
You won't peach on any of them folks rs
helped me. will your"
NO." l replied, . will not get them
into any trouble. l simply wish to know
how you felt when you were hanging, and
how you were resusctatcd."
He hestated for some time, but, upon a
renewal of my assurance that none of his
friends should be molested, he told me the
following story:
When | put the rope around his neck,
and left him on the gallows, he felt faint
ness about the heart, caused by his realizing
his fearful situation for the first time but
before he had time to think, the trap was
sprung, and he fell through the opening
The shock of the fall was rather more start.
ling than painful. and did not produce eth
er insensibility or confusion. His thoughts
were remarkably clear, and he seemed to
have the power of seeing far above below
and all around. Everything assumed a
bright vermillion hue, and soft dreamy
langnor gradually stole over him, until he
became insensible. There was nothing
painful or unpleasant in anything he had
undergone He seemed to be sinking gently
into delicious sleep, and all his thoughts
were pleasant. The next he remembered
was being wrung by the most agonizing tor
ture. The pains were not confined to any
particular place. but extended through the
whole body. His first thought was that he
was in perditlon, and suffering the penalty
of his crimes. The pains increased each
moment, and at last became so intense
that he started to his feet with scream of
anguish, at the same time opening his eyes.
Great was his surprise to find himself in
his fathers house, in the midst of his friends
and relatives He tainted at once, and
when he recovered found himself in his
own bed. As soon as it was thought safe to
do so, his friends informed him that, upon
bringing his body home. they had deter
mined to try to resusciate him, although they
feared it would be useless. They worked
faithfully and at last succeeded.
/" But, SIR" said the man. in confusion,
coming to life again was much worse than
dying" -.lr
The man promised to leave the State, and
try and do better. I had but little conf
dence in him, yet l let him go. He kept
his word. however, and a short time ago
heard he was a wel[to-do farmer in one of
the Territories.
This gentlemen, is the manner in which
got my ideas about hanging, and think you
will admit their force.