The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-02-01
Execution
OF THE mErFERMAN MuRDEnERs

OF THE nEFFERMAN MURDERERs.
A special dispatch to the Cincinna.
Ii Gazette, dated Nashville, Jan. 26th
says -
We have not, within this city, seen
so deep and intense excitement as
yesterday, since the day following tho
night on which the lamcnted Heifcr-
man was murdered. Every man, and
we might add woman, even though
their scnsibilitiel shrank from wit
Messing the actual execution, longed
for the announcement thnt the viii
laiDs were no more, that they had
forfeited their lives for their fearful
crime. Few as dense crowds ever as
scmblcd to witness an execution.
The day was dark, cloudy and gloo.
my. We visited the prisoners in the
morning. Father Bcyrath was hold
ing close communion with Lysaught
who was listening attcntively to his
advice aud admonitions, and seemed
deeply interested in his words. The
=" devil may care " courage which we
described at our late interview was
not ON his countenancc, though he
had ncrvcd himself as firmly as posi-.
bic, considering his surroundings and
the solemn occasion.
The others were at that time all in
their cell, but soon came out Snd
Joined Lysaught. In the interview
with the conressor, Lysaught and
Knight expressed their thanks for
some little iavors we had done them,
aud betrayed little or no emotion, cx-
cept that Knight faltercd momcntari.
Is when he referred to his father aud
mother.
"Why. how are you, Mr.. Reporter
said a voice, and we turned around
aud Crab extended his hand. e You
did us justice, the other day, in your
report of what we told you; that was
right, said he.
lie looked cheerful. The flush on
his face, which had made his com
radcs give him the title of George
Red, was MS fresh as ever; and he
had tho iirmness of Que who was be.
you'd all feeling and sensibility.
Do you feel well to. day?" was
our inquiry.
"Ncvcr better, am all right feel
as if | were going to wedding.
His speech had so much of the lu-
dicrous that Notwithstanding the So
lcmnity of the occasion, We could net
rcprcss smile. Perry gave us u
shake of the hand, but said nothing
Except in response to the question
How do you find yoursclf?' his
answer being "Nevcr better, neyo,
better.
During the interview with thcil
,onlcssor, there seemed to be strug
'gio hoiwcen irmness and dispair, bur
each man oracou up. his nerves lik,
iron to meet his fate, ana nn~.--.
lriumphcd.
| Ath o'clock precisely, the officer
} in charge of tho execution, Coloue
J inncs, accompanied by Lieuts. Ros
! and Chittcndell, came into the peni
Tertiary aud found the culprits il
earnest conversation with the priest
aud not desiring to disturb them h,
halted near the door, when Lysaugh
/ said, There is the Colonel now,
aud the four raised up and advance,
toward him.
A few moments here intervcned
when he asked them if they wer,
ready,
" Certainly" responded Knigh
MeClusky, alias Dean, " bat you vii
let us have our hats, won't youg-
They are in the cells.
fYou shall have them, certainly,
was the response, and each one ran /
aud picked up his hat with as mucI
glee as would school boy with a
immediate holiday in prospect,
| Their arms were then tied, and al
though the souls of somo of then
may have been filled with agony, Iei
lther voice nor manner betrayed augh
of fear. The condemned men, i
answer To question by Col. luuc,
told him they did not feel hard to
ward him, aud knew he was only do
ling n soldiers duty, They then sig
nihed that they were ready to go:-
"Good bye all who are not to be a
the seaffold, said Lysaught, weeping
aud this was the first time that tea
started in his eye, aud the FIRST tim
that his firm check blauchod, A" but
don't fear to die, he added, lest tn
bystanders might construe his de
meaaor into cowardioe,
At this point Crab wept, though
there was deep desire on his part 4
conceal his tears. ~ want to be buries
deoently aud lhy name written on my
tomb, SO that no one will take my bo
Idy. 81 want to be buried dscently
Colonel, said Lysaught, alt shal
be done, = responded Col. Iunes.
/ Seated on their eofiss, the con
demnsd we're born to the ,scsffold i,
two wagons, each drawn by four whit,
horses.
\ On rsachiag the grounds assigae,
for the execution, each sprang iron
: the wagons with alserity, marched /,
the foot of the seatfold, and stood b,
tho steps which assembled to it, wait
ing further orders. The same calm
!. 'pesa which had marked them In an,