Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-12-14
A STRANGE STORY.


county. Illinois This was my first election,
and | have been returned several times since.
My first attempt to open court was made dur
ing an important trial The criminal was
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 ev-
idence was strong against him, ana when the
case was submitted to the jury, they re-
turned verdict Of guilty without leaving
their seats
The execution was fixed for day two
weeks after the trial OF course it was a
distasteful duty, | assure you; for though [
knew fnll well the man deserved his fate, I
did not relish the idea of hanging him. I
got through with it, and set him to dancing
in the air. He struggled but little, thought
he 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 greatly mistaken.
About four months after the execution, |
happened to be passing my barn, when | saw
a man sitting in the doorway with his head
resting Oh his hands I did not like his
looks, so | approached him, and asked him
what he wanted there He raised his head
and looked at me in silence. [ am not Civ
en- to superstition, and [ don't think Pm very
timid but felt my blood grow ice cold as
| recognized the man before me as the
same man whose execution [ had conducted.
His face showed no trace of his violent end
and the only Indication of it, now visible,
was aslight Disagreement of the neck. [
scarcely knew what to say or think, for [ had
seen him hung and pronounced dead, and had
delivered his body to his friends for burial
anc yet after lapse of four months, there
he sat looking at me with a face as white as
sheet. The terror which was exhibited in
his countenance convinced me that he was no
ghost so | asked him, with as much GOODNESS
as [ could command:
Jack Larkings, do you know me p
{" You're the man that hung me" he re-
piled doggedly, at the same time moving
away.
g Before you 60, Larkings," said I, II
would like to know how you cheated the gal
lows"
g You won't peach on any of them folks
that helped me, will you p he asked.
"No, replied, Il will not get any Of
them into any trouble; simply wish to know
how you were resuscitated."
He hesitatcd for some time, but upon a
renewal of my assurances 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 realizing his
fearful situation for the first time but before
he had time to think, the trap was sprung,
and he tell through the opening His thoughts
were remarkably clear. and he seemed to have
the power of seeing far above, below, and all
around him. Everything assumed a bright
vermillion hue, and soft, dreamy languor
stole over him, until he became insensible.
There was nothing painful OF unpleasant in
anything he had undergone. He seemed to
be sinking into delicious sleep, and all his
thoughts were pleasant The next he re-
membered was being wrung by the most ag-
onizing torture. The pains were not con-
fined to any particular place, but extended
through the whole body. His first thought
was that he was in perdition, was suffering
the penalty of his crimes. The pains in
creased 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 50, bis
friends informed him that upon bringing his
body home, they had determined to resusci-
tate, although shey feared 1t would be use
less They worked faithfully and at last sue
/ cecded."