Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-07
Execution of Hardened Criminals.


shooting him as he rode along the high
way. They were in government en-
ploy, engaged in the mule corrals.-
They were all young, their ages rang
inc fr o III sixteen to twenty years.
They are described as boyish i'll ap
pearance, and instead of being over
whelmed in view of their doom, talked
and acted as though they had years to
/ live instead ofhours. They were ut
terly reckless and defiant, and appar-
emily intended to die "game." The
jailor informed one of the reporters
that they had been e. gagged in practi-
cling a highwayman's song which they
declared they intended to sing on their
way to the scaffold. One of them said
whisky was the cause of their crime.
Another searched for his pocketbook,
saying he would like to have little
money in his pocket when he died.
"When Mrs. Lysaught called to
have an interview with her son, he re-
fused, at first, to see her, but after
ward allowed her to visit him. She
tried to nerve herself up, but finally
gave way to her feelings, and gen
tleman who was present describes the
scene as deeply affecting. The young
culprit was as cold as marble, while
the mother appeared to endure agonies
Of the most terrible kind. Finally,
when she is about to leave, he requests
her not to return. 4 did not do the
shooting said he but was present !;
and I'll die without ainching; but
while there is life there is hope"
The incidents attending their exc
cution are thus described:
Their arms were then tied, and al
though the souls of some Of them may
have been filled with agony. neither
voice nor manner betrayed aught of
fear. The condemned men, in answer
to question by Col. hines, told him
they did not feel hard toward him, and
knew he was only doing a soldier
duty. They then signifed that they
were ready TO 90.
Good bye, all who are not to be at
the scaffold, said Lysaught, weeping
and this was the first time that his
| firm cheek blanched: but | don't fear
to die he added, lest the bystanders
might cOnstrue his demeanor to indi-
cate cowardice.
At this time Crab wept, though
there was a deep desire on his part to
conceal his tears. i want to be buri=
ed decently, and have my name writ
ten on my tomb, so that no one Will
take my body.
i want to he buried deccntly, Colo
mel, said Lysaught.
1T shall be done, responded Col.
lines
Seated on their collins, the condemn
cd men were borne to the scafloId in
two wagons, each drawn BY four white
horses.
On reaching the ground assigned
ior the execution they leaped from the
wagon with alacrity, marched to the
scatfold, and stood by the steps which
assembled it, waiting further orders.
The same calmness which had marked
them III the morning was vet visible
on their faces, though some of them
had wept on one or two occasions in
the prison. There were no traces Of
this now, either i'll their eyes or on
their faces. Save for the cords which
bound them, it would have been i'm
possible to distinguish them from the
thousands ofspectators who surround
them.
The prisoners then assembled the
Scaifold, and received the last conso-
latlonS of the Catholic Church.
Although his countenance was per-
tectiy calm, blood burst from Knights |
nose, indicative of the struggle within. |
Inc tin dings and sentence of the |
Court were thenread. The prisoners |
were asked ii they had anything to
say.
Berry requested that his body might
be given to his brother.
Knight declared that he had moth
ing to say.
Crab thanked Mr.. Johnson, keeper
Of the Penitentiary, for his kind treat
ncnt, and hoped God would bless
lim.
Lysaught said: 4 am not learned
nan; what have to say will be in
,ery few words; [ am very thankful
nat people let me live till | could re-.
'ent OF my sins, which were many and
sreat; but | have repented. | have :
'een treated we'll ever since | was in
rs charge--ever since [ left the !
nashville Jail. If any one has aucht r
galnSt me, hope he will forgive me
M forgive all who have wronoed i
le. That is all.
Each OF the others expressed himseIf4 h
$ torgiving and desiring the forgive :.
ess of all. y y
Lieut.. Ross adjusted the ropes h
round their necks, Lysaught smilino .
nile TINS was being done, and the
Ps Oh all moving as it i'll prayer. 81
1 wish, said Knight, 4to say to al H.
on t swear; don't visit low bouses ;,
on t do anything wrong. Ifyou take + +
by me, you will never meet h;
y late; but | am going to a better ar
orld.' ''Oi 20
ihey then babe each other farewell n,
nile the caps were drawn over their r. F.
ces. The trap was sprung, and thew NJ ~
ere launched into eternity e. r.
'se0h Of Gen. Butler at Washington. 70
In his address to the Soldiers, ona pc