The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-15
From the New Orleans Crescent.]
The Hanging Of Eph. Tolley.
MoBILE. Feb. 13. 1866.

when 1 relate the following little story
his identity will be sufficiently apparent;
therefore, l shall not expose myself to
his wrath by exposing his pagan name in
come ction herewith. His hopeful neph-
ew, Frank, is better known here than the
old man, and when he shall have attained
his venerable relatives years and expe-
rience, will add to the family love of
drollery and mischief a mind well edu-
Gated by study and foreign travel. He
seldom meets me without "splnning a
yarn in his peculiar style, and the other
day gave me an account of an execution" }"
in - county, Miss, to which the sheriff
had given him special ''invite, in the
| following style, verbally:
"Come over and see me strangulate that
burned cuss, Eph. Tolley. for arson and
settin' old man Odum' house a6re-durn
him."
I'll give the story in Franks words, as
nearly as possible:
The appointed day came, and as we had
about fifteen miles to ride, and the exc
cution was. to take place at 8 A. NJ, it
was necessary to start early, and, accord
ingly, Uncle Bob directs Jerry to wake us
up before day. 1t seemed to me that we
had hardly turned in when I was waken-
ed by Jerry's voice calling out:
"Mars Robe:tl Mars Robertl It's most
fore day.. go to -l' was Uncle Bob's
benevolent response, and indorsed it,
Another short nap was shortly broken by
Jerry warning US that it was fore day,
Mars Robert, now, for true!" A loud
snort from old Bob was Jerry's only an
swer, and for an hour we were not again
interrupted, when he bawled out a third
time:
"Clean daybreak! Hill Mars Bob play
de debble gettih up fore day!"
The secret of Jerry's wakefulness was
explained by the fact that his own little
mule, "Stump Sucker" was standing
ready by Uncle Bob:s horse and my own.
He was bound to be in at the death. We
took light breakfast, and as Spartanburg
Court House was not place to look for
dinner, we deposited in sur saddle bags a
couple of bottles of whisky; I think Jer-
ry had one, too. These, aud a plug Of
tobacco, constituted our lunch.
When We arrived at Spartanburg we
found about dozen planters and over
seers loa6ng about, some of them occa-
sionally anxiously inquiring of the sher-
iff what time he was gwine to hang Tol-
ley?" I should like to show you the
sheriff of - county! George he is the
durndest, ugliest, funniest little cuss you
ever saw. He stauds about FIVE feet in
his shoes, and is about as broad as he is
long, and his mug would .righten the saw
agest catamount In all creation. Bust
ling about, big with the Importance OF
his position, he waddled up to Uncle Bob
and pompously offered his hand.
sColonel, I'm burned glad you've cum
These cusses here amt gin me no peace
since sun up, akin me when l was gwine
to begin. lt's none of their burned biz
ness; I'd invited you to see the hangin'
for | knew you'd like sport, and wasn'
gwine to begin till you arriv, eff | had tt
put off the execution" :"
Mounting the steps Of the Court House
he then sung out in tremendous voice.:
20, yes! o, yesl 0, yes! I'm nov
gwine to carry out the sentence of thu
law on Eph Tolley which has to be hung
for arson and settin' of mans hous,
afre. Whars Tom Simmons, my depty?'
"He's over at Jim Boards playin sev
en-up with Lanty Corrigan, and beatin
of him like skies, answered little pot
bellied, yellow faced specimen of a dirt
eater. "He wants me to take his plac
"You take his place; you take," indig
nantly interrupted the sheriff. "durn you
you look a heap better takin of Eph
Tolley's place. Call Tom Simmons"
After some delay Tom Simmons appear
{ ed, and Mr.. Sheriff, taking piece Q
clothes line about four feet long out @
his pocket, tossed il to him and said:
"Mr. Deputy. 60 fetch Tolley out here.
J, Up to this time had been vainly look
ling to fad some preparation for the fata
scene, but the only thing visible was a
inclosure about forty feet square, five fee
high, made of rails laid in the fashion {
aworm fence" and resembling suspi
cious pig-pen more than anything else
; In the center of the inclosure stood
pole of black. jack, forked at the top, an
I, lying beside it was another pole, abou
, twelve feet long, peeled of its bark. ST.
"Mr. Sheriff" said l, "are not the,
{ proceedings rather Irregular The la
; says an execution must take place with
Z an enclosure, and sya
! "Well, amt that an enclosure, sa-a
{ The law don't say that I'm to build up
stone wall, mort I've gotter to chunk u
. the cracks, nutber." 'ie
"Where is the gallows?" I ventured
ask. 'l'i
esquire" said the Sheriff, with impre
sive dignity, esquire, don't you fret yol
: gizzard, know my bizness, and you
r oblige me by tendin' to yourn'. Ho
. your hosses and you'll see. Ihain't BET
S sheriff Of 49, 49, county twenty-five yea
n for nothin'."
q Enter Tom Simmons with Tolley. 1
i had tied the bit Of clothes line round Il
culprit's neck, and was leading him alol
as you would a horse to water. Toll
: was almost as short in stature as the she
d if, was stoutly built, and had sulk
- don't t-care-a-cuss sort of look on, his stol
face. He was quite complacenlly chewiI