Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-03-09
DEATH BY HANGING-sTRANGE MAR.
BATIVE OF A ESUSCITATED FELON.

| OhATh By HANGlNGS-STkANGE MAX
BATIVE OF A REsUsCITATEDFE FELON.
From the Chattanooga Gazstte,)
Wait till you hear ii. Te1
| years ago l was elected sheriff of thi
county. This was my first election, ant
I have been retained regularly ever since
My first attempt to open court was during
an important trial The criminal was 4
depraved, desperate wretch, who had beer
indicted for an atrocious and brutal mur
der. The fellow was greatly hardened
and seemed to care but little how the tria
went-the evidence was strong agains
him, and when the case was submitted tc
the jury, they returned verdict of gull
ty 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 around his neck
and launch him into eternity. 1t was {
distasteful duty, / assure you, for though
l knew full well the man deserved his
death, did not relish the idea of hang.
ing him. got through with it howev.
er, and set him to dancing in the air.
He did not struggle much, and l thought
had an easy death. After hanging the
usual time, he was cut down and his body
given to his friends for interment. ]
thought l 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 the execution,
1 happened to be passing my barn, when !
saw man sitting in the doorway, with
his head resting on his hands. l did not
like his looks, so l approached him, and
asked him what he wanted. He raised
his head and looked at me in silence. ]
am not given to superstition, and / don't
think Pm very timid, but l felt my blood
grow icy chill as l recognized in the man
before me the man whose execution had
conducted. His face showed no trace Of
his violent end, and the only indications Of
it, now visible, was a slight Disagreement
of the neck. l scarcely knew what to say
or think, for l had seen him hung and
heard him pronounced dead, and had de-
livered 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 exhibited
in his countenance convinced me that he
was no ghost, so 1 asked him, with as
much coolness as l could command;
''Sack Larkins, do you know me z"
"You're the man that hung me-" hs
replied, doggedly, at the same time NOV
ing away.
Before you go, Larkins," said ], %
would like to hear how you cheated the
galows."
"You won't peach on any of them folk,
as helped me, will youf" he asked.
"No," l replied, 81 will not get them
into any trouble. / simply wish to know
how you felt while hanging, and how you
were resuscitated."
He hesitated for sometime, but, upon q
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 real
izing his fearful situation for the first time;
but before he had time to think, the trap
sprung, and he fell through the opening.
The shock of the fall was rather more
startling than painful; and did not pro-
duce either insensibility or confusion
His thoughts were remarkably clear, and
he seemed to have the power of seeing
far above, below and all around him. Ev-
erything seemed bright vermilhon hue,
and soft, dreamy languor gradually stole
over him, until he became insensible.
There was nothing painful or unpleasant
in anything he had undergone. He SEEM
ed to be sinking gently into delicious
sleep, and all his thoughts were pleasant.
The next he remembered was being wrung
by the most agonizing torture. The pains
were not confined to any particular place,
but extended through the whole body.
His first thought was that he was in per-
dition, and was suffering the penalty of
his crimes. The pains increased each mo-
ment, and at last became so intense that
he started to his feet with scream of an
guish, at the same time opening his eyes
Great was his surprise to find himself in
his fathers house, in the midst of his re-
latives and friends. 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 determined to try and resuscitate him,
although they feared it would be useless
They worked faithfully, and at last sue
ceeded.
"But, sir" said the man, in conclusion,
''coming to life again was much worse
than dying"
The man promised to leave the State,
and try to do better l had but little con-
fdence in him, yet I let him go. He kept
his word, however, and short time ago l
heard he was well-to-do farmer in one
of the territories.
This, gentlemen, is the manner in which
I got my ideas about hanging, and think
you will admit their force.