The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-02-24
The Execution OfD Hughes.--Sin-
gular Speech from She Gallows.
w. j. SLATER & co.

Dr. Hughes, the murderer Of Tam
4sen Paysons, was hanged at Cleveland
on Fr =. The Leader says: M
AZ twenty five minutes to one o.
o'clock, Hughes, accompanied by the
!: Sheriff and his Deputy, and Professor
Thome, ascended the scaffold, with a
firm step, Advancing to the edge OF
the platform he essayed to speak; but
his feelings overcame him, and turning
to Mr.. Thome he remarked that he
should be unable to proceed, until af-
ter prayer from Prof. Thomc. The
two accordingly knelt down upon the
! scaffold, when Professor Thome offer
ed up a pathetic and affecting prayer.
During its delivery, Hughes was ex-
ceedingly agitated-a perceptible tre-
NOR overcoming his frame.
Before arising from his knees
Hughes made a brief prayer himself.
AT it's conclusion he rose to his feet,
when it became apparent that he had
! 1een drinking, and that he was consid-
&ably under the influence Of the slim
tlants allowed him. r.......E
He then made the following speech :
TMY FRIENDS: This is indeed sad
fate, / would wish you to remember it,
not as an example, but as the acme of
human justice. Do you suppose that
fora a moment think the law Of man
is just in taking my life? No; mans
law is but the law Of murderer like
me. Who made that law? Moses.
And who was heY The greatest MUIR
derer we ever heard of. Look for the
second chapter of Numbers, and you
twill find some example ofmurder, with
Reconciliation, and purpose, and delib-
eraion, all combined in Moses, in ta-
klng, the life of an Egyptian, and then
he comes out and proclaims himself a
Priest, prophet and king, and by his
law I .uffer, and every other murderer.
Twill admit that life is dear to all and
ought to basprOteeted. But if man
takes the life of another it is the great
Srmadness to retaliate upon him in this
banner. If the people of Bedford had
taken my life at the time l committed
that awful deed, / would have said that
: y natures law and comes from the
Heart; but when, after six months of
eparation and deliberation over the
batter, by those in official position, |
dhy then they murder-they murder
gentlemen, what is the advantage to
ociety to take my life, or any other
hams, in comparison to employing him
Tor the rest OF his days in some useful
employment. If j. w. Hughes has
lany ability for anything, then keep him
Ia confinement and employ him on use
\ m1abor and make a good man Of him,
CkAaturn him out a reformed man, and
live him anlopportunity to atone for
al the evil he may have done sOcie-
\ This death penalty is ridiculous, and
e, Fan will consider over it you will find
sSrong. One life is as good as an
Ter. What advantage is it to take
7.i.life? None. 1t is not an example
v 3cter others from the crime. Did |
ENeinber pointing that pistolg No, |
at remember it to this hour Yet it
!. Ae law and we must abide by 1.-THE
w. of man but not Of God. / am
nvinoed of it. For six months now
lave had every sect ofreligion to visit
Z, and they come in to tell me which
j The way to heaven. Do / beligss
4 iem? No! What is mans way 4
esven? The same as his way On
akth. DO unto others as we wish to
e done to. Ihaye thought it all over,
lily and conscientiously, and have