The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-05-09
VOL. 8, NO. Z.

OF the Court House. The open
space between the frame work and
the Court House was shut out from
the view Of those who occupied
hundreds of windows Of buildings
to the north of tho wall, by largo
strips of canvass, within which and
standing back about twenty feet
from the open front of the frame
work were huddled together the
hundred who had the privilege (?)
Of seeing their fcllow.beiugs thus
hurried to death.
Within the frame, the floor Of
which was higher than the heads Of
the tallest of those who thus gazed
where the dozen men whose place
it was to be there. There were the
three victims of the laws dread
punishment, with ropes around
their arms and around their nccks;
tho Sheriff and the three or four
deputies who were to assist him,
the ministers and tho doctors,-
Above the spectators proper, at
three of the rear windows ofthe
Court House, were crowded two
score, or more, of eager observers
ofthe scene below. Such was the
scene within the yard at l o'clock,
Pm.
OUTSIDE
There were crowds of excited peo-
ple--thousands of them--who hung
round, although they knew well
that there was no chance for them
to see any part Of the tragedy
They were rcstraiued at doors and
halls by squads Of policemen, who
from time to time forced them back
as they surged up against the bull.
dings in foolish attempts to crowd
through passageways or Chamber
up by the pickets of the wallis
There were hundreds who had made
their appearance there with the
daylight, and who persisted in
hanging around until the last mo-
ment. Many of them had friends
or acquaintances inside, and were
waiting for them to make their APP
pearance with the news ofthe death
scene.
ToLLING THE KNELL.
All over the city rcsounded now
the deep tones of the dozen fire.
bells as the hammers fell upon them
and tolled out the knell of the
doomed trio, reminding all that the
murdcrers of James Hughes were
aboutto expiate their crime by death
on the scaffold. Two hundred and
fifty thousand people thought then
of the three men upon whom the
eyes of but few over a hundred
were fixed, in curiosity, awe and
pity. =.
WILL CASE BE REsPITED?
Was the query of thousands. But
il had already been answered by
dispatches from Gov. Cox, stating
that he could not interfere unless
recommended by Judge Mdrdock
to dc so;. and Judge Mirdock as
well as Prosecuting Attorney
Thompson had refused to interfere.
But these facts were not generally
known outside. There was, con-
sequently, much anxiety and curl.
osity on this point, until the result
was finally made known.
ON THE scAFFeLD.
At o'clock, as We have already
stated, all the parties who were to
take part in the last sceuc had Ia.
ken their places. Those on the
platfoi m had seats. Prayers were
said, then, Gcetz, Olgus and Case
kneeling with the ministers and
priests. The prayers were short.
Goctz advanced TO the front of
the platform aud spoke as follows:
II have not got but a few words
to say 10 you all before | die. 1t
was another party that influenced
mo to commit this crime, it was
another party that employed me,
Iwant this particularly understood,
that | didn't 60 on my own ac-
count. Tho party is now in Gin
cinnati that hired me to do this
You will most probably find him
at the Lone Star Saloon, on Fifth
street. His name l have before
stated, and this is the fact of the
matter.
II am ready to appear before the
holy tribunal Of God, our supreme
Judge and master, in whom now |
put all my hopes. In few min
utes the bell of death shall ring for
me, but before leave you forever,
l am glad to inform you that / have
repented of all my sins and of that
terrible crime of which | have been
the leader. l shall die a true Chris
tan. What is death after all +? 1t
is not considered so terrible to the
Christian who has made his peace
with God, as it appears TO the rest
of mankind. You merely leave
your imperfect body and become a
soul, spirit, immortal, in tho i'm.
age of God. A soul well prepared
and purified will take q position of
happiness, which no eye has seen,
no ear has heard, and Of which no
human heart has conceived.
~ shall give no explanation of
my short life now, and | will not
attempt to enumeratei my wicked
deeds. My life has been to me
like a great storm. Still you should
remember that my family is very
respectable, aud If l had not for
gotten the good lessons taught me
BY my mother, ] should not to-day |
ha IN tbia Scaffom