Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-11-13

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sers. and her confession Of the crime for
which she was executed. 5stF sFs
This was the first executions that has ever
taken place in Clearfeid county
THE GALLONS.
The ral0Ts was constructed OF white pine,
and consisted OF two upright pieces, six by
eight iuches, and about twelve feet high,
with cross beam at the top, OF same d.
mensions. The platform, or floor, WAS five
feet SIX inches from the ground, and rested
on four smaller posts, connected BY cross
ties. The Aoor was IN TWO pieces dividing
in the centre, and each halt hung upon
hinges on either side or the transverse ties.
a bar extended beneath the floor Tor fali) to
hold it in a horizontal position one end of
the bar resting in u notch in the rear cross
tie, and the other on a spring on the op-
posite tie. The spring worked on pivot.
\ knob was attached to one end of the
spring and passed to the outer side of the
front tie and upon the knob being pressed
inward the spring was removed from beneath
the bar, and the drop allowed to fall.
yHEEXECUTION, ETC.
At nine clock the spiritual advisers of
the prisoner were admitted to her cell, and
continued with her nearly the whole time
until the execution. She was dressed in
| long black dress, with piece of white cambria
| neatly folded and pinned around her neck.
She had slept but little the night previous,
| and ate very little for her breakfast She
appeared perfectly calm and selt-possessed,
| though her face presented rather a saddened
and downcast expression, and there was OBJ
servabe slight nervousness during the
forenoon) which she relieved by smoking.
She conversed but little, and seemed rather
absorbed in her own meditations, in a full
realization of her condition. She, howev-
er, answered promptly all questions, and
firmly maintained her trust in the mercy of
God, and her willingness to die. About l
o clock bowl of oysters was brought to her /;
she ate about half and said s'she could not eat
any more. st 1arter before ! clock,
hymn was sung At her request,and pray
er offered in her behalf by Rev Harrison.
All o clock. Sheriff Faust appeared in the
! cell and announced to her "that the honr
had come. Without the, least apparent
excitement she. arose ilnrnediately, and the
Sheriff fastened over her head black COW
ering. which was, on the scafold, drawn
over her face, The Sheriff and 7. j. Nc,
Gullough, one OF her counsel, led the way,
and she walked down the stairs with firm
step, keeping her eyes steadily on the floor,
leaning on the arm of Rev. j. g. Archer,
and followed by Rev P. Il. Harrison, her
spiritual advisers, and in this order ascend
ed the steps on to the scAffold, where the
/ prisoner was seated on a chair after which
| Rev. Archer offered an earnest and affecting
prayer in behalf of the prisoner, commend
+. ing hsr 30 The mercy Of Coo.
! Mr. Archer then said: Tire prisoner wishes,
through me, 10 express publicly her thanks
to the Sheriff aud his wife FOR their kind
ness to her during her imprisonment, and
also 20 say that she contesses this great sin
for which she suffers, qua trusting III tie
forgiveness Of God she Is willing to die. y
t After this statement, the SheFiI, and
those who assembled the scafold with him,
took their leave Of the condemned, and all
retired except Sheriff Faust.
The Sheriff after having pinioned the
prisoners feet, direc cd her TO arise, when
! he tied her hands behind her back, and
then adjusted the moose, with the knot
on the Jeff side Of the head, and drew the
cap over her lace at 10 minutes past
one clock, everything being in readiness,
/ the Sheriff descended from the scaffold, and
as he reached the foot Of the steps, he touch
ed the fatal spring, the drop fell, and the
! prisoner was suspended between heaven
aid earth. There were but few copvplsive
movements, which did not last more than
three minutes, when the spirit OF the con
dennued had fed to he presence of its God
In the fall, the knot Of the moose drew "a
round to the back Of her head, and after re-
naming suspended, in this manner, for 25
minutes, the physicians, Doctors Hartswick,
Burchfeld and Fetzer, examined the body
and pronounced life extinct, and ten min
utes thereafter the body was taken down
and placed in a neat coffin, having remained
suspended So minutes. Upon examination
1t was found her face was not at all distorted,
and presenteda perfectly natural appearance,
except slight discoloration of the lips.
Sheriff Faust deserves great credit for the
manner in which everything was conducted.
There was no disorder or confusion Be
sides the jury, very few persons were admit
ted inside the jail-yard whilst the idle Gu
riosity of those who would mount the ton of