Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-15
EXECUTION OF QUILLER AT ELIZA
BETH, n j.

A Horrible Death-The Crime for which
He Suffered-Seenes at the Gallows-A
Dying speech.
In the spring of this year there lived in the
town OF Westheld, about eight miles from
EliYabe b, a colored farm laborer, named SyI-
vester q uNier, with bis wife. He was ad.
dieted tO orink, and thus was reduced in his
circumstances. He resided formerly in com.
Portable quarters, but had TO vacate his prem.
ises on sccount of his quarreIsome disposi-
ticn, and was fiBally compelled to seek a home
Ter himself and vile IN barn with two rooms
occupied by a colored man named George Fir.
me- ap d wife. Firmer gave up one room TO
Quiller, and tbe two families lived together
la peace frsm April until June, when q
quarrel arose about the occupancy of one
room. This quarrel continued at inter.
walls for a week, until Saturday, the Stn Of
June, " hen, at six O'Clock IN the morning, the
quarrel broke out afresh, shd it came 10 blows.
Fumer, though an older man by 25 years. got
toe best OF his opponent Quiller then went 10
firmers apartments, and put some of his fur
nnure INTO he barny ard at the same time dar.
Ing Firmer TO come ont 10 fight him. A BROTH
er-in-law OF Quiller advised him to let the
matter end here, as bloods he'd would be the in.
evitabie result. But he needed not this ad vice
and went into the house OF Mr.. Hatfield, who
resided In the nsighborhood, from whom he
borrowed fowling piece. for the avowed
purpose OF shooting askunk, which infested
Firmer, who wss equally wild with excite.
ment and drink, came out OF the barn with q
jack kulIe ln AAS bdhoS Dut WneSneT II was
closed or not old not appear at the trial No
sooner had Firmer stepped into the yard than
Qulller raised the gun TO his head, and without
word OF warning shot his opponent through
the body. Death was almost instantaneous
the shot having passed through the lungs.
ttarlng them into shreds and mutIlatng the
heart
In September q uilIer was tried and con.
victed, despite the most strenuous efforts of
his counsel. Mr. Alyord, 70 secure a verdict
for The minor crime.
49,,
Judge bupuy, 10 be carried into effect yester-
day.
Since the sentence was pronounced, Quiller
WIS confined in one Of the cells on the ground
floor OF the Elizabeth Jail. He was freely Wis
lied by clereymen of his own race and the
Rev. Mr.. Chester white clergyman OF the
Presbyterian Church.
THE EXECUTION.
The New York Express Of yesterday after
noon gives the following account OF the exc.
cution:
Ats]f O'Clock Mary. the wife Of the culprit.
called 10 take leave of her husband d uIIler
went to the end of the corridor TO greet her
and the couple went together 10 the stove,
where they sat down, and. for an hour and a
half pI aye and talked together
AT 10 o'clock Mrs uIller knelt down. and
with ner husband, prayed for some time, arose
ana quite cooily emarked, "Syl- guess l
mad better leave" You had better," SAID
the husband, 4" before the crowd comes am
crossing the chilly waves of Jordan before
now, and Jesus is on the other side waiting
for me-" kiss, a shake of the hands and the
was over. "
At quarter. past IL O'Clock the Rev. Mr..
Cnester called, and the praying was continued
unui tne niece OF the convict came TO bid her
uncle last good bye. The niece, q mulatto
Rirl, was quite firm, and looked with a curious
eye al the Rallows. She talked q fe " mi o utes
TO ner uncle, but neither showed any signs OF
emotion.
At II O'Clock the Off cial charged with piniop.
ing the culprit came. I'VE have come, SyI-
vesfer, TO see whether you are ready was the
Temars Isami "Ready, sab l am ready to 60 to
me nail, and stepping into his cell the pinion-
ing was gone through with, the prisoner as
sisting in II.
At 10 O'Clock minutes the processio.
reached the scaffoId In the lowing order:
sheriff Pearson and Chief of Police Karon.
-, Ine cuIprlt with bis Spiritual advisers, Rev
Messrs Jackson and Chester
Physicians and others.
AS the prisoner turned the corner of The cor.
rider and oeheld the gallows, a smile was
noticed on his lips and he looked up to il care
fully scanning the outlines Of the gibbet
After the cuiprit had been placed under the
rope, the Sheriff read the death warrant, and
in reply whether he had anything 10 saw.
Quiller made the following:
DYING SPEECH.
NV friends! This is the fruits OF s.ronu
drinE, and you who stand by and indulge 10
II. In ke heed by my fate, which 1 have caused
mysel: There are, no doubt, many among
you who expect TO hear a con nfession from me.
Oh no, tney are mistaken, for have none to
make l made my confession to God. am
SINNER, but am ready and willing to 90 to nv
God and my redCemer Jesus, who has smiled
his precious blood for me. He is now waiting
for me on the other eide of the chilly wayes
OF Jordan. Oh, Heavenly Father, give me
strength, for though the spirit is willing the
flesh is weak 1 have no animosity to any
one. am gong home to my Fathers house
Rev. Mr.. JacksOn now offered a prayer. and
was followed by Rev. Mr.. Chester with the
Denedlction, the prisoner audibly m mutterine
the words. "Jesus, Jesus, Saviour" At the
close OF the benedIction the Sheriff stepped
INTO the recess, touched the spring with his
foot, and the body Of z uIller dangled In the air
The moose having slipped round. the cuIprit
died wretched death He made unsuccessful
efforts to raise his hands to his head, turned
round and round, the knees raising IN emselyes
mostup TO the breast, while gurgling sound
was neard from beneath the black cap These
motions continued for two min utes, only to
cease Tor about four minutes when thev were
ewed, and continued tor about q minute
SIX minutes after the spring was pulled, a
heaVing OF the chest was observable followed
TWO minutes later by another heaving of the
cnest, and shrug Of the left shoulder, indi.
eating that death had claimed its victim
After banging for half an hour the ATTENDING
physicians, Mayor Geary, Green, Oakley, and
w hltenead, examined the body, which was
lowered and placed in a stained pine coffin, to
% inferred In the Evergreen Cemetery.