Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-04-19
TO BE HANGED TOMORROW.
ny J. ". CALcRAfT.

have never read the "LAst hours of Con.
demned CRIMINAL" written BY Victor Hugo, but
l have seen The gallows--doomed through al
the steps Of their progress to the death-drop.
I have seen the lip quiver, and the cheek turn
suddenly pale - the dreaded hand grasped
suddenly their shoulder, and the words "Ar-
rested for wilful murder" terrified their ears
seen them in their prison cells cheating
themselves with the improbable hope Of On &C.
quital, or suffering the torturss Of an agonis-
ing suspense-seen them standing on the dock
with IN air Of reckless defence - they listsn-
ed to the sentence which cut them on from the
living-seen them In the copdsmned cell,
making music with the slsnking Of their fst-
ters, and scoihng at the eonsolstiess Of rsligies
sat with them during their last night upon
earth, Stood beside them when the hsngnaa's .
hands fst SEIZED them and pinisnsd thsir
arms In preparation for the horrible finish
walked with them to the gallows, heard their
last words, and shudderingly gased spon their
death-agonies.
Yes, find by reference to my notebook Of
goal events, that I have attended no fewer
than ten Of the gallows doomed during the last
hours Of their life; and on such occasions
closely analysed their various mental emo
tions,
From the year 1852 to 1851, Was chief
warden Of the Melbourne goal in the Colony Of
Victoria, and thus it was that acquired an
experiance Of 50 morbid character. Ipre>
ceive that in one Of the cases the notes ere
somewhat lengthy and sketch out the history,
the particulars Of the crime, and the record Of
the last hour Of one George wiseman, who was
executed At Melbourne for murder on the sixth
day Of June, A. D., 1861.
l had been away from the prison . month
on special leave Of absence, and on return>
ing the governor said:
"Mr. s., you will have to sit up with
the condemned man tonight
was rather startled; for Was not aware
that an execution was to take place on the fol-
lowing day. knew nothing Of the circum.
stances connected with the criminals guilt
had heard nothing peculiar with regard TO the
mans demeanor since his condemnation.
The clergyman left the mans cell 1t six
o'clock in the evening (gallows eve wc used to
call such evenings,) and then entered with .
Bible and some tea to pass the night with the
poor wretch.
I'll is necessary for me to give some descrip
ton Of the condemned cell and its furna,ure,
otherwise the sequel Of my story would not be
clearly understood. The cell was small and
narrow-certainly not larger than eight by
four. 1t was secured by two doors-ono =
wooden one, opening outward to the Jail cor
rider; the other an iron one, opening inward
to the cell. This latter door had in it small
aperature, through which the prisoners meals
were passed. The furniture Of the cell con
sisted Of very strong, thick bed board six
feet six inches long and three feet wide .
small wooden stool and . tub.
As 4 rule nobody sat up with the condemn
ed cenvict, anl no light was permitted. The
"last night this rule was invariably departed
from, and the chief warden Was the officer who
lad to remain in the condemned mans cell
from the time Of the clergyman departure in
the evening.
In accordance with this custom, I entered
the cell, % have already said, At six O'Clock
on this particular gallows-evc. On the stool
sat the man. He didn't look like fellow vhs
was to BE- hanged in the morning. He Was do
cidedly gsod looking, and his broad, massive
forehead, would have been > triumph to phrsn
ology.
The prison chaplain had evidently failed L
seriously impress him, for he was whistlins
"Behold how brightly breaks the morning! I
and seemed to quite enjay the music. whe'
the cell door vas closed upon us, he ceases
whistling; and, rising from the stool, he smil
ingly said:
Il cannot offer you chair, but pray aocep
the only seat have"
l took tho stool, and he seated himself upor
the bed-board. lii % candle and opened Ii,
Bible, but before had selected my chapter 4
read to him, or had made any Of those commos
place remarks about tho consultations Of reli
gion which people are apt almost mcdaniel,
to utter under some such circumstances, Wise
man sddrssssd me with:
"Do, sir let 10 understand each other, and
il vs ars = pass this night together, allow NJ
to spend it my own way. don't want an,
Bible jargon dinned into my ears, for havt
no liking for theological cant Of any kind
Saying this he gently took the Bible out O
NJ hand and plsced it in the corner Of Ii,
cell.
Al had in leasurs hours perused grsA
many works upon the evidences Of Christiaa'
itJ, ! Immediately became argunsntativs snd
endeavored BY the nero force Of logical rea.
soning to convince the condemned erinnsl d
the truth Of the Bible revelations and pointed
him to its promises - grand hope even 4
such - himself.
With single interruption, he listened to md
slthough ! coald perceive, silently % he sat
that there was contemptous smile curling bid
lip.
Al soon - had ceased 10 speak, he replied
to n And .ax = chain afths most subtle ~.
soning, eacs. link Of which WAS strengthen b.
aquotation from soms infdel writer, hs thought
to show how inconsistent were all my conclu.
sions, and how little Of the unknown could b,
known to any Of us. His reading had been q
varied, his retention was % rood. and hia