The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-04-18
TO BE HANGED To-MoRRoW.
By J. w. CALCRAFT.

- s-. By J. w. CAIICRAFT. e
Ihave never Rad the sLast hours ola
Condemned Criminal" written by Vic
tor Hugo, but have seen the gallows-
doomed through all the steps Of their
progress to the death-drop. Ihave seen
the lip quiver, and the cheek turn sud-
denly pale as the dreaded hand grasped
suddenly their shoulder, and the words
Arrested for wilful MURDER" terrified
their ears-seen them in their prison
cells cheating themselves with the i'm
probable hope of an acquittal, or suffer-
ing the tortures Of an agonizing suspense
seen them standing on the docks with
an air of reckless defiance as they listen
ed to the sentence which cut them of
from the iving-seen them in the con-
demned cell, making music with the
clanking Of their fetters, and scofing at
the consultations of religion-sat with
them during their last night upon earth,
stood beside them when the hangman's
hands first seized them and pinioned
their arms in preparation for the horri-
BILE finish, walked with them to the gal
lows, heard their last words, and shud-
deringly gazed upon their death agonies.
Yes, find by reference to my note
book of goal events, that 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 emotions.
From the year 1852 to 1861, was the
chief warden of Melbourne goal in the
Colony of Victoria, and thus it was that
1 acquired an experience of so morbid a
character. l perceive that in one of the
cases the notes are somewhat lengthy
and sketch out the history, the particu-
lars 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. 1865.
had been away from the prison for a
month on special leave of absence, and
on returning the governor said:
"Mr. s., you will have to sit up
with the condemned man tonight"
was rather startled, for l was not
aware that an execution was to take
place on the following day. I knew
nothing Of the circumstances connected
with the criminals guilt-had heard no.
thing peculiar with regard to the mans
demeanor since his condemnation.
The clergyman left the mans cell al
six o'clock in the evening, and I then
entered with Bible and some tea tc
pass the night with the poor wretch.
It is necessary for me to give some de-
scription of the condemned cell and its
furniture, otherwise the sequel of my
story would not be clearly understood
The cell was small and narrow--certain.
ly not larger than eight feet by four. II
was secured by two doors-one wooden
one, opening outward to the Jail corridor
the other an iron one, opening inward
to the cell. This latter door had in it {
small aperture, through which the pris
oner's meals were passed. The furnitur,
of the cell consisted Of very strong
thick bed-board, six feet six inches long
and three feet wide, a small woodei
stool and tub.
AS a rule, nobody sat up with the con
demned convict, and no light was per
mitted. The last night this rule wa
invariably departed from, and the chic
warden was the officer who had to remail
in the condemned mans cell from tn
time of the clergyman's departure in til
evening.
| In accordance with this custom, l en-
tered the cell, as have already said, a
six o'clock. On the stool sat the man
, He didn't look like fellow who was t.
be hanged in the morning. He was dc
cidedly good looking, and his broad
massive forehead, would have been tri
umph to phrenology.
2 The prison chaplain had evidentl
) failed to seriously impress him, for h
was whistling, Behold how bright
breaks the morning!' and seemed
quite enjoy the music. When the ceI
door was closed upon US, he ceased whi.
tling; and, rising from the stool, h
smilingly said:
II cannot offer you chair, but pra
accept the only seat l have"
II took the stool, and he seated hin
self upon the bsd-board. l lit cand
and opened the Bible, but before ha
selected my chapter to read to him, {
had made any of those common plat
remarks about the consultations Of rel
gion which people are apt almost nj
chanically to utter under some such Gil
cumstances, Wiseman addressed m
with:
"Do, sir, let us understand each othe
If we are to pass this night together, a
low me to spend it in my own way.
don't want any Bible jargon dinned il
!, to my ears, for have no liking for the
illogical cant Of any kind"
I Saying this, he gently took the Bib
: out Of my hand and placed it in the co
], ner of the cell.
9 As l had in leisure hours perused
: great many works upon the evidences
Christianity. I Immediately became a