Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-04-24
n EVENING NEWS.
Friday R,eulns,.......AprIl ~. 1865.
Tho Execution of John Milleaiu.
THE MARCH TO THE GALLONS.

streets Oh virginia Weto ItNeiy auu ousI-
ling with both citizens and people gath.
cred in from the surrounding country to
witness the execution Of John Millsain
for the murder Of julie Bulette, in yir-
ginia, on the goth Of January, 1867.
The principal point Of attraction was on
d street in front of the Court House,
and towards noon the crowd had in:
creased to an immense size. At III
o'clock the carriage for the prisoner
drove up to the door of the Sherifs
office, aud soon afterward the Sherifs
posse of specials, numbering twenty
-four men, armed with Henry rifles
marched out and surrounded the car
riage. The National Guard who
were at their armory, now marched
down street, aud also formed about the
carriage. They were in full uniform,
and numbered about sixty. Ball car
tridges being distributed, they proceeded
to load their muskets. At ~ o'clock,
precisely, according to city time, the
prisoner stepped into the carriage, and
the procession started for the gallows.
The carriage containing the prisoner
and attendant Catholic Priests, WAS
followed BY a carriage containing
the two officiating physicians and
the reporters of the various news
papers Of Virginia and Gold Hill. This
carriage was followed BY . wagon con-
tanning the coffin and undertaken. Ga
each side. Of this mourntul cortege
marched the Sherif's posse and the
National Guard. An immense number
Of people followed on foot, on horse
back, and in carriages, and a moving
throug crowded the sidewalks.
AT THE GALLONS.
The gallows waSbuilt after the usual
style, being two upright, and cross
beam, SOM sixteen feet high, with u
scatfold ten BY twelve feet square rising
to about half the hight Of the gallows
frame. In the center Of the scaffold was
the fatal trap, directly over which, was
the rope. The gallows was situated in
u sloping raviue about a mile north Of
Virginia, just below the Geiger Grade,
aud near the Jewish burial ground.
ARRIVED at the scatfold, the prisoner as
ceuded with a light tripping step. and
now John Milleain stood boldly forth
and took a last look upon whom were
once his fellow citizens, who were now
assembled to see him take his final leap in
the dark. A p~leasanter Spring day was
seldom seen, and on the sides Of the
encircling amphitheatre Of hills were
between four and five thousand people,
among whom were noticed many women
and children. On the platform Of the
scatrold were the Sheriff, Deputy, Jailer,
and the two priests. Deputy Sheriff
Lecouey read the warrant for the eSecu-
ton, after which Millesin stepped for
ward. and read his farewell address to
the people, but claiming not to be able
to speak good English, he read it-as it
was written-in French. He was smooth
" shaven, and looked somewhat pale
from imprisonment, but showed no sign
of nervous weakening, aud read in
a loud, firm, unwavering voice,
occupying about ten minutes time.
He said that in this trial and conviction
great injustice had been done him.
Chief Of Police Edwards had perjured
himself on the witness stand, and
abandoned women had been brought in
to swear his life away. Not understand
ing English well, he had not been able
to fully comprehend the accusa-
tions, therefore could not we'll rsfute
Thorn. He had baen guilty of
some bad deeds during his life
time, but Of this murder he was in-
.nocent. What he was reading was the
only thing in the way Of a confession he
had to make ; anything else ~purporting
to be a confession Of his, he declared to
be spurious aud untrue. He spoke Well
of his treatment by the Sheriff and
other officers while in prison, and e1-
pressed bis forgiveness Of everybody.
The only words be addressed in English,
were these: "Nr. Halland family, I'm
much obliged to you for your services,
and to the ladies that Visited me- in my
prison." He knelt upon the trap, and
after q short prayer with Father Mano-
que, he arose, shook hands with the
officers, embraced the priests, and
then stood firmly on the fatal trap
while the noose was being adjusted
about his neck. So cool a man
under such circumstances we neY-
er saw Just as the black cap
was drawn down over his head, the
spring was touched, the trap dropped,
and John Millsaiu dangled in the air.
He fell about six feet. After about two
minutes suspension q strong shudder
pesyaaea ms 'fa%, sr",;oa ~ Is
pinn; s All nuiss.ion ceased to be an
narsn, 20 the nbys;cians-Drs. McMean,
-L-- L.. kal hrn~ Ok
aau u. = w. 49, and niscsa in
~. CTR, Hi, nsct wssbroken. and he
doubles, died without pain. We did
mot learn wha, disposition was to be
made of the BODY. The a~ssemblsge quiet
" dispersed. Throughout the whole pro-
cesd;pgs, nom 6rst to last, everything
was conducted in a ouist. orderly, cred
;,abIs manner. with no .ppsreut excite
msnt s,csnt NJ nh. time The drop fell,
when n Jaw nsonls nearest the scsfold,
rrsh.5 ;.voinnt,r;lv forward but were
rsnrssssJ by ,be guard. otherwise all