The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-11
Execution OF Wife Murderer IN North
CarOlina-FearfuI Scenes at the scahold.


The following details of the fearful scenes which
attended the execution of Rufus Lud wig at Sails
bury. N. c., June 10Th, for the murder of his
wife, brief mention of which has appeared in our
telegTsphlc columns, are communicated to a
New ork paper by an eyewitness. After de-
serlbing the murder, the arrest and the trial,
(which latter left no doubt that Lld zig was the
murderer Of his wife, nstigated thereto by his
mother and sister) the crowd at the execution,
the composed demeaDOr of the condemned, who
smoked cigar while being conveyed to the
6caLOd. the writer thus depicts an extraordinary
and exciting scene that transpired on the instant
the murderer set foot upon the platform:
DE at once made wild plunge forward with
the intention of leaping of the platform on the
farther side and with the evident purpose Of max
ing break and a desperate endeavOr TO push his
way through the crowd and escape his impending
doom. Nothing could be more hopeless than such
an effort ; as would be manifest to any rejecting
mind. But Ludwig had ceased to reflect; he only
felt the animal instinct Of self-preservation. To
submit was death. To struggle vas no more than
death. He succeeded in throwing his feet aud
legs of the platform, but the two officers having
hold of bis arms and shoulders held fast and pull.
ing him backward he fell with the upper part of
his body projecting over the edge. The platform
was about tour and half feet high. Several of
the nearest Ofcers-Of the guard at once rushed to
the assistance of the sheriff and laid hold of L1d.
wigs legs, endeavOring to shove him backward
on the platform. But the prisoner struggled with
of his powerful and muscular frame, netVed by
despair, he wrestled with fate. For q long time
he uttered no word, but with convulsve and rap id
movements of arms and legs strove to wrench
himself from the grasp of eight or ten men who
now had hold of him.
A thrill of awe and horror ran through the i'm.
mense assemblsge, and il swayed to and fro like
a forest shaken by mighty wind. Some turned
and fed from the awful spectacle; EXPLANATIONS
of excitement aud terror broke forth from others:
women and negroes shrieked. Such scene is not
often witnessed in this world. But those whose
duty II was 20 act remained calm and cool. The
guard, most of whom had been old Conf sderate
soldiers, simply brought their muskets to a
ready and stood as serene as they were wont
to do at recent times of real danger. And still
the struggle went on, one against ten /; and il
seemed at times almost like the desparing wretch
would succeed id freeing himself from the pow.
erful posse who were holding him. The moose
was two feet above his head as he lay, and pow
eTful efforts were used to push him up 10 it,
Meanwhile the platform grew rickety, and several
were employed in steadying 1t. At the end of
more than five minutes, which seemed, however,
20 be three times a. long. the sheriff was about
getting the moose over Ludwig's head, which he
threw quickly frsm side 10 side TO avoid il. He
then exclaimed that he would stand up aud be
quiet if they would release their hold, but this
was evidently said only for the purpose Of induc-
ing them to relax their efforts, for he showed no
sort Of disposition 10 relax his own exertI0ns.
The officers persisted in placing the moose over
his head, and as he felt that inevitable fate now
had him, he Is said 10 have muttersd a curse,
which was overheard by some of those nearest
him. The moose was at last put on and drawn
tight around his neck. He clutched il conyul.
slvely, and still used his feet 70 the utmost in
kicking of those who had hold Of him. IL took
several minutes to pniOn his hands and feet he
meanwhile lying on bis side and choking to death
as fast as possible, for the rope stretched by
his weight. His face was perfectly ligid, aud his
eyes starting from their sockets, presenting a
spectacle not easily forgotten, the sheriff being
too busy piniOniDg and subduiDg him TO take time
TO put on the white cap. By the time his arms
and legs we're tied he had become mOtiOnless; the
cap mas put over his face, and the officers sDrang
oil and knocked out the prop. Ludwig being in a
recumbeBt posture, and the rope ct full tension
already, when the drop fell he swung gently
down with his feet a short distance from the
ground. His neck could not have been broken.
but he died very quickly and without single
movement after he was swung of, except one or
two slight besyiDgs Of the chest. The moose was
got on at thirteen minutes past two; at eighteen
minutes past two the drop FELL and in ten minutes
thereafter Drs. Hall and Fraley pronounced life
extinct, and the spirit of Ludwig was at the bar
OF God.