The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-01
THE tSCAFFOLD.
A Frightful Scene-Desperate Efforts of
Wife, Al urderer to Avert His Fate.

A letter to the New York Herald from Sails
bury, N. O., June 26. says:-
here to-day in the public execution of Rufus
Ludwig for the killing of his wife, to whom he
mad been married only eleven days.
On the 24Jh of May. 1867, Rufus was married
to Mllly Campbell, poor but vlrtuous girl, re-
siding with her widowed mother In the south
eastern part of this county. He at once took
her to the house of his own parents, who, with
their daughter Jane young woman of bad
character, lived only about five miles from the
house of Rufus mother. in law. In the course
of two weeks afterwards the brother of the
tained from ner husbands family that she
had been missing SINCE the 4th OF
June. which was Tuesday; Her M husband, @ RutIs'
with the intention of remaining week, and
that he had supposed her TO be there-Whtch,
however the brother informed him mad not
been the case. The neighborhood was at once
aroused and commenced a search Tor the miss
Ing young wife. This search was unsuccessful
Suspicious were at once excited that she had
meanor and conduct OF the husband aud his
family caused these suspicious to be directed
towards them, and about the 9TH of June Rufus
and his mother and sister Jane were arrested.
The two latter were admitted to bail, but Rufus
was tully committed to jail on the charge of
as ct there was no dead body found. Ga the
llth Of June the body was found in
the Yadkin river and then were revealed
all the marks of q murder most foul and dta-
Secomnosition to- q considersble degree by I'M
mer sion under the water. and the cause of the
death was plainly visible. A bullet had entered
the left temple just at the base OF the brain,
close in front OF the ear, and ranging down.
wards passed through the back of the mouth
jaw, breaking the jaw bone. There were two
gashes OF a knife on the throat-one of them
somewhat shallow and insnthcient TO produce
necessarily mortal. The spot where the body
was found was secluded one perhaps mile
from the house where Rufus and MS parents
lived.
Ludwig was finally convicted of the crime and
executed. The scene at the scanod, one of tn
most frghtful on record, Is thus described
The instant he touched the platform "a most
extraordinary and exciting scene ensued He
intention OF leaping oil the platform on the
farther side, and with the evident purpose OF
making break and a desperate endeavor TO
push his way through the crowd and escape his
impending doom. Nothing could be more
fest to any rejecting mind. But Ludwlg had
ceased TO reflect; he only felt the animal instict
TO struggle was no more than death. He
succeeded in throwing his feet and
Legs of Day%s the bs Ggt arms Tns sTS sT
shoulders held fast and pulling him backward
he fell with the upper part of MS back still on
projecting over the edge. Several of the nearest
officers of the guard at once rushed TO the as
Wigs legs, endeauoring to shove him backward
on the platform. But the prisoner struggled
with almost superhuman strength. With all
/
nerved by despair he wrestled with fate; For
a long time he uttered no word, but with con,
VulsiVe and rapid movements OF arms and legs
stroye to wrench himself from the grasp OF
the eight or ten men who now had hold othlm'
A Thrill of awe and horror ran through the
immense assemblage, and 1t swayed TO and fro
like a forest shaken by mighty wind Some
turned and fed from the awful spectacle; ex.
CARNATIONS of excitement and terror broke
forth from others; women ana negroes
shl ieked Such a scene Is not often Witnessed
| in this world. But those whose duty 1t was to
| act remained calm and cool. Tue guard, most
| of whom had been old Confederate soldiers;
| simply brought their muskets to ready"
and stood as serene as they were wont to do In
| recent times OF real danger And still the
struggle went on, one against teni aud IL seemed
| at times almost like the despairlpg wretch
would succeed in freeing himself from the pow
| or ul posse who were holding him. The moose
was two feet above his head as he lay, and pow
erful efforts were used TO push him up to IL.
| Meanwhile the platform grew rickety, and
| several were employed In steadying II. AT the
| end OF more than five minutes-which seemed
| however, to be three times as long-the Sheriff
| was about getting the moose over Ludwlgs head
| which he threw quickly from side TO side u
| avoid IL. He then exclaimed that he would stand
| up and be quiet If they would release their hold
but this was evidently said only for the purpos(
L of inducing them TO relax their efforts, for he
Ishowed no sort OF disposition to relax his OWE
1 exertions. The officers persisted In placing tht
Il moose over his head. and as he felt the lnevlIe
L hl0 fate now had him, ne IL said 70 nave nut
Med . Vurss, which was heard by some OF thos'