Smyrna times., 1868-10-07
MiSce eIIUmeOM
HOW EPH TOLLEY WAS HUNG.

ANOl hduy years dSO LLG DH6FlU OF hlVef |
county, Mississippi, invited me to attend an
execution. The Invite" was given verbally |
as give it here, verbatim:
Come over and see me strangulate that |
burned cuSs, Eph TOlley, for arson and setting
old man Odum's house afre-durn him."
Accordingly, on the appointed day. . Uncle
Bob, an eccentric old genius and myself rode |
over to the place of execution.
The sheriff OF River county was, to use the |
expressive phraseolcgy Of that section, the
durndcst, ugiest, funniest little cuss in the
county" He stood about five feet in his shoes,
was quite as broad as he was long, and had
face that would frighten a catamount
Bristling about, big with the Importance of
his position, he waddled up to Uncle Bob and
pOmpously offered his hand.
Colonel, I'm burned glad you've cum
These cusses here aint gin me no peace since
sun up, akin when | was u gwine to begin It's
none of their burned bizness; I'd invited you
to see the hangin for knew you d like sport,
and | wasn't gwine to begin till you arrived, eff
| had to put off the execution"
! Mounting the steps of the court house, he
then sung out i'll tremendous voice:
80 yes D yes! D yes I'm now gwine to
proceed to carry out the sentence Of the law
on Eph TOley, who has to be hung for arson
and settln' of mans house atire. Whar
Bill Simmins, my deputy p
Hes over at Jim Boards, playin' seven
up with Banty Corrigan, and beatin' Of him
like skies, answered a little pOt-bellied, yell
low-faced specimen of dirteater. 'fHe
wants me to take his place"
You take his place You take" indig-
nantly interrupted the sheriff. "Durn you,
you'd look heap better atakin' Eph Tolley's
place. Call Bill Simmins"
After some delay Bill Simmns appeared,
and Mr.. Sheriff, taking piece of cothes-ne
about four feet long out OF his pocket, tossed
it 10 him and said
Mr.. Deputy, go fetch TOlley out here"
Up to this time had been vainly looking to
find some preparation for the fatal scene, but
the only thing visible was an enclosure about
forty feet square, five feet high, made Of rails
: made in the fashion of worm fence" and
resembling suspicious pig pen more than any
thing else. In the centre of the enclosure stood
| pole OF black jack fOrked at the top, and ly.
ing beside 1t was another pole, about twelve
feet long, peeied off its bark.
-" Mr.. Sheriff, said |, . are not these pro-
ceedings little irregular? The law says an
4 execution must take place within an enclosure
' and ="
I well, amt that an enclosure, sa-ay? The
law don't say am to build a stone wall, nor
: I've got to chink up the cracks, nurther /"
e ''Where is the gallows2' | ventured to ask.
Squire, said the Sheriff, with impressive
|. dignity, Squire, dOn't you fret your gizzard
! know my bzness, and you'll oblige me by
i tendin' to your'n. Hold your hosses and you /
~ see. L hain't been Sheriff of River county
e tor twenty-five years for nothing"
ie Enter Bill Simmins with Tolley He haC
T. tied the bit of the cOthes-line round the cul
!, prit' ) neck, aud was leading him along as vor
oaf would horse to water. Tolley was almost a
l. short in stature as the Sheriff, very stoutly
s. built, and had sulky, don t-care- a-cuss sor
l. Of look on his stolid face. He was quite com
N placently chewing bit of wheat straw IL
.. nodded famiarly to all hands, spoke to two o
a three in the party and asked me for chew o
III tobacco informing me at the same time that h
ny was dry as a meeting house." l carry tw
al kinds-one for myself and the other for tobacco
e beggars, but thinking it a shame to send ma
s le, into eternity with wad of niggerhead in hi
in, mouth, pulled out my choice honey-dew an
ed handed it over That was the last | saw Of il
nj Tolley deposited an enormous quid in his cheek
iq and cOolly handed the plug to the little pot
ea eS beied dirt-eatsr and it went from one to tn
hhs other as long as it lasted. Lord to think
or man with one foot in the grave should be capi
60 BILE of an act of ingrattude and downright rol
lOr berry!
IAN The Sheriff now read document to Tolley
lis lis informing him that he was to be hung by til
rms neck, &c, winding up with the addition:
tteej "And now, TOlley, you re darned prett.
Of looking skunk, ain'tyou? Ill teach you, dun
ess Ss you, to set gentleman house afire, and
ser ser guilty Of arson. Come along herel' and
ier took the rope from the deputy's hand and le
ney Tolley, who followed like lamb to the saug
ith ter into the enclosure.
III Old Bob whispered to me, A" Frank, give Il
Ih poor devil drink. But the fate of my ho
han Iour staalad ,,,y haa ~ tho annual
Arrived at the fatal pole, the Sheriff orde
the ed the doomed man to "set down thar
tas%f which he did, The end of the rope was tn,
IAN: tied around the peeled sapin on the ground.
her "Now, Tolley, get up;" and Tolley, wi
pur ; to apparently stolid Indifference, slowly rose
lan- his feet The Sheriff then put one end of Il
the sapIin into the fork of the upright, and pulli
, or or out his watch handed it to Bill Simmor
any any saying, Now, dep'ty, you time i'm, while
irits rR hold i'm up"
the Judge of my horror when Lsaw this old de-
ter. thus coolly prepare to choke the wretch
the death with no more compunetion than if drov