Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-11-07
''NOW -
Calcra1. the IIangman.
-
TruShfal Account OF IN Exocus
SlOn.

never saw but enc hanging in my life.
On that occasion my duties brought me in
- clsss contact with the culprt myself. |
atteadsd him on the scanod, and was
With him to the last. The newspapers do
ssribsd the execution in the usuai tsrms.-
They did not describe what | saw or heard.
II may b they we're justified In not doing
90, It may be, even now, whom public exc
cutlons have happily become thing Of the
past, that | am not jusudsd in rscord ding an
unproisssional Wow Of the tragedy wit.
nssssi. Nv plea 10, that have never We:
read what has Impressed INC asa truthful
ao,ount OF any auch scene.
AZ il can serve no possible purpose 10
mention real names, will simply state that
the execution referred 70 took place in
Northern Assize town, not very recently =
Tho condemned was an old man Of at least
seventy his offence, the brutal murder Of
an old woman, his wife.
fret saw tho old man, say Giles, At
e'ccck on tho morning in question. II
wss sitting In his cell, his head bent fors
wsrd, and slowly shaking from aide to side
not With trepidatlon, but with tho trsmu
lous palsy OF old age, that was natural to
hun. do Was evidently . man OF the dull
est ssnsibilitss, and in whom feeling had
become still further bsnumbsd BY the con-
sCisusnsss of his approaching fate. He had
passed . good night, and had freely par
taken Of that hearty breakfast which,
strangely enough, Ill sach fslons do partaks
effeF the Lass time. The governor Of thsiail
entered T. bid him farewell and 70 introduce
che sheriff. Giles shook bends with both,
he etolid and motionlrss. There vas little
pause. They expected some one else. Il
vas the only time Giles showed any feeling
at oil. He stopped shaking. and looked
eartivsly but eagerly towards the door.
Even that was only The emesisn Of impa.
tisncs. Calcran entered. A mild, gen
de-faeed man. abort. rather stout, With
plentiful gray hair. I can see him %
write; his eyes full and gray, though
email and sweet in their oppression, |
He docs net ..shambls" - he walks.
NOR does hs talk coarssly. lie wake at
pending death, and his voice 10 BY no
Dsans unpleasant. His voice, his walk, his
expression, and his manner, ere, in fact,
ing been introduced to his sxscutienss, and
seen the calm, sslf-rsliant look Of his eye,
Giles became perfectly calm. and resumed
the menotonus shaking Of his head from
side to side. l can testify that, whether
from age OF mental stnpor, be was the least
eGsceed Of 10 all: aud an told this ID
usually the case.
Halt past seven o'slsek struck, and the
prison bell broke out in harshly solemn
toll. While We we're getting ready 70 leave
the cell it began-Tolll AZ " walked
alsng the corridors il went en-Tell! It
struck upon all our hearts -Tolll except
Giles.
Having entered the pinisniug room, the
chaplain began the solemn services Of the
dead. Il am the Resurrection and the
Lifs"-Tolll "whesosvsr livsth and Be. |
lisveth in Me shall never dis"-Toll!
Calcraft produced small, black, leather
portmsnteau. Opening II, hc disclosed his |
p.nious, spare straps and the ropes. The
pssieA 10 simply . broad leather strap or
surssngls to 50 around the waist, having
esreng loops ON either side, through which
ers passed the straps to secure the elbow
The wrists are then fastened By anether
strap.
" It's my swn invention" calsraft vhis.
pered, with como nodssty =" the old hin
lens used to be very bad, they hurt the
peer fellows 90. They used to strap the
elbows tight behind them. and fierce them
together At the back, and then strap tn.
two wrists together. The waist strap 81.
swsrs every purpose, and 10 net the least
uncomfortable"
Thers," he whispered to Giles, (fer the
chaplain still read en- whom hs had ar.
ranged the straps. "that dsssn't hurt you.
~ COED fellow -
No, cir, lie very comfortable"
Aud the chaplain still read on. end the
oeA broke in like . small amen. "Fer
sinee by man came dsath''-Toll
"Shako hands with me. Giles" said the
mild man with the gray hair: and s,v
you forgive me- You shall no. be- tortured )
forgive thes mister" and he off.rea
bis poor pinionsd hands, like ans ~h;ch
Caisraft shsok kindly.
There's enc thing I'd liks'e. I. do ]"
oaid Giles. w.
"Yss," said Calcraft.
"Will'es tell me when It's comm. rh..
know what men,"
II will" returned the xscutioner-ToN,
The 'lesssn" WAS not yet finished. No
emo Of N paid attention to Il, or to any Of |
that part Of the service, and least Of oil did |
0iisss ave when the bsll struck out like Z |
solemn voice from the sky: "Hssd that" |
1Aaa - rensabeesd The wsrd or two that
eAAs haa gsas bsesrs. 70 - NE reading