New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-07
E.eeulIon of Edmond HarrI.on.

GAGcuAtpn Oh 60huOhu harrison.
The Bayou Sara Ledger contains the fol.
lowing report:
On Friday, the first of May, the execution
of Edmond Harrison took place in the
Parish Prison yard at st. Francisville. He
was convicted at the last term ofthe District
Court held in this parish on the charge of
murder.
The execution was set by the Governor
for Friday, the first day of May, between the
hours of ten A. M. aud twelve N. During
the morning he was attended by the Rev.
Richard Johnson, rector of Grace Church
and also by a colored preacher, in the spirit.
ual preparations. At about halfp ten
O'Clock a detail of United States soldiers
fled into the prison yard, after which Sher-
i'll Nibling and his deputies cleared the ward
OF the large crowd assembled therein, and
had guards stationed at the gate to keep
the crowd back.
About eleven o'clock Edmond Harrison was
brought out by Sheriff Milling, attended by
the Rev. Richard johnson, and the colored
preacher. guard Of one corporal and ave
soldiers formed on the other side of him.
When the prisoner came into the yard he
appeared nervous, and from the prison stems
to the scafold he walked slowly, singing a
hymn.
He was assisted to mount the acafold by
the sheriff and the colored preacher. After
iH NibliDg read the decree of the Governor
to him. and asked him if he had anything
to say. He then proceeded to make a few
remarks, at the beginning of which he
spoke so low we were unable to hear cor.
rectly, and below we give a synopsis of
what he said, as near correct as we were
able to take it down:
'Dear friends, one and ALL am here to
die--to be hung by the neck till dead, for a
crime | am not guilty of. Yes, [ am to die
to be hung, but | am innocent of what
have been charged with. am an old gray.
haired man, have raised children, and NV
heart is full and my lips are trembling when
l know that | must perish innocently.
though convicted of the murder of child,
yet am bound to die.
"There is no justice at the bar OF the court
house, but there is at the bar of Heaven.
There l expect to meet all and there this
unjust cause will be righted. My friends.
look at me, l am before you, loOking.glass
for the world. ! beg and pray that your
fate may never be this; hope you will look
upon this looking glass and take heed, and /
hope it will prove warning to you all.
hope you win all study Gods word, be good
and never share this fate. ! would tell YOU
all to teach your children right that they
may never suffer this. / am bound to die,
but hate nobody, neither white nor black
wish them all peace and good will.H
Mr.. Milling, the Sheriff, and said: "Good
bye, Mr. Milling; God bless you" and then
bade farewell to one and all The Rev
Richard johnson then ascended the plat.
form and read an appropriate Church ser.
vice, after which the colored preacher de-
Hvered an appropriate prayer, bade the
prisoner farewell, and decended from the
platform. The Sheriff then ascended the
platform, placed white cap over his face,
adjusted the knot and stepped aside. At
this moment the door was sprung and the
soul of Edmond Harrison was hurled into
eternity.
He struggled but very little. He hung
about fifteen minutes, was cut down, placed
in coffin and delivered to his friends who
followed him to the grave. When he was
placed in the Cofin, the colored preacher
stated that he had been instructed by Ed.
mond to thank those that had had him in
charge, and all that had attended him for
the Kindness they showed him during his
confinement, and to assure them that he
died with no hard feelings against them,
and hoped they might meet in the better
world.