Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-05-15

"~AS S"aavnsy oNPAOSSou eah"e, hnPoiiou
by sudden desperation he might attempt
his escape after he reached the scaffold.
From midnight to dawn he slept consid-
erably but fitfully, and muttering often
in his restlessness, sob! God!" and
"Oh! Heaven!" as if he we're already
suffering the tortures of his fate. He ate
a hearty breakfast but omitted his usual
smoke, and as the town clock struck the
hours with relentless progress he grew
more and more serious and appeared
moro fully to realize that his doom was
sealed.
THE EXECUTION.
The execution took place on Wednes-
day of last week, May 6,-instead Of Fri
day-the usual hangman's day. Some
three thousand people assembled to wit
ness the scene, including many women
and children.
At ten o'clock precisely the doomed
man left his cell and appeared upon the
scaffold, accompanied by Sheriff Stevens
and assistants, His step was firm, al
though his face was quite pale, and his
teeth firmly set as if he had nerved HIM
self for the ordeal through which he was
to pass. He nodded to friend in the
crowd as he took his position upon the
drop, and his eye wandered over the up
turned face, as if either for sympathy or
recognition He was spoken to by but
one man, who merely said, How are
you, Sammy"
When the prayer closed Sheriff Stevens
said: "Mr. Mills, you have now fifteen
minutes more to live, and if you have
anything to say you now have chance"
CONFESSION. IS.
He had evidently made up his mind to
make quite speech, but hardly knew
what to say when Sheriff Stevens ad-
dressed the above words to him. At first
he said, a don't know as can make
any further confession" but upon being
told by the Sheriff that he could say any
thing he wished, turned to the crowd and
said in clear voice which hardly trem-
bled at all, and could be heard by all the
crowd; Gentlemen, am guilty. Sam
uel Mills is guilty now, but ! think that
| have made my peace with God. Sam
uel Mills has lived like man and he is
going to die like man. IF have done
anything wrong I hope you will forgive
me-"
The crowd. were perfectly still while he
spoke, and there was no response to his
speech, except by sympathizing old
man, who shouted GLORY to God |"
Mills, after waiting minute, added
"You will tell folks around, gentle
men, that Sammy Mills died like man,
and that he is guilty of his crime.
A quarter of an hour had now passed
and for another fifteen minutes nothing
/ was done, the doomed man standing firm.
ly on the drop with about the same agi-
tation which he showed when he first ap
peared What his agony must have beer
during those minutes no human being
can ever know. A part of the time hi:
spiritual adviser was talking with him te
turn his thoughts toward heaven and
eternity, reminding him of Christ's word:
to the thief ON the cross, and cheering
his last moments.
AT twenty minutes past ten o'clock the
canvas sack was adjusted about his body
during which time the clergyman contin
ued his conversation with him. Hi
hands moved convulsively while the sacl
was being laced, but otherwise he wal
calm He told the minister that he hat
nothing against any man, but was a
peace with all the world. Four minutes
, of his life yet remained and the fact wa
told him by the Sheriff. His lips had 1
kind of convulsive motion, as he sait
: something in reply almost in a whisper
but his firm bearing was the same. HI
q had made up his mind to die game ane
he did it. His clergyman asked if HI
felt ready to die, and he merely replied
les, am nappy, happy. N22
: He was asked to move to the centr'
> of the drop, which he did with readiness
saying nothing, but his fetteu clankinl
unpleasantly as he moved. naii
One minute before his fall the hlacl
: cap was drawn over his face shutting ou
: forever from his view the sight of tn
beautiful country where he had lived
and the faces before him, many of whicl
" he had been familiar with in the past
Still he was firm and said, a. the ca
u" was placed on his head" Good by
: gentlemen luck to you," with a hal
. smile on his face. Some in the crow,
said good by Sammy, bully for you,
and other like expressions, but general,
;. there was profound and respectful still
ness. He had previously hidden Sherii