The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-01


fourths OF mile from the JAIL In an Old leld on the
southern outskirts Of the town. 1t consisted simply
OF two nprigass With cross piece from which the
derneath was platform about four feet square, so
arranged with hinges e to fan instantly when the
the wagon arrived with the criminal, and It was so
placed az to make 1t easy to step from IL on TO the
ns IN Are
immense crowd closed up Immediately behind them
all Sides The criminal, with his spiritual atten
The former remained seated In his chair, and pre-
served the same quiet demean0r as before, with
He at once requested the Sherln to make prociama.
nation II any Of his relatives were present that he
wished to speak to them. None appeared; and just
al this moment he showed more sensbility than at
any other time. Tears came into his eyes, as no one
came forward, and shade OF agony passed over his
face II he felt that his kindred had deserted him
handkerchief to his face for minute and then re-
quested that any acquaintance present would come
dressed females came up to him. He simply asked
them how they were and how all were at home, and
In response to their inquiry said he was well. He
made no allusion to his fate either then or at any
time on his way to the gallOws.
Mr. Rumple, the Presbyterian minister, then made
some appropriate remarks, and offered fervent
PRAYER for the prisoner. The crowd generally stood
up and uncovered their heads during the prayer,
though the sun shOrn warm through a thin veil OF
clouds. The prisoner remained seated and appeared
rather nattentive to the prayer. He by no means
engaged ervently in devotions and In the midst Of
the most solemn nvOcatOns OF the minister called
man some steps from him and asked for a chew
Of tobacco which he took and put in his mouth. He
continually looking about, one OF his legs hang
ing over the side Of the wagon body carelessiy. AT
the close OF the prayer he was told that he could
now make any remarks he chose. He at once began
In low voice. first requesting that his neighbors
would draw near so that they might hear him espe-
cially His object was apparent afterwards. But
there was very little change Of position in the at
tendant crowd. Perfect quiet and order was OBJ
served.
lie said he was about to be hung for crime not
cOm nv I'm nv Xyh a VIC M here
but away somewhere else; that they had done the
deed and packed il of on him; that these parties
killed his wife and he had no hand in 1t. He said
that he saddlng his horse the next morning
going to her mothers to see about her; that some
thing seemed to tell him that all was not right about
her absence, though he said she had started to visit
her mother the day before; that about the time he
was mounting his horse his mother and sister came
out and told him not TO go, for he would not fnd her
at her Mothers for that they themselves had Killed
her. This, he said, they told him them and it the
first that he knew about the crime that he was not
at the killing and knew nothing about the
said he never saw his wife after she left home to
CO. as he thought, to her mothers and that he never
saw her dead body. he SAID they told HIM they shot
her and cut her throat and then threw her In the
water course. This is the entire substance OF his
statement, arranged much more Systematically than
he made it and mostly in different words, for he was
SO extremely incorrect and ungrammatical In his
use OF language that verbatim copy OF what he said
would scarcely convey an idea when put on paper.
This statement he repeated over and over In dis
jointed way, saying the same words often and pre-
sentng merely the same ideas under sundry different
points ovlew. lie closed his first speech by asking
the Sheriff to let him speak again after another
prayer should be offered by Mr. IIlinehast. an Eps.
copal minister, who was also one OF his two clerical
attendants. This minister then spent q moment In
private conversation with the criminal respecting the
state OF his mind, and concluded by reading the
prayer of that denomination for criminals about to
be executed.
Afrer this prayer he was asked by the ministers If
he felt that hls peace was made with Cod lie simply
said yes" He then asked them to sing the hymn
beginning CLARK! from the tombs doeful sound"
The hymn was sung, considerable part OF the PEG.
pie joining in singing even to the distant verge Of
the crowd. But the demeanOr Of the prisoner was
one OF great inattenti0n TO the singing He called
two or three persons, and conversed with them on
unmportant subjects, and seemed to he thinking of
some idea Of his own apart from what was being
said or done; and he frequently was seen TO look
an xOusly at the crowd surveying il in different di
rections. After the hymn he asked how long the
time yet was, and was told IL was very short. He
asked that they sing another hymn, 'Aas and did
my Savior bleed,n &c The ministers sang it,: but he
talked at random meanwhile TO sundry persons, and
paid no attention TO the singing. But none Of his
talk had any reference to his guilt or innocence.
After this hymn he again asked that his neighbors
might be allowed to come up and see MIN. The
ministers then exhored him to drop all care about
the AFFAIRS Of this world, and make up his mind TO
the fate Immediately impending. But he showed the
utmost anxiety to keep something going on to
gain time and postpone the fatal moment as long ~
possible. A glass of iced lemonade was given him,
before this the Sheriff had at his request cut the
cord OF his wrists, and he was totally unbound. The
Sheriff did this before lie spoke the rEt time, the
marked calmness OF the prisoner appearing then to
render any continent useless.
The Sheriff now began to get up into the wagon.
Ludwig arose from his seat and began another
speech which was a mere repetition OF his former
one, lie rsmbed on disconnectedly for several min
utes and IL became clear that ne would never voun.
tarIly stop An hour and half had already passed
since the arrival at the gaows, and the hour OF two
was already gone by, AT which the final act was IN
tended to have taken place. But the Sheriff. In his
Kindness Of heart, ndulgent to tho poor wretch
who 10 was evident chung TO life with extraordinary
tenacity. And yet there was no blanching nor
change of color nor visible unsteadness of nerve in
the prisoner. About the time the sheriff mounted
the wagon, however the prisoner put one foot on
Of jumping of, though this movement was little
ticed al the time. He took 1t down again and went
on with his rambling talk, looking around now and
then In different directions. seeing he did not in
tend TO stop talking at all Sherin Walton
at length took him by the arm and
he begged TO be allowed to finish what he hadsto
say. The Sheriff told him he could finish the
towards it; but he hung back, and insisted on talk
ing in the wagon. The Sheriff then called deputy
began TO lead him towards the hinder part OF the
wagon lie then asked 70 be allowed to tell the
ministers farewell, which was permitted. After
that he turned round and expressed wish 10 shake
hands with all the bysts nders inside OF the guard
who we're perhaps twenty Ia number, consisting Of
merely OF reluctance TO 20 on the platform, and a
desire only TO proong the time. SO the Snern and
deputy Sad no attention TO the request but gently
though firmly moved him 10 the platform. he oil
the while showing great repugnance to II aud lean
ing back, but making no strenuous resistance.
But the instant he touched the platform q most
extraordinary and exciting scene ensued He at
once made wild plunge forward with the nen.
ton of leaping of the platform on the farther side
and with the evident purpose Of making break
and desperate endeavor TO push his way through
the crowd and escape his impending doom. Moth
ing could be more hopeless than such an effort, a.
would be manifest to any rejecting mind. But Lud-
wig had ceased to reflect; he only felt the animal
Instinct OF self.preservation To submit was death.
n IN.
in thr owing his feet and legs on The platform, but
the two officers having hold OF his arms and
shoulders held fast and pulling him backward he
fell with the upper part OF his back still on the plat
form, his legs and part OF his body projecting over
the edge. The platform was 9bout four aud q half
feet high. Several OF the nearest officers
OF the guard At once rushed TO the assist.
ance OF the sheriff and laid hold OF Lud.
wigs legs, endeavoring TO shove him backward on
the platform But the prisoner struggled with almost
superhuman strength. With all the vigor of MA
powerful and muscular frame nerved by despair he