The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-03
THE SCAFFOLO.

Execution Of Albert Hughes for Murder ut
Plnttsburs, Modifying Specrh and Confess
sion Of the Condcmned-Pninsn i Scenes mt the
ScnnoId.
lPlattsburg (Mo.) correspondence OF the ST. Joseph
Gazette, July SOL
Your correspondent arrived at Plattsburg on
Thursday night, at twelve O'Clock. Slept until i've
o'clock A. NJ, when he was awakened by people
murder Several ladies arrived at that early hour,
determined, IL seemed, TO be there IN time TO see
what was TO be seen. From that time until twelve
O'Clock people crowded into Plattsburg until there
was scarcely standing room. What crowds OF
people" "What crowds OF people," was echoed from
one end OF the little town to the other until there
swaying 70 and fro in the sun-men, women and
children, on horseback, In wagons carriages, bug
ges and on football looking eagerly for the time to
come when the first capital execution in Clinton
county should be carried out.
From eight O'Clock until the time he wae led out
to nav the penalty OF his act he was singing, shout.
ing prayng 80 loud that he might have been heard
for the distance OF two or three hundred yards, and
seemed to be perfectly recOnc1el 10 his fate.
When brought out and placed on his cofnn ne
looked more like woman than man. He was
dressed In shrOud OF black, had on y black cap
and a pair of huge earrings, and altogether pre-
sentcd the appearance of negro woman. have
seen many negro wencn LOOK aimnst &c exac,y ke
be s0d the same labored effort to appear Indifferent
careless and defiant.
tude assembled, occupying every elevated position
that was available. lie was helped up on the scafold
by The sneG aa % s " @
tia to prevent rescue which had been threatened.
1t was one O'Clock when he mounted the scaffod,
after doing which he stood ten minutes silently,
steadily and firmly while the Sheriff looking for
the warrant which read to the expcctsnt
crowd. When he came TO the words "dead, dead.
dead,n a shudder went through all that vasi
blage and deep drawn signs could De heard from
every quarter
reciting that he was indicted by the Grand jury OF
Platte county at the November term, A. d. isos when
It should have been at the November term A. d. 1857,
OF the Platte county Circuit Court.
Until those terrible words, 'dead, dead dead came
in Albert Hughes, as Wen OK many Of his friends
still stood firm and indIerent save violent witch
OF the facial nerves.
After the reading OF the warrant Rev. Mr.. Rodgers
read chapter from the Bible, which was followed by
prayer from the Rev. Jesse Bird, after which Albert
ggns nde ms ys e ih,t rs %
tent. 10 was labored effort TO prove that II must
have been far fetched conclusion OF the jury thai
they found him guilty. He spoke ~ follows
why do he stan hereP tell you why--because
moen n and af he asked NJ jenkins os
money He asked me how much you wants He
said fifty cents Just then Dan; Jenkins came into
went. Soon he called me into the ONCE, and said.
albert, do you know how much have paid your ~
from the storer, said ! do. "Do you know how
much owe your" said no. Then 90 along and
figure It up" said am no . ssaolar and cant
satisfied. Then he said, "I'll pay you" and he
jerked out his revolver and was going TO shoot
one I Se mad '' kilsd who now i lies II sis
grave came In and made him stop. He stopped
and went TO the stable. Directly he came ont and
beat me all around the stable and threw me IN the
manger and told me that II he found me In Platte
City two hours after that he would take my life.
left and went about seven miles In the country. Ny
friends what had done to deserve ell thiss no:
thing Was there any harm in asking for hal dol
ar, No. ny friends look o. r. , We'll ,,b, came xss
with me said jenkins did it. what had done
said Albert Hughes did IL why did they say thisi
Ali 1t was because they knew that ne had
done enough 70 Albert Hughes to make %h s
force, and voluntarily, that killed Mr. Jenkins,
This le not 10. They made me promises u would
eSneSs so p Do1 s Mr. 5ean II XIII e
kins 10 was because he had threatened 10 take my
Ny friends s ss pF'W
Nothing. When they came and 90 me / was IN
Kansas They asked me Which s Ssa rather o6 60
strange that II had killed Mr.. Jenkins that would
prefer Platte city,. Oh, my friends II ! had done
that killing wSgd asve oJs az t. they said hSs
m they caught me I said that did not do that
Platte CITY THIS fase ana meet nSPe s scas nose
Relieve that this is all have to say. Goodby, my
friends. good by. Don't understand me TO say that
The can WAS adjusted and the moose placed around
his necS when he called for drink OF water. Some
time was spent In procuring 1t, when the cap was
again drawn. The moose adjusted, the sheriff told
him good.by Then all but the executioner left the
scafrold when suddenly without signal or warning,
the trap was cut and Albert Hughes paid the penalty
OF the Violated law. The rope too long and his
feet touched the ground after the fall. he was
hauled IN a little and swung eighteen minutes,
when Doctor H. r. Essig pronounced life extinct.
MrppgR IN FRANKLIN, MA sad tragedy oc.
curred In Franklin, Hancock county Me-. last Mon
iay John paul Gordon 10 trader In that town. and
Emerson tran was farmer, who was employed by
Gordon to haul goods. On the day named Gordon
Approached Tran, VINO was sitting upon @ pile OF
railroad ties and told him he wished him to haul
some goods 20 his store. Tran replied that he was
sick aud could not work. Gordon repeated his de-
mand and struck him pleasantly with coat which
he had In hls hand. The man repeated that he was
sick, and put up his goad stick, which he had In hts
hand, apparently 10 keep him on, but without the
intention Of injurIng him. He however, happened
unfortunately TO touch him, which 80 angered Cor.
don THAR going. 70 wood pile, he seized
. slx.incn spruce-and struck. at trani the
latter put up his hand ana warded on the
bow, receiving q severe blow upon hs hand,
when Gordon struck him second blow, this time
crusnfuo nkull ,n0tcti00 In aevQpo n n