The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-31
THE GALLORS.
Execution OF John GrlfIin Rt HamIl.
ton, Ohio.

AUAt OhtSs
John GrlfIlln was executed at Hamil.
ton. Butler county, Ohio, Thunday, ior
the murder OF Uzlls Pickett. From q
lengthy account In tho Cincinnati En-,
qnirer, we take the following account
OF the scene at the gAlloWs:
THE CLOSING SCENES.
When the poor prisoner left his cell
with bis arms pinioned and the rope
around his neck, be walked composed.
ly around and aBcended the scatIold
with u firm tread. He stepped upon
the trap, and stood looking up while
the Sheriff ad Justed the rope over the
pulley aud attached II to the upright
beam. Never did man show such q
spirit In an hour so trying. 1t was not
the esWeRring staggering braVado such as
has often assisted the blood stained CrI
minal across the dark river ofdaath but
II was the calm and phllosophlc resIgna.
tion OF one who recognizes bis fate and
could meet 1t without fear.
THE DEATH WARRANT.
Deputy Sheriff Gibner, OF Butler
county, then came forward, stepped
upon the trap by the side OF the con.
dsmned, and proceeded 10 read the
death warrant OF the Supreme Court.
II was lengthy document, reCitIng
all the legal measures that had been
taken In the case, and It's reading occu.
pied at least FIVE minutes. When the
Deputy reached the closing paragraph
his voice broke down, and he seemed
choked With emotion. During its read
Ing Griffin stood quietly gazing down
into the coffin which had been SO un-
kindly placed before him, and seemed
to be contemplating the narrow house
which was soon 10 become his home.
II was a sad spectacle, but the dying
man did not exhibit the least tremor.
HIS DYING woRDs.
The Sheriff then asked him ifhe had
anything 10 say. He replied, VERY
little.' After some hesitation, he said,
in voice clear and round:
GENTLEMEN: am here In place l
never expected to be. l am not very
we'll able to make a speech, because Il
was never In my line OF business, /
never hadany Idea would come TO the
scabold. 1 was tried and convicted BY
cowardly and false testimony. Ex-
cuse me for saying this, but l can't help
Il. | mean such testimony as that or
Joe Kelley, q man that was In this iall
once. Shedd was in jail, and so was
Galloway. Why didn't they keep them
here as they did me, and then they
would have found who did the killing,
Kelley was as much and more to blame
than was. When he was here In iaIl
asked him II he was satisfied now that
he had me convicted? lie said You
know had 10 swear as did In order
to save my own liie.' l say, as I al
ways said, that I am not guilty Of the
murder OF Prickett. say before you
all, l am not guilty off the crime charged
against me, and II justice was done,
others would be on the scAtfold. Be.
fore God say this. am prepared 10
meet my God. thank my Priest,
Father Hone, for be has enabled me 10
die as l do. AS for Judge Vance, have
nothing 10 say except that he had to
convict somebody, and he jumped on
me. In trying to do the best, be did
the worst, and when the worst came to
the worst, he made 1t as bad as he could.
People were very anxious to find out
who murdered Prickett. They had
them here once, but didn't hold them,
and haveto 10 suffer. thank all nv
friends, and forgive the bitterest enemy
l have. l return my thanks particu-
larly 10 Robert Christy, the dearest and
most sincere friend ! ever had In this
world. thank all OF my friends. Gem
tlemeu. l will have to tell you that this
Is all have 10 say, one way or the
other. This Is the long aud short OF IT,
turning 10 Father Hone, he said: Il
believe I've said all want to say,' He
asked for a drink OF water, and 1t was
given him. Father Hone then knelt by
bis side while the two other priests
knelt In the rear, and administered the
last rites OF the church. The Sheriff
and hts assistants then advanced and
shook hands with him, while one OF
them adjusted the moose, and the others
pinioned his legs. ~
The white cap was then drawn over
his face, but just before this was done.
the poor fellow EPcognize two or three
OF his friends In the audience, nodded
pleasantly and smiled calmly. Alter
the cap was drawn he SAID: well,
gentlemen, l bid you all goodbye, In
RAo IOpo hhht IL LleoL YOU III DekkeT
world Many In the audience responed
ed by saying amen.
THE DROP
lie stood for an instant, and then
said, In a clear and distinct voice.
Sheriff, I'm ready These were The
last words he ever uttered, for the ex.
ecutioner's hand was upon the lever,
and AZ the last word left his lips, the
trap was sprung; It fell with dull
thud, and the soul Of poor John Grifiln
passed into eternity. He fell distance
OF nearly seven feet. His neck was
broken In the instant, and those who
stood nearest. heard 1t snap like the
breaking OF faggot. He spun around
for moment, then all was quiel. he
died without a struggle-n0t even
muscular twitching was observable,
The little crncihx, which he held In his
hands when the drop was sprung, was
not displaced by the fall, but he seem
ed 10 cling TO 1t as though 1t was frail
spar TO float him across the dark gulf
which separates tho known from the
l. y