The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-13

| n: iequost, erected an altar In tho cell
previous to celebrating mass. Upon being
asked by Father O'Rellly about the murder, he
sad he had nothing to say, and that he never
6red tho pistol About seven o'clock Keepers
entered with the last breakfast which Eaton
was to eat. 1t consisted of couple of boiled
eggs bread and butter and q bowl of coffee.
Upon being asked how he felt, he said, ''I feel
ike eating hearty breakfast" and this state
men was fully verified by his devouring all
which was set before him.
soUL-HARRowINa SPECTACLE.
| A very affecting scene occurred at eight
daughter his brother-n-law, and sister-in-Iaw
visited him for the last time. The interview
dld not last long, but all Of his relatives clung
10 MIN IN frantic manner, and sobbed bitter
should not try to unnerve him, but rather en-.
deavor to cheer him up, so that he might be
enabled to meet his doom as became an inno-
cent man n and Christian: Two of his counsel,
| george FL. Smith, Joshua @. Taggart, and John
Nolan visited him. He spoke in the highest
terms @ OF % his counsel, especially Mr.. Brooke,
and thanked all his friends for the way in
which they had striven to help him. He then
| bade the three latter gentlemen an a1fectionate
| farewell, and they left the cell deeply deplor-
| ing Eaton's position.
L. THE EXECUTION DELAYED
Eaton's spiritual advisers were in his cell
alone all the morning, and did not leave him
until the fatal moment arrived. The execution
was long delayed so as to afford the doomed
man every possible chance Of getting a re-
prIeve. About eleven O'Clock we looked in his
cell and he was smoking cigar. He shook
hands with us in cheerful manner and did
not evince the slightest emotion.
sUsP sNsE.
Dur'ng the morning each person inside the
prison was going about in dreadful state Of
suspense, at one time walking down the prison
yard and looking at the instrument OF death.
and then passing along the inside corridor and
gazing at Ess3as cell, but all the time express
ing great sXdspathy for the condemned. and
hoping shas the reprieve would arrive by noon.
Every time the bell at the prison gate rang
there was general rush to the door, each
was messenger Of ''glad tidings" to the
dying man; but at last q gentleman arrived
who informed Mr.. Brooke that it was now use
less to hope for reprieve. Mr. Brooke mme-
MN bow matt RS stood and the impossibility
OF q respite arriving from Harrisburg.
During oil this time Mr.. Brooke was in a
FEARFUL state OF excitement; his face was death
with the sheriff, with o view, we supposed, of
getting the time of the execution postponed as
late as was possible.
~ GALL OF THE ROLL.
Precisely OF half-past twelve Sheriff Lyle
called the jury into the keepers Office and re-.
quested his principal deputy, Mr.. Smith, to
read the death warrant. All the Jurors ans
wering to their names, the reading Of the
uoHtn WarranG was proceeded with.
DREAD SUMMONS
The sheriff then announced the order in
which the parties present were to proceed to
the scaffold. General Lyle, at twenty-five
minutes to one O'Clock, went to the cell of
Eaton and informed him that the time had
arrived when he was to meet his fate. Eaton
replied: 1T is an unpleasant duty you have
to perform, but you must do your Duty
FROM THE CELL TO THE soArFoLD.
The cell was then left behind. and at twenty
the door OF the keepers Office, from which
place the procession started on the fatal Jour-
ney. The sun, which had been shining all
the morning, was enveloped in q dark cloud,
which remained until the execution was over.
Directly the procession emerged from the
prison. That quiet walk to death. along the
corrlcor r running from east to west at the north
end of the prison, was very solemn and an
impressive one. Eaton walked armly. and
did not exhibit any emotion. HIS face was un-
naturally pale, which was the result of his long
confinement. He kept kissing the cruclfx in
his hands. and repeating the responses after
his confessors during the whole Of that walk
and no sound was heard save the thud OF the
walking multitude. At the end, and little to
the south Of the passage, was the gallows upon
suffered the extreme penalty Of the law for
their bloody crimes. Father Barry assembled
the steps, followed by Eaton, who walked in q
firm fir manner, Father OReilly. the sheriff, and
gallows, Eaton stood in the centre of the plank,
his confessors on either side, Sheriff Lyle at
the top OF the steps, and the carpenter behind.
the wind blew it from one side Of his head to
the other. He was dressed in black cloth
sack coat. double-breasted velvet vest, snuff
colored trowsers, top boots, white shirt and
collar, and black necktie. His white pocket
handkerchief was hanging half out of his coat
pocket.
SOLEMN SERVICE.
special service for the burial Of the dead
according to the rites OF the Cath olic Church,
was then performed, the culprit repeating after
the priests. He then knelt down, raised his
eyes TO heaven, occasionally kissing the cruci-
fix, and repeated the Lords Prayer, and made
other atonements. He then rose to his feet,
repeated other hoy passages, kissed the cru.
cifx for the last time in q loud and earnest
manner, shook hands warmly with both of his
spiritual attendants, and bade them farewell
IN ms very touching manner: after. which they
forward With Ao:cM, she carpenter. The for
ner put out his hand to Eaton, who looked
straight into his face and smiled.
The sheriff inquired il he wished to say any
thing before dying. whereupon he protested
his Innocence again and again. and said, as he
hoped to meet his Maker, he never fred o shos
on that fatal night.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
Morell then handcufed Eaton, stood behind
him, and placed the moose around his neck.
Eaton moved his head. apparently Mortified
when the rope frat touched him. For some
reason the rope was taken of, and the knot
fixed just under the left ear. ~ Eoton turued
his face upward. snd then closed his eyes for
ever. The sheriff then drew from his pocket
the white cap, placed it over the head of
Eaton, and hen descended from the scaffold
MoreIl followed, the rope was brought across
the yard, the end being dropped into cellar
@ close by. and at ten minutes to one O'Clock the
no did not struggle once, indicating that he
died on easy death. For some time there was
A
cular. Eaton died, as was anticipated, in the
most hero1o manner. not exhibiting any fear,
but at the Same t,ma. unlike most Of the crim-
ihals. he faoea bis God without displaying any
uoseemly brayado. just before the bolt was
drawn, one Of the observers drew back from
the scaffold, exclalming, "This is horrible
butchery -
In twenty minutes Msssrs. Smith and
Butcher, the physicians attached to the prison.
pronounced that the heart and pulse had ceas-
cd to beat. and that lie was extinct After the
body had been hanging thirty-one minutes, it
Was cut down, the time being precisely twenty
one minutes past one O'Clock. Morell procured
aladder, placed it against the scaffold, united
the rope, and the body was tenderly lowered on
a truck and taken on It's return journey along
4I,@ .1>- ~ fFr