Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-19
THE GALLONS.
An interview with the Condemned
W. Men, Calvin and Moody.
No Hope of Executive CIemenCy.
Final Preparations for the Vindica'
ton of the Majesty of the Law.
The Dread Engine Of Bsath.

This reporter yesterday had an in
| teryiew with Calvin and Moody, the
| two men sentenced to be hanged to-
morrow. On entering the corridor
upon which the cells in which they
are confined, we found them, in the
presence ofthe guard, with their cell
doors open, engaged in eating a water
melon. The cell doors are immedi-
ately opposite each other, and, with
the melon placed between them, the
prisoners were lying upon mattresses
and seemingly enjoying their lunch:
As we approached, Calvin rose, and
after shaking hands, set forward a
chair and commenced conversation,
during which we took occasion to OBJ
serve his general appearance, which
betokened, excepting perhaps the pal
lOr consequent upon confinement, eX-
cellent physical condition. He in
quired our opinion in reference to his
chances of a reprieve, and with the
knowledge that a dispatch had been
received from the Secretary of State
forbidding any hope of Executive in
/ reference, we could not do less than
/ to break to him the intelligence that
all the efforts of his friends had been
in vain, and without some PrOviden-
tial interposition his fate was sealed.
He seemed a little cast down at first,
but afterwards said that he had not
hoped Tor a pardon, but thought it
| possible that the Governor would
have granteda reprieve, respited him
long enough at least to prepare him
self for death. He said he was not fit
to die, and only desired enough time
to make his peace with God. 1t was
not cowardice, he said, but a dread of
the solution Of the awful mystery
hereafter. His tone and general man.
ner was contrite and meek, as became
a man in his condition, an entire
change from his usual manner.
The interview with Calvin was at
his solicitation and pertained to mat
/ tiers that need not be here mentioned.
Moody is in good health and appa-
rently at peace with God and man.
He spends a good portion of his time
in religious devotion, and seems to
await his terrible fate without any
serious misgivings as to his future
welfare. He remarked while we were
present that he had never seen a man
hung and supposed he never would,
as his time on earth was so short. He
still adheres to the assertion that he
did not shoot Capt. Perry, while he
admits that he wa engaged in the
robbery. As we turned to leave, both
prisoners shook hands with and babe
us goodbye in a very feeling manner.
The gallows upon which the wretch
ed men are to pay the dread penalty
of the law for their crimes was COM
pleted yesterday, with the exception
Of the arrangement for the fall. 1t
stands in the northeast corner of the
jail yard, at the right of the gate on
entering, and overlOoks almost the
whole length of Front street. 1t is a
most solid structure, the body being
made of six by eight and six
by ten timbers, securely braced.
The drop is not the traditional
trap through the floor of the scaffold,
but IS a kind Ofapron, projecting from
the floor and attached to il by heavy
iron hinges. This leaves the whole
of the floor for the use of the execl-
toner and the attendants upon the
condemned. Mai. Foster has had the
entire structure painted black, which
adds a hideous yet fitting somberness
to its already ominous appearance,
and which cannot fail of producing a
feeling of horror in the breasts of the
most callous. We believe, however,
that the Major's idea in choosing this
color, or rather of painting the scaffold
at all (which we believe is unusuaI)
was to protect the material of which
it is composed against the weather, as
it is intended to keep the gallOws
standing where they now are, as a
terror to evil doors.