The New York herald., 1869-12-27
T He GALLO VS..
Execution Of Oliver A. Morgan at Terre
nte, Ind, for the Murder of John
Petri-The Prisoners Appear.
aAee-A Speech from the Scaf-
fOld-Kis Confessions.

ITerre Haute Ind. dec. 23, correspondence Gin
cinnati GaZette.I
APPEARANCE OF THE PRISONER.
Morgan, as he appeared IN the jail, was short,
thick set man about five feet eight or nine inches
head was covered with PROPULSION OF curling light
brown hair, wne he mad on his chm rather sparse
kind on his upper lip. His face was an enigma.
His nose rather sharp and prominent, and cheek
bones projecting, he looked at one moment the cum
unpleasant deneanor.
THE PREPARATIONS.
few minutes after eleven O'Clock preparations
began 70 be made for the execution The minister Mr.
Stimson with half dozen Others crowded into the
small cell for the purpose OF attending closing
ceremonies To q question by Nj. Slilnson wheSher
he mad any desire to have the execution urther de-
layed he stated that he had not II he had to go ne
wanted 10 20. Mr.. StimsOn asked him n he wished
him TO pray with MIN. he answered, II have no OBJ
jecton.n He was asked if he desired to pray him
the minister, who offered up an earnest and simple
petition during which time the prisoner seemed to
cluded Morgan stili on his knees leaned FAR forward
upon his chair and seemed to be engaged in silent
prayer, although he did not utter word. He may
have been weeping only. He was after the lapse OF
minute or TWO aroused when he lifted up his face.
When asked If he mad any further requests to make
THIS he W was informed @ W was M not possible M he request
had previously been made TO the Sheriff and he had
declined to accede to it. as he had shown q disposi
ton TO commit suicide II opportunity offered and
was very closely watched to prevent 1t last night.
In making him ready IL was discovered that his
new one. Then picking up small Bible from his
little table he thrust 1t into the side pocket OF his
the few t ars eTe1 Cn his table and sSs he oIe. re
peated several times, sit is hard" Gong out into
the corridor he sat by the stove moment and said,
death Is slow, but sure"
This mad been erected in the centre Of the crossing
OF the two streets adjoining distance OF about 200
rough boards, about twenty feet square and nearly
rs high. The scaffold itself was on the east side,
ywh ila tho da W. nait MI
level with 1t for the benefit OF spectators. In spite
OF the efforts made to keep them out several per.
DO 80, and the enclosure afforded put small amount
OF spare rO0m Upon the entrance OF O brother-ln-
al re Mgan 1 Nc Se Wss " tho
enclosure was finally closed barring outside and
out OF sight Of the scafrold crowd Of probably 600
| or 800 people. He shook hands with those on the
sca10ld aud Deputy Sheriff Stewart read the death
warrant. Morgan then stepped forward 70 the
A scAppoID HARANauE
GENTLRMEN-l have not been brought up here 10
convict any one OF any crime, but am put upon the
\ scanOld tO suffer death for q crime OF which am
| innoce NJ and with which had nothing TO do ex
cept in self-defence. did kill the man, and what
1 did Kill HIM fOrs Because ne was o robber and
thief. Because he took my money and my properly
| from me and then said he would have my life; but
now must lose my lie for T. Is hard thing to
| 'Tis hardl 'Tis hard!
Here he stopped and remained silent for almost
| minute during which time he trembed most vo-
| iently all over. Looking up. his face was lighted
| with a peculiar smile, and he continued:-
! "ft seems to me, when look back, that you are
inviting nation of people to visit your land from
foreign country, and SO they are doing II. They are
| about one-third OF them tnat come here from that
| country condemned criminals and no one here Of
that class can deny 1t. The man killed was just
such criminal from that country, and no man can
Al this point Mr. May the brotherinlaw Of Pe,r
who was standing near him, was heard to mutter a
denial coupled with an oath, and seemed to make q
| motion as though to strike him. Others mteriered,
| and he was led furtner back.
Morgan stood for a moment and looked around
~ssa @We, ~ % aom's Know as have much to say. ex
pect had better be going. In fact, have ne
doubt OF It, feel prepared for death. TRUST may
meet all Christians on the other size Of Jordan
where there will be wavering or tamperng with sin. y
| THE EXECUTION.
when this harangue was ended he stepped BACK
| TO his position the drop, the black cap was put
over his head, his knees bound together the moose
adjusted and minutes past twelve O'Clock
deputy sheriff gave vigorous kick at an iron pin
which projected through the moor OF the scaffold,
| the door. The rope was new one and the parties
in charge OF the execution had been repeatedly
warned OF the danger OF Its stretching. This warn
ing seems to have been but partially needed, how
| ever and when the weight came upon it the mans
! seemed to make an effort to throw his weight upon
| the rope, and It was at the same time pulled from
above slightly SO that his feet after the rebound
| struggling worth mentioning, the man died hard
! Every few moments strong CONFUSION would cause
him to draw up MS shoulders and then depress them,
although the effort was merely muscular one, and
| 1t ls probable that II was not accompanied with
| pain as IL was subsequently discovered that his
neck was dislocated by the iaii It was merely the
| result OF a strong muscular system to assist Its
power ana tenacty OF life. As II was the pulse did
| fell, and the heart moved untll thirteen minutes
AFTER. After twenty minutes had elapsed the pnys-
| clans pronounced him dead when the body was
| taken down and placed IN plain coffin for burial.
THE LATEST CONFESS ION.
Morgan has made several statements which he
claimed TO be confessions although they all bear the
marks OF faisehood upon their faces: the last one,
| which was written outby him yesterday. ana which
is printed below. rerbati,a, being no exception
| OLIVER ASsoN MORGAN,
Iwi Gle In This my Hand Write As to How John Petri
spring q in The secret work with chs.,
The ne one , aoos sc and
spring SIN he before his death
The task that undertook work but death did
'si 1 @ ss'
for accused more than once and ws told sha.
would pa, me out the way, but 'didnt, care
Ss a track he put sros.r:. Ss:p
arsss
;oiiersa out these twice o. was rS. Of mins WIN
not tell any names : them live ~ u they can wen.Su. there
me- . ns rs r n.
him up for dealing in stoleng goods witch would OF
drunk by got ont that way come back
stopped Petries and couple OF drinka
Southeast towards town had nos come very far when
. he asked 10 60 back to the grocery again with
him and did knowsd his face did not his name
he al the back Doore went NJ the Doore
witch he had opened for went 10 the Counter
took drink then went up stair. took chair and sett
down by the side OF the bed, he then
brought up compile Of pistols aud asked what could
do for them, he then told that he would 90
bring Pitcher OF beer tho nrs thing that
throwing Chrown on my back on the floor he kicked
| for time, the othsr took when he
| was kicking. When seen him draw watch l com
menced struggling for when got up asked my watch
the that hgo this from Petrie Dam
hall till yoa a. he said this he drew hs gun me.
grabbed for Chair ~ did the floor
then missed asked for my money petric held
the against breast and snapped twice. knocke
| down NJ this time. the other had 4
knocked sm back perie then punched the face with
then he with the breach of gun that
me back again when saw him next he coming
my Head that blow would seal my fate what was
quicker than fash put my right hand in pocket drew
nred at him with the left by this time received ano,hsr