The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-04-15
From the 1rOntoh JOURNAL.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
ANDREW PRICE HUNG.

ANDREW PRICE HUNG.
His Last Hours and Words.
On Friday last at minutes before II
O'Clock, in the forenoon, Andrew Price
was sent TO his long home.in obedience
to the laws of our State 1t will'be re-
membered that Price and.one Andrew
Spears murdered an inofensiVe German
named Louis 'Hilgenberg, in his little
shop about six miles out on the Marion
road ,Dh the night Of the 10th of October
last. Also, that spears and Price were
both arrested the former in this county,
and the latter in Logan county, VIVA
At the preliminary trial held before the
magistrate, Price made a confession
acknowledging the killing of Hilgen-
berg, giving all the circumstances in
detail, and duplicating Spears TO such a
degree that both were remanded to Jail
without bail. The confession was pub
lished together With the circumstances
of arrest in the Journal at the time.
Andrew Price was first tried by our
Court of Common Pleas. He had able
counsel to work up the case in the
most favorable manner. The charge
of the judge GRAIN was concise, plain,
and strict explanation of the law The
jury brought in verdict of murder in
the first degree, whereupon Price was
sentenced to be hung on Friday, 18th
day of March last. A short time pre-
yious TO the day set for his execution,
movement was made to influence the
Governor to exercise bis committing
power. Petitions were circulated and
obtained a large number of signatures
asking that the sentence be commuted
TO imprisonment for life. Many signed
these petitions on the grounds of hu-
manity, others because they we're OPP
posed to capital punishment, while
many more believing Andrew Speers
equally guilty were in favor of making
their punishment equal: 4
Speers was tried iL February by a
different jury, who, after disagreeing
all night, brought in verdict of Murder
in the second degree only. Gov. Hayes,
after examining the action in regard to
Speers, extended the time for the exc
cution of Price until the second day of
April, in order to give the people and
Prices friends an opportunity to show
mitigating circumstances sufficient to
warrant his further interference. Not
being satisfied on this point he wrote a
few days before the time, instructions
to Sheriff Elswick to say to Price that
'the law must take its course" After
the sentence, and until the execution,
Price was favored with spiritual advice.
Rev. ]. NJ. Thomas was with him a
great deal and learned his history. He
seemed to feel that he had been infu-
, enced by Spears, and to have a contin.
ual regret that Spears was not to share
his fate. For several weeks he seemed
!, to take a deep interest in the religious
; services held in the Jail for his benefit
at times becoming very devout.
On the morning of the execution HI
, was up early, was smooth shaved, and
had his hair neatly combed. On being
: asked how he felt, he said he felt pretty
well, but had spent a restless night
Soon after breakfast he was visited By
= Rev's. J. NJ Thomas, J. H. Chreigh
= ton, J. II. Yeung and J. w. Dillon
and Drs, Moxley, Arnold and Morris
. several of the county officers, two Of
6 three members of the press and one o.
:, two assistants of the Sheriff, when re.
:, ligious services were held in which h
; manifested much interest, and at timei
' considerable emotion. The scene was
: touching in the extreme. Price {
/ large broad shouldered young man, G
feet ! inches high in the prime of life
: but 28 years Of age, making his las
, preparation TO pass so soon into eter
y nifty. After The services, all bid hin
!, good bye, and at about half-past II
y O'Clock Sheriff Elswick and bis deput,
J. proceeded to bind him. They thenle'
: him out of the side door and down t,
= y the back end of the Jail lot, where
: square pen had been erected and insid
y of which was the gallows. The small
: party of witnesses had already gon
: into the enclosure, and the prisone
was led after them, and then upon tn
J scaffUld, which was big drop wit
= " scarcely any platform. Down in from
!. of the scaffold was the group of specta
= tors. 1t was a gloomy looking place
= and there was a cold, damp atmospher
= and misty rain falling. He submitte
! very quietly to the necessary prepare
!, g tons in the binding of the legs and ad
iusting of the rope around his necl
y y When asked if be had anything to sa,
y y he pointed to the Rev. ]. M. Thoma
y standing on the top steps, who produce
! some manuscript, and from thread VIII
s. s. Price wished should be known as Ii
~ dying words. While he read, Price keI
y bis eyes fixed on a black coffin on Il
ground, in front of him, on which WI
his hat and screw-driver.
re STATEMENT OF ANDREW PRICE.
- !, Sheriff and Friends: In few momen
as % my soul shall appear before God, wi
Io gave it, to render an account for Il
IL deeds done in the body. Ihave a fe
%bo % statements to make for the benefit
az az the living. / die under the penalty