The New York herald., 1869-01-05

purchases as to see the "hangin.r These began to
hour, ana BY % eleven A. NJ. large crowd d
were massed on the side from which the
condemned was most exposed to the public view.
scanold and besides these q large number OF per-
sons had been admitted within the jail yard enclo
that somebody would pray for him. and ct the sug-
demned had embraced the tenets Of the Catholic
make the dssred prayer This he did, though .
Rs with head his gray locks
shaken by the wind, the Lords Prayer In all
its its simple beauty and purity g. followed By
exceedingly solemn and impressive. But this was
not long to remain so. The condemned then asked
Hiari Chapman ana his wife. negroes be sent for
This request was also complied with, but while the
messenger was absent Q number q other negroes
volunteered to sing. Accordingly they came, men
and women climbing over the fences, splashing
through the mud and ascending the scarod until at
es Sesdes the Condemned fears were entertained M
might give way; One negro woman, who ,.,
excited and oke forth into an uncomfortable at OF
religious enthusiasm, which for while created quite
male negro. ogave out" o hymn and invited all,
whether inside or outside the enclosure TO come
forward and Zine u az Toa wt %
the wildness and ervor peculiar to negroes Another
negro, preacher, who was ambitious and did not
speech which, for richness Of dialect and absurdity
Of English pronunciation, has no equal. Nearly
Dozen negro women naa meanme ascendea me me
condemned, shaking hands with him and
taking last farewell. Next followed another
sung, and while this was in progress Mary King.
wife OF the murdered man, with her child N ner
scacS Sns She Climbed the steps % and extending her
hand, shook that Of the condemned warmly and told
him she forgave him: Thts scene was quite affect
ssea ns each Sas ms VITA
killed It's father for which he was sorry. and hoped
God ana everybody else would forgive him. These
curious though solemn scenes % ENDED b,s e.
counsel, read from the scafYold the confession
as above, which was heard by the
this was one Of the most public executions ever
Witnessed Notwithstanding the law to the contrary.
II was made an actual exhibition.
The scaffold being cleared the Sheriff Informed the
condemned that his hour had arrived, but from the
unable to rise to hts feet without quite an EFFORT The
cap then placed over his head, but he asked that
it be removed for an instant gain another glimpse
again replaced forever darkenlng the earthly vision
Of Gus Holmes The rope was then adjusted: and
when the knot was placed the condemned fairly
gave way at the knees and would have sunk upon
the drop but that he was caught. At this junctnre
Tue cnerlH, VINO WaS.sOHleWHdC eAclJeu, dS uc
expected under the circumstances said, "Hold on.
Gus, you won't be hurt" negro had TO DC called
to the platform to support the sinking man. and as
he had to stand clear OF the drop Holmes became
position leaning against him, entirely helpless his
feet being towards the front Of the drop The con-
sequence OF this was that when the drop fell the
condemned slid Off, the knot having worked roand
to the back Of his neck. Strangulation was the re-
suit. The neck was not broken. There was o NO.
lent c0nvulsve movement OF the lower limbs, last
ing for nearly three minutes. Breathing ceased In
seven minutes and half pulsation In twelve min
utes and In twenty minutes life was declared eX-
tlnct by the attending physicians.