Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-19
CALLED BACK TO LIFE.
How n Man Dressing 70 he Hanged
Received the News of His Respite

How a Nan Dressing 10 nc AHahSCu
Received the News of His Respite.
From the Buffalo Express, Dec. Il.
Messner, the Rochester wife-mur-
derer, narrowly escaped hanging yes
terday, and, even with the respite, it is
altogether probable that he VIII at no dis
tant time be executed. About
II o'clock the sheriff, with members of
the press, and a few friends of the pris
oner, went to the cell in which he is con-
fined. lie was being dressed for eXecu-
ton by one of the turkeys of the Jail,
and as the party entered was assisting
the turnkey to button his vest; his coat
was laid across the, back of the chat
near BY, and on the window ledge lay an
open book of devotion, printed in Ger
man, and photograph from a picture of
the Virgin Mary. The unlocking of the
door did not appear to attract his atten-
ton, but the tramping of many feet caused
him to turn around with quick, spas
modic motion; his eyes were fixed on the
floor, and his teeth firm set; he evidently
thought they had come to lead him
his death. He held out Ii
hand TO the Sheriff without a
word, but expressing by his manner that
he recognized the duty imposed upon that
official. The Sheriff, almost too affected
to speak aloud, whispered in his ear, ga
respite has come; a stay of proceedings
has been granted" MessneT replied with
8 puzzled look, as though he did not under
stand, upon which Sheriff Sutherland
said to him. "You still live. You will
not be hanged to-day" Like an electric
flash the locks, manner and bearing of the
man changed; the firm set teeth relaxed;
| the eye, schooled to hardness, betrayed
his emotions, and the blood receded from
| his cheeks. His whole system seemed to
droop and slowly turning away, hedrop-
ed into chair, with his back to the by
ISLANDERS. Presentlyhe reused himself, and
while shaking hands with the people who
surrounded him with congratulations, he
said that he did not expect the respite !;
that he was prepared to die; and that ne
| was even anxious, for in two or three
months, if it was decided that he must be
hanged, he might not be ready. When
Mr.. HipsOm, the lawyer who had
| fought the case through, came
| forward to shake hands with his
| client, the tears came to his eyes, his voice
| faItcred and he could not control himself TO
introduce Mr.. Proctor and Mr.. ChesebrO,
who had been with him to secure the
writ. There were few in that cell who
could contain their feelings, for solemn
thoughts will come as one stands in the
presence of a man around whom the black
pail of death has been folding, and whose
| life had only been saved by few, a very
| few minutes. After some conversation in
German with one or two of the people
present, he was left alone with the Rev.
Mr. Baycr. his spiritual adviser.
ELOQUENT ExTEACT.-In some remarks
of Gen. Sheridan, at Cincinnati, a few
days ago, speaking of negro suffrage, he
| said
THE man that is good enough to share
nv dangers on the battlefield, as willing
to die there, if need be, as myself, is good
enough to stand up beside me and vote. "
Pretty as this may be, it is difficult to
discover the logical sequence. Sheridan S
horse was, doulNeSs quite as willing to
share his dangers on the battle-feid-Why
not make voter out of himE