Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-07-28
Horrible Scenes at the Execution of vii.
Lin m EdxyaH ds In 81 IauiS

Horrible Scenes at the Execution of vii.
liam Edwards in 81. Louis.
The 81 Louis papers confirm the reports
which we have already had Of the horrible cir
cumstances attending The execution OF William
Edwards in that city on Friday last. From he
ReFHthcan's reports OF the execution We quote
the following:
With his head euveloped in the white can
and tine rope round his neck, Edwards exte AIDED
MS hands toward the minister, who graspsd
them, and his last words were, "My brothers,
farewell While the moose was beiug at.
ranged. all Were startled by the falling OF shed
IN the Iall yard. A crowd had covered every
inch OF it. and IL gave way. taking the men and
boys with IL. No one was seriously hurt, buj
the laughter which followed was an Insult 10
deceDcy.
Everything on the gallows was now ready.
Mr.. Brooke told the condemned man 10 put
his trust in God, and the county marshal bent
down to cut the string which held the spring
supporting the drop He severed 1t, turned
round with shuddsr from the sight which,
other wise, would have met his ga re, and " m
Edwards, with the noise and din OF falling
bricks and timbers, and the shocking curses
and no less shocking lsughter OF a rabble ring
ing in his ears. passed the portals of death.
The rope was too long, and the knot had slip.
ped TO the front of the Ear instead of being be.
hind it. Death was not instantaneous by any
means; it as a long, lingering one. and the
struggles of the unfortunate man was fright.
ful. Edwards body swayed 10 and fro
turned round. and, horrible TO relate, his
toes touched the ground rs the rope length.
but rs IL ha wished 10 put an end TO tue
awful affair, his legs doubled up for an
instant, and II was only very seldom that he
touched the ground. Whether this was done
consciously We of course cannot say Those
on the pla form looked down al the dying maI
through the mole through which his body had
passed and those in the yard pressed for ward
oft. There was great excitement, and one per-
son actually proposed TO pull the man up and
throw him down. Every one seemed TO have
an anxiety that his torture should be ended.
M ,lto hoI
those above 10 pull the rope up and thus get
him clear of the ground. Those appealed to
felt their flesh creep az the iaea. but 1t had to ba
done, and one or two officers did il. One got
hold OF the rope be ween the ring 10 the cross
beam and the upright beam around which the
rope was fastened, and applied all his strength
and weight in pulling nj it, Anoher got hold
OF the rope about five feet above the diving
mans neck and shortened II to some extent
Edwards Get Were now some distance from
the ground, an his struggles diminished as ne
became exhausted. sun ne stretched out his
hands As il he wished 10 catch at something
and az one time he nearly touched the hanging
uap-door. AS he was being hauled up, 10 b,
clear OF the ground. me person at the bottom
caught hold OF bis legs. Ii appeared TO those
above that he intended 10 break the neck of the
cuiprit by giving him Pc werful i-rk. and the
volunteer was ordered 10 d.sist. As his hold
lposened the body swung into its former posi-.
ton.
The crowd in the yard stayei around for
some time, expecting To see the dead man cur
down, but The Police Cleared the yard and they
Were thus prevented from gratifying their
morbid curiosity 10 the full. After they had
been turned our, and the body had hung about
twenty-five minutes. rude pine coffin wa.
brought, the rope loosened from It's fastening
and me corpse lowered into II.
Whiie Edwards was struggling III the
agonies OF death. with his head thrown ia *
ana lace upwarT the perspiI a,ion went through
the white cap, satura,IDg il completely Wa.n
me body was IN the coffin this cap was tnro WI
back for IN instant and those near scanned The
FEATURES The mouth was partly open. show
ing the white teeth, but The eyes We're closed
Dr. Sriege halter stated that the neck Vas
broken Ar the second ver'ebrae The features
Were natural. One of his hands were clenched
tght aud The other partly open. After life was
eHunct ana while he body WAS suspen ed.
the q Istance from The man 8 i-et 10 the prounG
was only an inch and half