The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-10
THE HANGING OF REAL.
A Fearful Scene at tho eallows.

It has already been stated that at the execu-;
ton of John Real, In New York on Friday last,
the black cap by some mistake was not drawn
over his face. The New York Sun Of Saturday
gives the following description of the scene on:
the scaGold:
When he arrived under the rope he and the
priests and Mr.. Stevens turned around and
knet down, while the deputies formed in front
OF the policemen and revereRtly knelt. "A fer
vent nrayer was offered of several minutes
duration, amid the most deathly silence, and
then Real, the two priests and the deputies
rose to their feet. During the prayer the exc
cutioner drew out the moose and fastened 1t to
the rope, putting a rubber band over the dou-
Bile hook to keep to keep 1t from slipping.
When the prayer was concluded, he again
stepped up and drew the moose tight with both
hands, so that the knot rested on the bone OF
the skull just behind the left ear. Real turned
red In the face while this was being done, and
his hands trembled, but he showed no other
sign of weakness.
about to give him the crucl6x to kiss, when
suddenly, without warning, dull thud was
heard, and Reals body flew up to the height Of
six or seven feet toward the right, and bound
ed down more than foot, the rope SINKING
deep into his flesh, and the knot slipping ike
4
the neck. The priests just escaped being
knocked down, and retired sorToWfully to the
corner in the rear. 4 look OF horror Instantly
transhxed every countenance; strong men
threw their arms before their faces to shut out
the horrld sight, and some fairly groaned IN
terror.
The black cap had not been pulled 1wT'
over Reals face, and all the agony OF violent
death was about to be seen In the contortions;
of his countenance. 1t seems that it had been
agreed upon that Under Sheriff Stevens
should first raise his hand as signal to draw
down the black cap, and afterward should;
wave his handkerchief for the cutting OF the
rope. While standing with his hat In one
hand and his handkerchief In the other, await
happened to allght upon his nose, and he un-
consciously raised his handkerchief to brush 1t
away.
The. .hangman in the box saw what he took
to be the signal, and struck blow which not
only instantly severed the rope, but sank deep
into the sleeper below. Mr.. Stevens was hor-
ror-struck. He wrung his hands, and went to
the the re reporters desk, exclaimlng, ut was not
my fault; it was the fault of that man there"
pointing TO the executioner.
The expression of the doomed mans face as
he went into the air was one which Will haunt
those who saw it 10 their dying day. Both.
eyes and the mouth opened wide, and the,
features wore mluSleu loOh VI iuCSuse Ace!
and reproach. When he fell his body turned
quickly to the left, his eyes still open and
looking apparently al the crowd around him,
while the noise of the air gurgling IN MS
throat could be distinctly heard.
He then swung slowly to the right; his eyes
closed, and then opened twice with dlhcoity'
a film Gathering over tn I'm. and then shut for
ever; his hands fell heavily from his breast to
bis sides and twitcbed two or three times ana
were wei still; bis body a.s.d itself Sonvulslyely gis
thl;ce and hung limp He was tnsn lometsa N'I ts,a
front If tke cap WAS pulled over his eyes IN an
swer to deprecatory hiss from the spectators.
He hung still for minute or two. and then
his legs came together four or five times. After
that lie never moved. His death was one Of
the quickest and easiest Of the kind on record;
after three seconds be was insenslble. Had the
iop been bungled, aad hsd he struggled as
much as REYNOLDS did, The scene would have
been past bearing.