The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-08-11

ne Prosesas His ln00ceaee ane Dse"
without struggle.
his l,heekerea Career.

down by anxiety and remorse, Dull al sur"
r.rorts were untrue. For few weeks after
he was sentenced he complained Of the SEN
tencc, and said he had no show for his LIE.
He bcwailcd bitterly what he called the IN
;u,ticc of his trial. Said prejudice was so
strung that the court had to convict on finn
~ evidence. But at last he became recon-
ciled and said he was ready to die.
Mr.. George Dickinson of the Society oil
Friends. has been in almost constant attend
ance for come weeks and on Sunday last held
religious service at the Jail.
Capt. W. NJ. Forescue has also been In
,,,.rd.nce and has done much for the pris-
ouer,s spiritual and temporal good. But the
most devoted in their attendance on the
doomed man, have been Father Lalsnlei and
"a. s;aers. Day and night they have labored
I'll, him yntil he became reccnciled to his
fate in the expectation of a holier and hap
e,,,,,e Las. Friday he was baptized
r. t Father L,isnieI, m:'l received the first
....,,n;on This devoted Priest was also
nth him all Monday night ana IN the morn
ing gave the prisoner his last communion.
s;s,ers Ros,lia and Columbia spent most Of
the forenoon preparing him for the great
change and all their religious conscientious
~s,e received. it is said, in a truly rcPentant
spirit.
r,rr prIORE EXECUTION
D;cksou spent quietly. He eat moderate
s,u,,er. talked calmly Of his approaching
fate. told visitor that since ne had heard
n. sister was dead he had nothing to desire
to live for; the people were clamorous 10Y
his execution, and he would die like man.
While not engaged in religious duties he slept
so,,ndIy, and seemed to rise yesterday morn
ing refreshed and cheerful.
Having partaken Of hearty breakfast
which epic,res will be glad to learn was
com,o,ed of ham, fried potatoes, biscuit and
coffee. he was in good condition for the pho
,our.ph operator, who, at his request, was I"
take his picture. He sat for his picture, and
~. Gamer. testified 10 the wonderful stoicism
of this man. who was on the threshold oil
death. He seemed pleased with them, and
expressed satisfaction that he could leave
these memcntoes to his rcuy fcm friends.
THE DAY OF EXECUTION.
Yesterday, the day appointed for the exc
cu,;on. was ushered in darkly, the sun being
vciled by heavy fog for some hours after
daylight. To the superstitious this was ma
lures disapproval of the event OF the day.
INIT the beautiful sunshine shortly Afterwards
dissirated superstitions, and gave the doomed
man his last: opportunity to look on nature
in her most smiling garb. Long before the
hour appointed, Il m, the hills and houses
in the vicinity were crowded with people
anxious to see the sad spectacle. For an
hour before noon the entrances to the jan
were beseiged by crowds, with and without
admission cards. Not only this, but all ovc'
the civ people on house tops and eminence'
looked with glasses or the naked eye TO sex
the suspension of the convicted wretch. Wv.
ing to the prominence Of the County Jan
grounds the melancholy proceedings wert
visible from almost all parts of the city, and
thousands ayailed themselves of the oppor
tunity of seeing the laws victim droppet
from earth to eternity.
Alout twelve o'clock the excitement o
tho thousands who failed to get admission
was intense. The Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff.
and peace officers were besiesed with aPpli
cations for passes, and scores Of men ant
children shouted simultaneously for the opei
sesame to the judicial slaughter. We resre
to be compelled to say that at least one hal
Of the vast ccncoursc which viewed the spec
t.cle from outside points was composed
children of both sexes. 1t is perhaps one
the unavoidable associations Of such scenes
and must be expected as long as the law de
mands life for life, blood for blood; but 1t .
none the less painful because usual.
About eleven minutes of twelve O'Clock tn
east gates Of the Jail was opened, and the'
commenced fierce crowding and pushing fo'
,peedy admission to the public spectacle
The crowd pressed desperately to
wards the entrance where thres
DEPUTIES were engaged in maintaining
order and taking entrance cards. A stranger
would have imagined a popular circus wal
about exhibiting SO clamorous and lively wa
the crowd. The cry of ''Show your tickets
gentlemen" was varied by constant assu
RANGES from the officers THAT there was ne
hurry. the man was still in Jail, and "Ths
execution would not take place for scm'
time" One man rushed breathlessly up Il
the cate. after the crowd had been admitted
and anxiously demanded, as he hung vet,
and on being told he yet lived, smiled pleas
,u,lv. presented his ticket and entered t.
feast on the unusual sight. The suggestion
of an irreverent wag who had no ticket tina
.if the Sheriff would charge one dollar :
head he would make more money and II
less bothered with crowd would be GOOD
plan for adoption at the next execution
which We hope will never take place.
Finally the spectators were all adm'tsef
and then began the anxious waiting for TIN
doomed man, who was at this time rcceivin:
the last sad rites Of his religion from Father
Is;ype;l. The Sherif7s deputies kept tx
,,rroach to the scaffold clear Of spectator
and hut few besides the officers Of the Law
were permitted to be near it.
At l.:l5 p. m. Dickson left the Jail, sup
ported by Father Laigneil, and accompanied
bv Sheriff Mcfarland and Deputies Palmer
and Maloney. He assembled the scafiold
more firmly than any Of his escort, and wher
sitting under the rope he maintained digni
fed composure which his bittercst enemies
must have admired. The prisoner wore a
black suit, black hat and white shirt. As he
ascended the steps of the scafiold he unbut-
toned his vest to let his last throbbings Of life
lie unrestr.ined. He sat coolly for some
time, every one remarkins how we'll he look
ed, the only evidence Of his confinement be-
ing little paleness, while his buriy form
never showed to better advantage.
After resting few minutes, the prisoner
kpek With the attendant priest and spent a
shost time in prayer. Amer these devotions
were concluded he was again seated, until the
Sheriff commenced to read the transcript Of
the Court proceedings, to which he listened
Standing.