The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-09-30

THE MIGHT BEFORE THE EXECUTION,
Alfred Decaraux and Noel were visited
by their mothers, who babe them a
last farewell, and reprimanded them
for the crime they had committed.
Noers mother reproaehed him with
deserving the Catholic religion-in
which faith he had been born and
raised-and joining the Baptist sect.
She told him that this change of re-
ligious views had cost him his life, as
they We're Baptists who had induced
him to become party to the crime
for which he was to pay the penalty
with his life. Williams was visited
by his wife. with whom he had been
on very bad terms. He forgave her
for having testified against him at the
trial, and expressed the hope that she
had forgiven him for his great crime.
At sunrise, this morning, the prison
ers were baptised by the Rev. Samuel
Cook. The unfortunate men remarked
that. last night was the longest they
had experienced during their confne-
ment, and expressed desire for the
hour of exection to arrive.
THE PREPARATIONS.
| A few minutes before nine O'Clock,
everything being in readiness, a wagon
containing three collins drove up to
the Jail door to receive the prisoners.
Decaraux was the first to make his
appearance. He came down the
stairs looking pale and haggard
mounted slowly into the wagon, and
took his seat upon the coffin which
bore his name, gazing around at the
assembled crowd, e1pectantly, then
dropping his head upon his breast and
swinging himself to and fro. Noel
came out next with buoyant step, and
sprang lightly into the wagon, seating
himself near Decaraux, and nodded
to some friends in the crowd. John
Williams was the last of the con-
demned men to come forth from the
Jail. His step was slow and faltering,
and he was evidently weak and
depressed by mental suffering. He
shook hands with several friends, then
Jumped into the wagon with the
others. Parker, the accomplice to the
deed who had turned States evidence
and saved his own neck, mounted the
drivers seat and took the reins.
Randall Coleman, prisoner who was
under charge of numbering a man ON
Mr.. Jules Druilhet's place, was
brought forth securely bound, and
placed il the cart with the condemned
murderers, he having expressed a
desire to witness the execution.
THE START.
| At nine o'clock the Sheriff gave
orders for the start, when a numerous
guard Immediately formed around the
prisoners, and proceeded towards the
place of execution. The wagon con-
tanning the condemned was followed
| by the executioner in buggy covered
with the colors of deatll-white and
black. The scene was a solemn one.
Three men condemned to die, dressed
in white, with white caps on their
heads, and the executioner following
in their. wake. i -. 81
AT THE PLACE OF EXECUTION. sssis
The place where the murder was
committed being too small for the
execution, q spots one mile. above, on
the batture in front of the upper por-
ton of the Welhas plantation, was
selected. a circle was formed with o
rope, in the centre offwhich was the
gallows. Guards were stationed
around this circle and none of the
spectators were admitted within it
The prisoners We're now ordered to
descend from the wagon. Decarau1
came first and mounted to the plat
form of the gallows, seating himself
upon the right. Williams and Noe
followed; the former taking the mid
die seat, the latter the one upon the
left The Sheriff then notified the
condemned that if they wished to say
anything, now was the last emporium.
ity that could be given them. Deca.
raux was the first to speak He said
/" Here ! am before you,l and YOU
know what brought me here. / an
glad my time has come, / shall soor