The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-01
EXECUTION OF A NEGRO In EDIANA.


His Speech and Confession.
From the Evansville Qnd y Journal, May 27,l
| BY nine O'Clock yesterday morning a crowd began
TO collect in front OF the court house and ja 1t
| was known that Ben sawyer was to be executed
some time during the day for the murder OF his wife,
The galows had been erected during the night, and
was nearly ready when the officers began to ADMIT
the jury and other persons selected to be present
and witness the execution. 1t was OF very heavy
| tlmbers, on low brick foundation just suf.
| fcient to form level on the surface OF
| the jail yard. The platform was about five
and half feet high, and under it was a
space in which was placed the cofIln. The drop
/ was OF two inch oak plank, hung by heavy wrought
| hinges TO the platform, and supported by heavy
! iron Guadrants, held In place by catches on a re.
| lever Was Attached that when moved, set the drop
free to la when another catch on the beam, fitting
notches on the quadrants, held the drop back A
light hand raj! surrounded the scatIold, which was
reached by steps at the against the wall or the
! yard. About half past ten O'Clock Sheriff Pfarlln
assembled the scafod, and, addressing the spec
/ tators, said
GfNTLxNENI wish to impress upon you the soemnity of
respect law preserve strict order. Law today
requires me 70 take the NE q human beng and desire
| terrible necessity.
Mr.. Pistiiin appeared firm but his face wore that
haggard, anxious look that has grown upon IL
almost ever since the sentence pronounced re-
curing him to execute the dread sentence. He
u
SAWYER, whose arms were p!nioned behind. Saw
yer was accompanied by Rev. A I. Hall, OF the
land, OF the Colored Baptist church, Deputy Sheriff
Reuben NJ. Davis ana MI. John 3. Young baltf,
acting as the Snerif's assistant, and an elderly
coored man accompanying the prisoner. The
party assembled the scalfold ana sawyer was placed
upon the drop and Deputy Sheriff Davis placed
tie rope about his neck. At this instant q
short cry OF deep pain was heard from q female
voice at window OF the Sherif's residence.
Sawyer, however, betrayed not the least emotion as
he swayed mis- head aside to allow the free passage
OF tne rope over MS head. officer Young then tied
his feet and when this done the Sheriff said
ben Sawyer, have you anything to say why the
sentence Of the law should not be executed upon
ysu - sawyer answered ''Yes, sur have' The
answered, "You just loosen this rope around my
neck, It's 100 tight me rope was loosened as de-
sired, anu SAWYER Sald:--
say that haven't had justice in Supreme Cour-I
mean the Criminal court-n that trial II these had
n be a 1n @ but n had ad e what asy did
But If the Lord can forgive them can.
Rev. A. I. Han then read portion Of the Scrip.
nm N ha. R Rs q Is q few days
up tervent and appropriate prayer, at the concI-
sion OF which sheriff Plann asked II he had any
but to bid the friends here goodby, and hope Iii
meet them all in Heaven. Farewel!n
As he ceased 10 speak, the black cap was drawn
over his mead, and the attendants stepped back,
The Sheriff moved the lever with hls loot, the drop
hung for some seconds without any visible struggle
then slight swayng OF the feet up and down,
violent tremor OF the hands for five minutes and he
was still
The body was frequently examined by Drs.
scheer and Thompson, ana was suffered TO hang
Tor twenty minutes, although he was pronounced to
be dead eleven minutes alter he fell and probably
died minute or two earlier.
HIS body was received by four cOlored men as Mr.
Young cut the rope and let him down. II was
placed in a common paupcr coffin and taken charge
OF by Colonel Grill, Township Trustee, Tor burial, as
the law prescr1bes.
Among the large number OF people who witnessed
the execution IT was generally admitted that
ever been displayed under ike circumstances.
seem stodly Indifferent But from first to last ne
seemed firm, calm and fully sensible of the serious
ness OF the situation but 1t did not seem TO disturb
him. for he stood calmly chewing tobacco and spit
ting occasionally until within few seconds Of the
time the cap was drawn over his face. He evinced
not the least dread, or even excitement.
The officers were naturally very seriously affected
at the being compelled, by their oatns OF ONCE,
was over that they betrayed any weakness or any
more anxiety than what was apparent IN their faces
were being made, the conduct OF The crowd outside
was shameful. Whenever door was opened to al
mittance, and even some tried 70 climb up 50 as to
peep over the door IN the jail yard. During the
morning one man perched himself on the roof OF
house III the rear and overlooking the jail yard and
just as a second one was climbing up tarpaulln
was drawn up and hung from the roo OF the Jail TO
the second story OF the Court House, cutting on the
view from all buildings in the rear. When the body
was placed IN the coffin the doors were thrown open
ana the popuIace were admitted at one door and
permitted to walk by the coffin and pass out at
other door
The fouowng Is sawyers confession to Rev. A. 7.
Han, his spiritual adviser:-
was Old Virginia a slave had good Christian
mother she belonged to the old regular Baptist On her
desh.bed took by the hand and made promise
meet her In heaven Some time after that master moved
TO Tennessee, apiece from Nashville had brother
seeking The war broke on, and went into the army and
never killed anybody before; Lizzy is the only one ever
my money 2 Lllzy, ana she would give away Al.
cu Of s ns not 20 0aa and "n a e
Il she did not stop doing the way she was that
three before killed her Tina, day drank three
drinks then bought pint, and another drink
the boat King with her about her frends In Hen
derson and wanted her to come home But she
doing Bat TOO drunk can't read word, but be-
ieve there heaven where the good people aud he'll
Not a child 1have no, been inside OF church
Tor four years The las. was a. the 0oSred BaP.s church
been told that's murderer could not get TO heaven After
proper instruction he became willing o the Lord
of this way of living 1 don't want 70 stay here
willing to trus, myself in the hands of God, lie
do more for me than everybody together feel good,
md felt so good that loved everybody. forgive ali my
enemies everywhere sleep sound and good at nights
Tnere is only one thing that want 10 say on the gaows
don't think they right when they wouldn't hear
All with God, Mr.. DAVIS all for that he could
hope GOD WIN bless hin pray AL the time; ipray myself
good people who come here 10 and read
The asi visit was devote 10 praying talking Of death
the judgment TO come He was lively pleasant aud prayer
And thus ends the life OF Ben Sawyer whose exc
cutIon breaks long interval OF thirty years
the extreme penalty OF the law was inflicted IN Van
derburg county. VIII the next interval be as long 2
CLERGYMAN FATALLY KICKED