Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-23
HANGING MATCHES
Moral Of the Death PeaaIty-The Civillza.
ton Of the Halter.

The New York Tribune says that we are
not sure that anything We may say can
add force to the lesson in the great moral
institution Of Hanging which the Memphis
reporters have -unCOnsciOusly taught US Dy
their story Of the recent execution in Ar
kansas. The average Memphis Journalist
looks upon blood snd bruises with asofb
Of relish which we are not wholly aole 70
appreciate. and describes death with a
charming yfgor and frasd0miof style which
We would strive In vain to copy. Hence
If il were possible to add a brighter glow
10 the rosy facts connected with the VlO-
lent taking of Of John k~OseDorOagn ana
Henry Harris the other Day az Marlon,
Arkansas, we should undoubtedly ind It
in the graphic narratives OF n memphis
Dapers from which We have already given
6ur readers an abstract. But the plain
fscts were so elegant that rhetoric would
only sp5l them. The culprits, both
negroes, were confined in the same
cell. in 4 little fOur-rOOm jail, and the gal
lows upon which they were to vindicate
the msjesty Of the law was erected in q
corner OF an inClOsurs surrounding the
building. When al was in readiness,
the sheriff waited upon his prisoners
and requested them TO come out and Do
hanged. Just here there was an unfortu-
nate hitch in the arrangements. Inc
prisoners refused to IA Somebody had
given them an iron bar, and with this
they stood at bay. They blocked the
narrow gutrsncs to the cell, b~randlsh1ng
their weapon, filling the air with curses,
shrieks, prayers, threats and hymns, vow
ing to slay the first nan who crossed the
threshold. The sheriff reasoned with
them" in vain. He begged them TO come
out and do things "decsntly and IN order.
He didn't want any FUSS and preferred
not to "mutilste" them, In hne, be put
Il 70 them, a. men OF taste, thai Il would
be bsst TO step out pssceably and have
q nice, quiet funeral. II he had been
their owl father. he could not have
urged the point with more tenderness
but, to quote the Uerse language OF 8
Memphis reporter, the prisoners only
s.riled up" HGreup0n "Mr. Manus said
be would 20 in there and take out those
prisoners. Mr.. Manus disappeared for a
moment into the hidsOus darkness, and
after g brief interval tumbled out again
"With blood squirting out Of his Jaw" and
his nose "jerked around the other way"
To quote once more b Memphis report,
"the prisoners had signihed their inten-
ton to see this thing through" Mean
while & tumult ragged among the cIGl-
zsns Of Marion who had come to see the
show, In the isil-yard there we're fifty
men, all armed TO the teeth, all pointing
their guns and r6vOlvers a. the prison
door, and su bowling because the sheriff
would not Set them go in q shoe the
negroes In their hole, Outside the yard
were q thousand more, maddeued by the
sounds of q fight in which they were not
allowed 70 share, and brsndishing fire.
arms in the most unpleasant manner.
Just at this moment " Chief O'DOnnell,
/ Of Men pbis, put in an appearance" To
the Sheriff Chief O'Donuel proposed a
Hstle arrangement. He said he had a
few friends with him who had come over
from Memphis to witness the execution. "
They were outside, snd If they might
come in they would agree, in considers
ton Of the privilege, TO d" render any as
sistsnce in their power TO The end that the
law might be carried OUT It Is needless
20 ssy tina the Chief and the Sheriff shook
hands on this bargain. The Arkansas
official stipulated, however, that there
should be no mutilstiOn," for he was
bound TO hang q whole niger or none aG
all. With this understanding our Of
Chief O'DOnneu's friends, together with
" an Arkansas gentleman named NJ. L..
Windsor, - E" took OF their coats, rolled up
their sleeves, laid their pistols and b
iswelry aside, and went in" They shut
the door behind them. Perhaps we may
IS well leave il shut. It is enough to
know that after q short suspense, and the
noise Of +" grinding Of teeth, cursiDg and
lOUQ ELDA-4lEs l4b ltBElos were O1dBA5N
forth securely bound, and, happily, " IN
mutilsted, F" snd amid the shrieks Of the
spectators, were surangled " decently and
in order"
Now perhaps the advocates Of capital
punishment will tell US what they think
or This exhibition ofAmericsn civilization.
Is it yinGicsting the majesty Of the law, is
il teaching q great moral lesson, Is it incul-
eating the sacrednsss OF human life to set
---L L.--ar-A - $500 w~-.Hwhnn one Of a
cell. as beasts are hunted from their holes,
and TO Ill q thousand men with 3 mad
deniBg thirst fOE. blood, the most brutsliz-
ing and ferocious Of all forms Of passion
Look at the picture, friends Of the gal
lOwsi Think Of that horrible hour in he
Marion Jail, think of death in the midst Of
raging blssrhemies, and tell Us what de
Tense there can be of q punishment which
reprOduces in peaceful America the cevel-
ism zDaetgrIaz Of Paris Commune.