The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-06

a given dlrecuon unti.tne awful moment OF ms ex-
ecution. Even thenhe had quid in his mouth.
The scanoid was indeed
uNioVE AND PECULIAR.
IN all my exper1eaoe had never seen one IKE "
before. The Jail Is q large, square. substantial,
the side OF the town. and In the upper story
OF which are located the cells OF the prisoners sepa-
rated from the outer frame OF the building by a
passage and a thcKly ironed partition. over the
stairway leading 10 the upper story the scanold
WAS ERECTED
IN conformity with the laws OF the State requiring
executions TO be private there being no jail yard.
Tue machine OF death consisted OF cross beam
supported by an upright resting on the corridor,
fastened 10 the wall on the opposite SIDE The
crop hung directly over the stairway and allowed
IAN of more than seven feet All the Appliances OF
death were strictly complete, ana even TO the requi
site number OF witnesses ana the summoning OF q
guard the preparations tor the terrible tragedy
were finished The crowd was not large, though
number OF oolored people OF both sexes had con-
gregated without the jail enclosure to be
rs possible the dying agonies they could not wit
ness. little before twelve NJ, In company with
lawyer, your correspondent visited the condemned
man IN a cell opeAlng upon the passage in which
the seanold was erected He was attired in neat
suit oil
DARK LINEN CLOTHES,
wore scrupulously clean linen shirt, and AT the
time We entered the cell he was croucned III cor
ner on the moor. BY request OF the clergy man he
arose an took seat on char, a sufficient num-
Der OF Wnlcn were provided To accommodate both
prisoner and visitors, Mr.. Sanford whom take to
be devour, Though young minister OF the gospel,
spoke eeiingly and reiglously TO the condemned OF
his approaching end, alter which your correspond
ent had the following conversation with the doomed
man
WHY HE DID IT.
CoaREsroNp ZEN. You know you are going
NED-Oh, yes sab / can't heb IL.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES made you commit such
crimey
NED-Jerry Rush was de fust dat tole me to do it.
CoRREsroNpEST-Who is Jerry Rush
NED-He's a coiored man, dat lives bout a mile an
nalf from MIR. Usher's
CORRESPONDENCE did Jerry tell you 10 COM
NIT tnis crime
W
Usher and go an 1--we wild MIN. lie knew Mr.. Usher
would run me on bur he tole me 10 go TO Mr. Copers
To get work and den come To hlni.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was IL Jerry told you to
do thsY
ned was agwine from de house to de field to
plough when lie met me and tole me TO waylay her
AT de spring.
CoRREs poNDENT-w this on the same day you
NED-No, sab. II was de day b'fore
CORRESPONDENT ell, Ned, what did you do the
NED-De next day
i LAID FOR HER
al dc spring.
CoRKEsPoNDENT--Wen?
NED-An' rhrowed her down and ravlshed her.
CORREsPoNDENT-Wha did she say
NEp-she said, Ned you know you're doing
wrong Le'me go"
CoRREsPoNDENr-we what did you do9
ned KEEP on till done did what wanted TO.
CORRESPONDENCE did you do thenY
NED-Den Went 10 ur, Copper place, on the Pee
CoRREsPoNDENT-Did you know You were doing
wrong when you outraged Mrs. Osherr
This concluded my conversation with Ned. lie
was exceedingly cool, ana did not seem
TO APPRECIATE HIS CLOSE PROXIMITY
to death; and at the time it fearful to contemp-
late with The scaffod just outside The door. few
minutes later and the Sheriff. Mr.: shortrldge, en-
tered the CELL and In voice tremulous with FEELING
and excitement he babe the condemned man to
stand up and accompany him 10 his (McLendon's)
terrible death. Stil seeming as II he did not appre
cate his doom, Ned stood and walked
FIRMLY TO THE ScAFFoLD.
1t was but a few steps. The passage outside the
cell door was thrCngeu with the lew spectators
mitted TO witness the tragedy At the opening OF the
through N The living mass for VI" the 0pe Vic
tim on his way TO eternity. Arrived upon
five feet three inches III height with the Snertr
ana ms deputy-one on either side OF hinl-and the
Rev. MI. Sanford In front. With persistent devo-
clergyman LAID his hand on the shoulder OF the
demned man and whispered words OF hope into mis-
ear uItll tue last. The sheriff then ordered
THE DEATH WARRANT
10 be read. and in clear voice Mr.. Thomas Leake
wretch on the drop did not even at this late mo-
ment, realize his awful position. The muscles OF
mis- race twitched nervously only be discerned
by close observer. Mr.. Shortrldge, the Sherin,
then remarked as he pinoned the limbs Of tue con-
demned man, Ned, my DUTY is disagree.
During the whole but brief time on the
scaiiold Ned never made an expression, though
10 appeal to him for a word even. But no; ne
maintained stolid silence. AT fourteen minutes
past twelve NJ, me black cap having been already
pulled over the features OF the criminal and the
persons the passage were earnestly gazing on the
form SO soon 10 be dead. the
DROP FELL,
with scarcely perceptioie noise, and the BODY OF
Ned McLendon was swinging TO and fro over the
staircase. There were few conv1lsive movements
or the lunbs and heayngs OF the chest alter which
all struggles ceased. Respiration continued for
about i've minutes during which gurging noise
could be heard In the throat OF the criminal by those
close TO him. In minutes pusation had
ceased. In fifteen minutes he was pronounced
dead by Drs. Covington and Stanclll. and IN
twent7-one minutes the body down ana
consigned TO q coffin awaiting Its reception. The
soul OF Ned McLenaon had been Judged by the
Creator OF Us all.