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

given direcuon untntAe awfm moment OF ms cS-
s Ts lon o Even had quid IN his mouth
USIovE AND PECULIAR.
IN All my expereaoe had never seen ono hkc ~
before. The Jail Is large, square, substantiai,
on the east 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 Dy
passage and a thlcky ironed partition. over the
stairway leading TO the upper story the scanold
m consormity with Inc laws OF the state requiring
executions to he private there being no jail yard
| Tne machine of death consisted OF q cross beam
| supported by upright resting the corridor.
ana fastened 10 the wall on the opposite side. The
arep hung directly over the stairway and allowed
fa of more tnan seven feet All the appliances OF
death were strictly complete ana even TO the requ-
| site number OF witnesses and the summoning OF q
guard the preparations Tor the terrible tragedy
were finished. The crowd was not large, though
number OF colored people OF both sexes had con-
as 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 scanoid was erected He was attlred in neat
suit OF
DARK LINEN CLOTHES
wore scrupuously clean linen shirt, and AZ the
tlne we entered the cell he was croucned III cor
ner on the moor. BY request or the clergyman he
arose am took seat on CHAIR sufficient num-
Der OF which were provided 10 accommodate both
prisoner and visitors, Mr. Sanford. whom take to
be devout, though young minister OF the gospel
spoke feelngly and religously 10 the condemned or
his approaching end after which your correspond
ent had the following conversation with the doomed
mani
WHY HE DID 1T.
CONFESSION DENTwNed, You know you are going
to die. Have you repenred OF your terrible crimef
NED-Oh, yes. sab / can't helb 1t.
CoRREsPoNDENT-What made you commit such
crimey
CoRREsPoNpENT-Who is jerry Rusng
NED-Hes colored man, dat lives bout a mile an
a nalf from MIR. Usher's.
CORRESPONDENTS did Jerry tell you TO COM
INIT tls crlmel
Usher and go an 1--we wild MIN. He knew Mr.. Usher
would run me or but he toe me 70 go TO Mr. Copers
to get work and den come TO hin.
CoRREsPoNDENT-Where was IL Jerry told YOU to
do this?
NED was agwine from de house to de field to
plough when he met me and toe me to wayiay ner
at de spring.
CoRREspoNDENr-wa this on the same day you
NED-No, sab. Ii was de day b'fore.
CosREsPoNDENr-Well Ned what did you do the
NED-De next day
LAID FOR HER
at de spring.
CoRKEspoNpENT-wen
NED-An'l throwed her down and ravished her.
CORRESPONDENT did she sayf
wrong. lie me CO."
CoRREsPoNDENT-Well what did you dor
ned KEEP on till done did what wanted to-
CoRREsPoNDENT-wha did you do them
NED-Den / went to Mr., Copers place, on the Pee
CoRREsPoNDENT-Dd you know You were doing
wrong when you outraged Mrs. Csherf
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 ii fearful to contemp-
late, with the scaifod just outside the door. few
minutes later and the Sherin, Mr.. Shortrldge, en-
tered the cell, and In voice remuous with FEELING
and excitement he babe the condemned man to
stand up and accompany him TO his (McLendon'sl
terrible death. Still seeming II did not appre.
ciae his doom, Ned stood and walked
FIRMLY TO THE scAFFoLD
1t was but few steps. The passage outside the
"a "A
mitted witness the tragedy At the opening OF the
door these gave way, and an avenue was opened
tim on his way TO eternity. Arrived upon
The scaffold the unfortunate man stood erect not
over i've feet three inches III height with the Snerf
ana his depuy-one on either side OF him-and the
Rev. Mr. Sanford in front. With persistent devo-
clergyman LAID his hand on the shoulder OF the con-
demned man and whispered words OF hope into mis-
ulIll tue last. The sheriff then ordered
TIE DEATH WARRANT
TO be read. and in clear voice Mr.. Thomas Leake
announced The sentence OF the law. The poor
wretch on the drop did not, even at this late mo
ment, realize his awful position. The muscles OF
mis- race witched nervously, only to be discerned
by close observer. Mr.. shortridge, the sherin,
then remarked as he pinioned 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
TO appeal to him for a word even. But no; ne
maintained stolid silence. At fourteen minutes
past twelve NJ, the black cap having been already
pulled the features of the criminal and as tne
persons In the passage were earnestly gazing the
form soon TO be dead, the
DROP FELL,
with scarcely perceptiDle noise, and the BODY OF
Ned McLendon was swinging TO and fro over the
staircase. There were few convusive movements
or the lunbs and heavlngs OF the chest which
all struggles ceased. Respiration continued for
about tive minutes during which a gurging noise
could be heard in the throat Of the criminal by those
close to him. In seven minutes pusation had
ceased. In fifteen minutes he was pronounced
dead by DIS. Covington and Stanclll, and IN
twentY-one minutes the body was cut down ana
consigned to coffin awaiting Its reception. The
soul OF Ned McLenaon had been judged by the
Creator OF Us all.