New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-26
A CARD.
A CAKUe
Statement Of Sheriff Oliver, Of st. James
ERRRIYY's OFFICE,
Parish Of St. James, September Is, 1871.

| SRRRIyys OFFICE,
Parish Of St. James, September Is, 1871.
EpIroR REPUBLICAN:
In consequence Of the Misrepresentation recent
~ made in the New Orleans Times, in regard to thu
| unpleasant part was as officer of the law. com
PEELED to act in the St. James execution and of the
false impression upon the public mind that viii
naturally follow in the train Of misrepresentation
deem it duty owe to myself, the Governor Of
the State, and humanity, to present to the people
of the State at large the facts they actually oc-
| CURED.
| On Friday the fifteenth of September 1871, be-
| tween the hours of eleven and twelve O'Clock, !
entered the cell of the parish jail in which the
doomed men were confined and read, in presence
of several competent witnesses to John Williams,
Alfred Decairo and Noel Ellis Madison Hamilton
their death warrant, which had received from
the Governor. Between the hours of four and five
O'Clock Of the same day, Randall Coleman request
ed the jaior and the chief constable Of the parish
to obtain for him from the sheriff permission to
witness the execution and his request granted,
but with the provis0 that he was to he thoroughly
secured, to prevent escape. The sixteenth day of
September, 1871, and between the hours Of ten and
twelve o'clock, were the day and hours designated
for the execution.
The citizens of the parish requested that the
prisoners be executed upon the spot where their
victim was murdered. l saw reason for denying
their request aud it was granted. At hslt-past
eight O'Clock ordered the prisoners to be dressed
They were dressed in white shirts, white pants
white caps and white socks, and their arms tied
behind them with white cotton rope. The coftns
were loaded into large cane cart drawn by three
mules, and the prisoners were placed in the cart,
each upon his own coffin. Coleman was placed in
~ Al NJ
at hand under the control Of the sheriffs posse.
The prisoners to be executed sat in the front and
Coleman in the rear Of the cart upon the foot Of
one of the collins; that seat appeared to be his
choice, as l told him to sit down the edge Of
the cart.
At exactly eight minutes before nine O'Clock A.
VI. ordered the cart to move forward, with suf-
fc;ent guard to protect the prisoners and prevent
escape. The place selected for the execution was
about three miles from the parish jail, and we ar
rived upon the spot about fifteen minutes after ten
o'clock. Preparations were Immediately made for
the execution, which conducted strictly
according to law. The gallows had already been |
put uD early in the morning Coleman was taken |
out Of the cart and seated on box about twenty |
steps in front of the galows. The prisoners and |
their collins were taken ont of the cart, and placed
upon the scatfOid. Each prisoner was allowed hf- |
teen minutes to address the spectators when their |
caps were drawn down, and prayer was offered up |
to heaven in behalf Of the prisoners. After PRAYER
by the minister, turned Coleman and addressed
him as follows:
Take good view of what is before you, ard see |
how these three men are going 10 die for taking |
v Lat they eonld not give, aud which is given by
Sod alone. And you have committed the same
crime, willfully, IN cold blood, which is called |
murder in the first degree, for YOU have already
confessed your crime TO in the presence OF wit
lesses hope this spectacle will be warning to
7ou. and to all citizens here present. You had
,erter look within yourself and repent Of the
,r.me you have perpetrared, for God only knows
'ut that YOU NAV die the same death"
The trap fell at eleven O'Clock, and tie dead
'oGies cut down in thirty-seven minutes
fterward. endeavored TO discharge ms duty as
he law directs, and if l Gid commit any act Of IN.
discretion It was ceroir1y unintentiOnal and the
lines has done great injustice in attributing |
motives TO me which never entered nv brain. The |
lines has raked up the murder of Marx Schon.
erg and William c. Laws, and notwithstanding |
was arrested, tried and acquitted by jury of my
ouutrymen, insinuated ttat was either the &C.
nal murderer or accessory 20 the crime. From
hat the Times has stated, know that it does rot
now the facts in the case, and really has no
rounds for such an unjust charge; and knew,
lrther, that am as innocent Of the charge pre-
-11ed tie editor OF the T;nee or any other Ian:
j. G. OLIVER,
se26 1t 2dp Sheriff of the Parish of s.: James,