South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-02-17
Exscclon of John Howard.

On Friday last, the 10th inst the extreme
sentence OF the law was executed on John
Howard, alias Shorty Evans, alias John
Lewis, condemned for the murder of Henri
Mi'ler' near Oldrown, in Allcgany county,
on tue lolh OF August, 1870. The Cum
berland Times says:
De ealiows was erected on the side Of
bill on the Almshouse property, in full view
OF the greater portion OF the city, ana con
sisted OF platform surmountcd with two
upright posts and cross piece, the latter of
which contained a ring for he fatal moose.
The drop consisted of swinging door on
hinges supported BY spring.
Tn the arrival Of the procession at the
place OF execution, which was about twelve
o'clock, the military were placed in n square
around the gnlows leaving an open space OF
about fifty feet square in the centre Of which
stood the gal'ows
The carriage containing the condemned
was driven to the rear of tic platform and
the prisoner assisted from the carriage and
accompanied Up the stairs by Sheriff lay
man, Deputy Shaffcr, Rows. Nice and llol-
loway, and DR. Duva,l, the Almshousc ply
stefan. The prisoner appeared to be very
weak, although his appearance indicated
robust condition. The arms of the con-
demned man were fastened hy strap Sc
cured at the elbows and passed round his
back. The condemned and nc gentlemen
accompany Jog him were seated on bench
provided on one side of the scafold where
where they remained f,r few seconds
when the party kDCclod down and frrvcn:
prayer for the soul Of the unfortunate man
so soon to be ushered into eternity. was Of
fered by the Rev. Holloway At the con
clusion Of The prayer, tie condemned was
placed upon the bench when hi. arms and
legs were more securely fastened by the
Sheriff and his deputy During this time
the prisoner spoke frequently to those gen
tlomen, hut the wori- were not distinguish
able to the people in the crowd The white
shroud was then produced and the prisoner
stood up while it was beirg PIT on him.
which vas done 10y passing il over his head
The STROUD was secured hy draw string
around tie neck and ihe sleeves in which
the hands and free portions # bis arms
were placed, were ti.l with strings Wilt
the coudemned was standing d., knees bent
under him several times a. if through sheer
weakness. After the shroul was secured
the rope was adjusted on the ring Of the
cross beam and the prisoner lod to the fatal
drop. Rev. Nr. Ni,e advanced to the side
ot the Il"f'rm on The right and spoke to
the a'semllr falling hem that john
Howard had requested him to state, chat he
was hro't to his present condition by means
If drinking and had company, and warned
all the witnesses Of lis fate to take waning
by his example" Mr. Nee. az he strope3
harE, arnaunccd that Howard had few
words to SAY when he condemned man
began talking IN au andihls tone at times
raising hi- goice 10 high pitch The re-
marks consisted If az iucohcrcut tumble
Of seu'euces in which Q said "All bave
TO say is, that 'hc f How an swors against
me swrrc fal-clY fnr the dollar he vas
'ho causa Of my conviction and made me
face tha crowd and. this ropr, and his
name Is Henry Ninthrope Ga witness on
the tfi1) Il say in the presence e
this rope thlt be swore falsely, and by
my mother who has been dead e.. tSen-
~ years" 81 always respected my
mother" Here the Sheriff touched the
the prisoner and ccmmeGccd putting the
rope around the neck Recognizing
face in the crowd he called out, che low
Piuty tell the boys die a good man -
Turning to the Sheriff he exclaimed Quick
" 'Put ihltrope around my neck" when
the Sheriff was adjusting the moose, Howard
said to him that's too tight, il chokes me b"
The Sheriff looSened the rope, shook hands
with Howard, pulled the white cap down
over his face, and stepped of The sraiF Id
Howard was supported by Mr. ShafTer,
every one olse having left the plpiform -
After the cap had been pulled over hi, face
aud while the Sheriff bad left to spling the
drop, Howard kept repeating Good bye. ="
Good bye" Amen" "Good-." and
with his words unfinished, the soul Of John
Howard was ushcred, into eternity. The
drop fell at precisely 1890, the BODY hav-
ing fall Of about five feet, stretching the
rope TO its utmost tension. The BODY was
allowed to hang for abcut hslf an hour.
when the man was pronounced dead by
DR. Duyall, when it. was cut down and buri-
cd at the foo. Of The calI1vs. The ezecu-
ton was witnessed by over three thousand
persons
HowbED's CoNFEsaIos.