The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1872-01-13

no one condemned TO death ever neglects.
Il gave me hope by this means, if not
of gaining freedom, of at least saving my
life | do not remember upon what
grounds my lawyer based this hope, but
| declined his services, not only because
| was convinced of its uselessness, but
because l preferred death 10 long and
painful prison life was done with life
why tamper with it any longer? 1t
must vet be weeks before the sentence
of death should be approved and the
time of the execution fixed, and even
this time was too long
l babe the lawyer good bye, and he
went away after he had embraced me
He had known me many years, had seen
me grow up to manhood in my parents
house-thank God, they had not lived to
see me come to this
Two full mouths passed, bat the ter
rors of my situation remained unchang
ed This only boon I had was that l dS
not lose my senses. | feared insanity
more than did death Every morning
/ | ezp zpected the announcement of my las
/ hour, and when evening came withon
bringing it would place my hope on it:
coming next day. Even hope for death
has its disappointments.
One day | wrote to my lawyer that, il
he wished to dc me a service, he would
hasten the day of my execution, and
| then take means to provide for my in
terment-a little corner in the old
church yard-and save me from the buri
al place OF the criminals. A strange am
tipathy-as if the way of grace to the
kingdom of heaven were connected with
the resting place of the body.
At last the long awaited messenger
came. Unusually early on one cold
January morning, the prison director
came into nv cell He was accompani-
ed by gentleman we'll known to me,
who carried some papers in his hands.
1t was the prosecuting attorney who had
carried on my trial with the most gen
erous feeling toward me. The earnest,
sorroWful expression on the two faces
led me TO guess their errand. All, they
could not know what sentiment of re.
lief, what a bainful pleasure they were
bringing me They communicated to
me in the most delicate manner that
should cease to live the very next day at
o'clock Then they went away.
What wonderful change came over
me within these few moments. How
often, how fervently had l begged for
this announcement With what quick
and peaceful satisfaction had | received
It'll And yet-now that it had come
there was the pail of death over and
about it. Had my whole nature sudden
ly changed? All my thoughts and sep
satons, my whole soul had been fsr Of
formed The stole Indifference to death,
1 the rigid resignation which [ had felt
/ theretofore-all had vanished as if be
/ fore a gust of wind. An irresistible
and indescribable sadness seized my
/ heart. and my fortitude deserted me.
/ 1t was the fear OF death, common to
oil men and undying, that had come over
me In the certainty of death, the
4 bravest of hearts ciings to life. and with
fthreefofd power when that death -
criminals All my courage, all my
bravado. all my fortitude vanished uudei
this certainty. The contempt for life
shown By the condemned criminai-tha
cold dread of life which | felt for month,
lis never free from reservation OF Z
/ last hope II is trial of self deception
which the unhappy man cherishes until
/ the very last This is the secret Of the
criminals fortitude.
! The hours-the few hours-which
still had to live fed swifter than ever be-
fore 1t was not the swiftness with
which time passes for the happy mau;
saw them 90 with greedy effort to hole
them back For the last time | saw the
/ bleak winter rays of the sun kiss the colo
walls of my cell For the last tune
what thought that was Language is
too poor to express it. My physica
powers began to desert me as my mora
courage had done already a terrible
! lethargy took hold of me, body anc
soul
My guard, who noticed the change il
nv condition, endeavored to bring me
back to my old fortitude, and reminded
me that it was necessary to make som'
religious preparation for the inal hour
At the same time. he brought me wine Il
revive my physical strength. | hoped
thus to gain new strength, perhaps Il
secure some sleep.-for the thought o
/ spending the last night awake filled m'
with horror. They brought me gooC
meal too-they are so humane to mar
they are going to kill next day | att
aud drank, but it was a sad and sorrow
I full repast The wine brought me sleep
however, and so l got through the night
l had slept my sleep and dreamed N.
last dreams. was obliged to think long
after opening my eyes, before l could
bring myself to a sense of my Iearfu
situation. When [ did, l arose hastily
and threw on my clothes. My breakfast
| including coffee and small bottle o
rum, was already on the table. l simply
took glass of water The guard open
ed the door and the Rev. Mr.. Drakonus
nv spiritual adviser, came in. He wa
most worthy servant of the Lord, II
the fullest meaning of the word, and h
acted toward me according to the wor'
of Him who teaches love and forgive
ness for all. After he had been with M
an hour, felt the consolation which h
had promised me.
1t was now 8 o'clock. A storm ha
darkened the atmosphere and shut on
the sun, which should never see again
The prison director now came in, accom-
panied by two others. He spoke fe'
kind words to me, and persuaded me t
take glass of rum. | emptied tn
glass at a single gulp, and felt a genia
warmth run through my veins.
Now we must go, he said as he look
ed at his watch.
| was led down pair of steps into
large room, lighted by two jets OF gas
There were two guards at the door, tw
others at the window, the iron shutter
of which were closed, besides an otfeel
A large table covered with black clotf
holding a crucifx, stood in the centre
the room. The wall was bare with tn
exception of clock, whose monotonou
ticking was the only break upon. To