The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-05-02
Execrition ait Cleyeland.

John Cooper was hanged at Ceve-
land on Thursday last for the murder
of James H.Swing,a "a mulatto tinsmith.
Seyenty-fve persons were present to
witness the execution, and several
hundred people gathered about the
Jail yard.
The time set by sentence for him to
be hung was between the hours of ten
and two. At ten minutes to twelve,
Cooper. was taken from his cell by the
Sheriff. and allowed to bid his fellew-
prisoners farewell, which he did with
out exhibiting any emotion whatever.
He was thenled up the steps of the
! seafieid, which was erected in the
northeast corner of the jail. and is the
same one which has been used several
times before in that city and elsewhere.
Cooper walked upon to the scaffoid
with a steady step, and sat down in q
chair by the side OF his spiritual advl- :
ser, Rev. Mr.. Cooley. of Akron.
He soon afterward arose, and all
heads were uncovered and perfect
stiffness prevailed in the Jail while the
minister read portion OF the Scrip
tures9 ~
Cooper looked about him at the per-
sons in the Jail, and seemed TO pay
but little attention to the reading. He
was handcufied, with his hands cross
ed in front. After the, reading, Mr.
Cooley offered prayer, during which
Cooper bent his head slightly, but did
not close his eyes. After prayer he
sat down again, and the Sheriff asked
Cooper if he had anything to say be-
fore he died. He rose again and spoke
slowly,with ali occasional trembling
in his voice as follows: Efs
81 aan now on the gsllows, and about
to die, bntH Hshaii bear it as well as
can be. L can say to you that 1 have.
left few lines which you viii read
in few days In the papers. i have
doneGwhat tell you in those lines.
feel reconciled to what is before me-.
1t seems as though it was but few
hours back. L feel as though was
prepared to 60. and / am. I@hope that
none of you hereafter viii be in my
present condition. / have only few
minutes more tor this world, but l
dome feel at all sorry, and hope God
above has pardoued me for all have
done. Ny heart beats. L must tell you,
gentlemen, one and all, farewell II
things are as 4 expect, hope hefeaf-
ter TO meet Some of you above, where
pardon is no more. These are my last
words TO say
He then sat down, and Mr.. Cooley
rose and said that Mr.. Cooper had re-.
quested him to say that the main caus-
-es of his, committing the, crime was
natural high passion and the frequent
use of Intoxicating liquor. He desir-
ed all to beware of his experience, not
to allow their passions to control them
and to abstain from liqnor. His hands
were then uncuffed, his collar, coat,
and vest removed. He took off his
vest himself with steady hand, and
assisted the deputies IN making other
preparations. His hands and feet were
then bound, the cap drawn over his
face, and the rope adjusted !; then at
three minutes past twelve, amidst per-
feet stiffness, the spring was touched
and he fell, having preserved stolid
appearance and Indifference to the
last. In fourteen minutes life was
pronounced extinct, and in twenty
minutes the body was cut down. The
body was sent to his wife in Chill
licothe, RI lsE- sFts srts