The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-13
THE GALLOWS.
Execution stgCumDerIapd.

| Execution atgCumDeFSano.
! From the Pittsburgh Leader dis
patches we take the following, relativ
to the execution Of Craig:
CUMBERLAND, Nd, January TO-
William Craig, who was executed To
day, was the negro who committed th'
crime OF rape upon the person o;
white woman, Mrs. Lottie Dayton, owe
SEVENTY years OF age, ear New Creek
West Virginia, on the night OF the 25tt
OF August last and for which he wal
tried and found guilty on the following
25th Of October, and on the subsequent
day sentenced to death, the execution
to take place atsuch time as the Gov
ernor Of the State should appoint.
Owing to the unusual efforts to save
| the condemned from the gallows, the
case has attracted great deal OF inter
est. Up to yesterday afternoon Sheriff
Gross Was very reticent about the ar.
rangements 'or the execution. and
where it was to take place was matter
Of conjecture.
Yesterday afternoon the scaffold was
taken to the jail yard, and the work OF
putting it up commenced. Craig,
standing at the window commanding a
view OF the jail yard, watched the
workmen putting up the scaffold, and
did not eeem to be affected by the
sight He took occasion to express bis
satisfaction with the arrsgements made
to hang him in the jail yard, stating
repeatedly that as he was to be hung
he was glad it was going to be done
there.
People commenced gathering about
the jail at an early hour this morning,
expecting TO gain a sight of the con-
demned. and in hopes OF witnessing the
execution from the housetops in the
vicinity. As the hour Of noon ap-
preached the throng grew larger, and
every available spot that commanded a
view Of the yard in which the shocking
exhibition was to take place was liter
allv packed with humanity.
During last night four ministers were
with the condemned, and he gave up
the greatest portion OF the night to de-
votional exercises. Toward morning
the prisoner went to bed and slept
soundly until awakened by the Sheriff,
who at that moment entered the cell
with his breakfast. He ate quite
heartily, and then again engaged with
bis spiritual advisers, who were present.
He seemed much refreshed by bis
sleep and breakfast, and prayed fer
vently with bis colored ministers, Law
son and Walters. About nine o'clock
Revs. Leech and Nice came and re-
manned with the prisoner until he was
led out to the scafold. At few min
utes after half past twelve Sheriff Gross
took the shackles from Craig, when he
stepped into his cell and put on bis hat.
He came out, when Revs. Leech and
Nice bid him goodbye. The. colored
ministers then went with him down the
stairs from the hall out into the yard
SSSSsss,sH,sitsSs. SSs s,H,sitsSs scaffold. Craig walked up
After a prayer by Rev. Lawson, :,
Sheriff, pinioned the arms OF the pris-
ouer, who watched him with the most
intense interest While his arms were
being bound he rubbed his fingers as if
rom cold. As he stepped forward to
the rope he WINGED and said ii hope
to meet you all in Heaven" The col.
ored preacher told him to keep his eye
on the Day Star.
He then said. "Triends, don't grieve,
for me. My house is in Heeven, a
better place than this. Do right and
Join the church Then seeing col
ored acquaintance, he cried out; "Oh !
Johnnie, you don't know what a good
thing it is to feel the love of God" To
the Sheriff he said Don't put the rope
30 tight, l want to talk little"
He repeated "tbe Lord is my Shep-
herd" after the colored minister, and
again said, Good bye, gentleman, !
hope to meet you all in heaven. Good
bye, | hope you will all speak to me"
to which the cro-d answered good
bve," when the prisoner said thank
the Lord for that; that pleases me"
As the poor wretch was sayipg, "Oh
Lord, have mercy on me ere 1"-the
Sheriff, in low tone, said something
to him. to which he replied, 81 won't
confess nothing"
Then he commenced making ramb
ling speech, but the white-cap was
drawn over his face. and the Sheriff
lett him standing alone, and stepping
down, placed his foot on the chisel
which served the rope, aud the drop
fell at l2:48