Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-01-24
THE GALILoCSwSs.. /.
The Execution Of William Dennis at
New Castle.

. "O 6AVC0tNOU OF WtItlGIU Oonui8 at
New Castle.
Outwardly, this morning. the streets of New
Castle presented no indication that anything un-
usual was about to occur within the limits OF the
town, or that human life was to be forfeited up-
on the gallows for the most heinous violation Of
the laws Of our State The streets retaining their
quiet appearance the usual large attendance upon
such occasions being prevented by the disaRreea |
ble weather ana thc announcement made by Sher- |
III Armstrong that the execution would be strict
ly private. ,.,
Today was the day Fixed upon by the law for
the execution of VIM. Dennis, col, for the com |
initial of a horrible outrage upon Mrs Mary |
Thompson, ON the night Of the 26th of March |
last The weather was disagreeabIe and dreary
in the extreme, the snow Of last evening being
followed this morning by a cold, drizzling rain.
Within the prison precincts were assembled the
Sheriff. prison officials, jury, physicians, and few
others, awaiting the hour for the fufllment of the
majesty of the law. As usual on such occasions,
the solemuity of the moment seemed to be felt by
all present, add each face wore look of serious
awe, while conversation was conducted in whis-
pers and subdued tones.
y The condemned man spent the morning hour
in his cell accompanied by his spiritual advisers
| Rev. VIM. Young and Isaac Green colored minis
tiers, Of New CASTLE who have been in constant
attendance upon him. Rev. Henry Colelazer, Of
| the NJ. E. Church, was also with him. In cOnver
sation with the press reporters, Dennis stated
that he had no confession to make other than the
4
1 and entirely eXOnerated MIR. John Thompson, the
husband OF the woman from any completely in
the affair lie said that he had made his peace
with God and was readyto meet death
few minutes after eleven O'Clock, the Sheriff.
Jury assembled in the corridor Of the jaiI and
preparations Tor the execution were begun. The
jury was composed Of the following gentlemen -
Jacob Richardson, foreman; +. z. Grubb Ed
mund Shaw, Joseph Pettitdemange, Chas. Green,
II Benz Nv. Davis, James Sweeten, o. II. Appleby,
Richard Allberger.
/ At twelve minutes past eleven, the prisoner was
brought out from his CELL and walked to the gal
lows, accompanied by Sheriff Armstrong, ex-Sher-
ifs Herbert and Richardson and Prison Wardens
? Herdman and Redipgs, lie was dressed in brown
cotton pants, and blue drilling jacket As hC
@ walked along the corridor Dennis sang a line ol
two OF q hymn, but Telapssd into silence as sOoI
Q as he stepped out into the yard. He walked uE
to the gallows with firm step, and stood quietly
e awaiting the completion OF the final preparations
Rev. Henry Colclazsr, offered fervent prayer
! duEing the delivery of which the prisoner stOoC
with his face upturued. his lips moving, if h
= was silently adding his sqnplicatiqna 20 thOs
= which wers thsp bsing ohsered fer him. At th
II bid Dennis a last adieu, and stepped back ShsF
IS III Armstrong then advanced, and assisted by ex
: lSherif Herbert, adjusted the pspe around tn
q neck OF the condemned man. Before placing tn
5 white cap over his head the Sheriff asked him
d ~ low tone, "Nol meet me in Heaven" The ca
was then drawn doWn, tho pFis0Aer placed upo
4 the trim and at Just nineteen minutes past eleye
- tito haichst In the hands Of Sheriff Armstrong a
y seended three times in quick succession, upon tf
y rope. the trap fell, and tho body of Wm. Denn
~ was dangling between heaven and earth.
e in Falling, however, the rape beOame displace,
~ the knot slipping aT0nHa t0the back OF The neC
ho and iualeaS pfith2 HcGk Rei9g bFOkeIs by d
IT. fall, th6 man literally AranSka u death. Fl
er four minutes after the fall, peanis srugslt
II convalsively, drawing up his legs and mOVir
.. =. his arms from one side 70 the other He COZ
~ tiGued to breath perceptbly for several minut
~ aaer his struggles ceased, aud it was TWEEN
on minutes from the time The drop fell, before
las pulse ceased 10 beat, and The physicians ID
bis Groves and Ferris, pFOnoanced life extent.
bat The galloWs upon which tia ekeeqtiOn "
lea the sapa upon which Clark was hung, and v
lon erected iHsAhe ifBtial place and manner. I
~ body will be inferred in the POtters Field, a
Inc request to bury il the cOloFed graveyard at n
81. Castle was refused for sIpssstiiiolls reasons.
veil Dennis had a mother living near Newport,
rho neither she or any OF his EeaIivss were pTes'
a at the execution. '0 -f e 't
in The affair was conducted throughout with p
the the Sheriff and bis assistants to say that the
the fortunate termination was not the result Of CO
'Sa- llessness, but was entirely unavoidable.
i've During his imprIsonment, uennis was decide
ntA lnoReomtRnnicatIYe cpd eYan this morning y
lily inclined to say but Very little. Last night
ssy Peqt almost We spt1e tilge ip singlRg sR4 pS
y this moFain6. He ate bis hFeakisst a. usual
iced not, for a moment, up to the time OF mis- exc
for ton, aid he lose his composuTe or exhibit
ave slightest fear at his near approaching end
e In was calm and composed to the last. Hf