National Republican., 1873-11-29
THE GALLONS.
EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER YOUNG.

EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER YOUNG.
Ills Dying spsech-IIe Asserts His Iuno-
cence-His Story Of tho Anair-sceues
Ia and About the jail.
Tho gloomy surroundings Of the District jail
presented yesterday far more solemn appear
nncc than usual. The cloudy sky cast deepening
shadow on the old walls, and the iron-grated win
dows which guard the rooms had but little duty
10 perform n the checriess light crept In the
cheerless apartments. The north yard, with its
nigh brick walls and heavy gates, inciosed In lts
embrace an omlnous-iooking structure, an In
strument Of death, the outlines Of which rose In
terrible plainnosa against the deep, sombre sky.
The wind mournfniiy whistled through the pas
aages and corridors, a. II to add Its quota in
making up the attendant scenes In the traeedy
about TO be enacted. The jail off,cials each wore
quiet, subdued look. The warden sat in his
once q little nervous, but with determined
face, anxioualy awaiting the hour for the close
of the unpleasant business OF the day. The
deputies and guards seemed uneasy. Each mad
witnessed and assisted at executions on pre-
vious occasions, but the near approach OF the
hour which required OF them 20 stern duty
cansed them to
rospER AND Mediate.
A man in the enjoyment Of full physical power,
one who had Just crossed the threshold Of youth,
had been adjudged to die an lenominious death,
and they were to be the instrumental. All be-
liovsd him guilty, felt that the sentence was
Just, and yet when the time was so near at hand
they felt deep sympathy for the murderer.
This was the state Of affairs In the interior Of
the building. on the outside carry In the morn
ing crowd began 70 gather about the gates,
TO keep them in order, aud prevent their over
running the man on duty at the gates. Il was
repetition Of previous scenes. The terrible fas-
snaSn ever the mystery oi aessa
that but few cards OF admission would be given,
and yet long before the hour named for the ex.
ecution the ,hrons composed 81 l. all Nc ciasses ,s =.
sorted TO every species OF appeal and artince 10
secure sight Of the dea,h of a fellow-creature.
While all this was going on
TnE CENTRAL FIGURE or ruE DRAMA,
the condemned murderer, Young. sat with his
spiritual friends In the main room Of the build
ing. lie had made up his mind TO meet death
calmly, and relying on the assurances OF the
priests he had persuaded himself that when his
heart ceased to throb, when the hangmans rope
had done Its duty, he would awake In heaven,hls
sins forgiven, and as human Justice was about
TO exact Its severcst penalty divine mercy would
greet him In the great hereafter and envelop
him IN a mantle OF spotless purity. Through
the long hours OF the previous night-hls last
on eartn-he had kept faithful yiel,and indulged
In prayer. II may have been that the phantom
OF the murdered man stood by his side within
the narrow cell and chased sleep from his eye
lids, but certain II Is that his audible entreaucs
TO God broke the stiffness OF the jail all through
the night and not until the gray streaks Of morn
ing showed In the East did he sink into slumber,
and then only for n short time.
His preparations for death were simple. The
iron shackies which had since his conviction
bound his legs were cut on, a bath taken and
clean clothing put on, then from the cell TO the
heartily VENT enjoyed. Then came a season Of deso,
tional exercises, and then request that he be
allowed TO bid
GOODBYE TO HIS FEIIow-rHisoSKRs.
In company with the warden he made the sol.
emn round, shaking hands with each, and be-
slowing religious advice, assuring them OF his
perfect faith In the forgiveness OF his sins.
BACK then again TO the room, and prayer fol
lowed prayer as the hour Of his death rapidly
The warden. as required by law, interrupted
this proceeding. and in q voice tremulous viii
feeling read
THE FATAL DEATH WARRANT
and asked, care you prepared to go to the place
SYes. sIr." Kindly expressed ore ' wish Ss"I ior M:
future welfare was uttered BY the warden and
then the guards pnioned his arms. A process
sion was formed and headed ey ,1s Sown wnrdsn s vii,
steps and ont into the inclosure. sudden still
ness came over the crowd. They felt they were
IN the presence Of death. A shudder passed as
u by magic through them. Up the steps OF the
scaifold the party went and the condemned man
swept his eye over the spectators. A hymn was
lined out and sung. prayer offered, and then
Young stepped forward and In clear voice made
the following remarks:
uIs LAST SPEECH.
Ny dear friends: All Of US have got to die, and
you had better prepare. for now Is the time
while the Saviour stands ready to receive you
by and by you will no more hear his voice.
hat ha Ia at wit heal n arul
to receive me, and you eau have the same love
that md. You had better come. Prepare to
70 and meet me In heaven, where hope to SET
lonesome dungeon prayed and fought for true
faith. am now going home to dwell forever
more. Take warning by me. Az times triet
10 be better man, but I did not go at II in tht
right way. want you all TO take warning from
me. Some of you will go ont from this yard with
g,od resolutions; carry them out lest you fall u
hope is in Jesus, and am leaning right on him
that Is my rock. ] thank God ] am going home
to dwell forevemore. lwant to meet you al
there.
Having finished speaking. one OF the guards
stepped up 10 him as II about TO adjust the rope
around his neck, when voice in the gathering
cried out,
"ARR yor GUILTY or NOT GUILTY."
TO this question Young made no reply. itwa'
The rope was then adjusted, the black car
'lrawn over his face, and while the minister was
still praying the signal was given, the drop fell
and the body dangled In the air, Three or foul
rOnvulsiye movements of the body, quiver and
shrug OF the shoulders, and justice was salts
He'd. Young was dead.
The usual medical examination was made, tn,
crowd passed out In an orderly manner, the re
uuired certificate was gwen by the surgeon, tn,
body turned over TO his friends, and the drami
was ended.
PROTEST OF INNOCENCE.
In conversation with reporters Yesterday
gave the following statement OF the affair: .I
had been at Wallace's, playing cards, and when
was about leaving met Dave and Josh Haney
and ! asked what they were doing. one said
they were waiting for man to come from Bal
tinore who hac pocketful of rocks. and
Know WI that % h: has money, audi and tney answered @ red
that they had driven the cattle up for him
and when he paid them he showed pile Of
yreenbacks. They said that II he was not
drunk enough they could get him TO drink more,
and they could then get his money. They asked
me TO 20 with them, and they would .divy'
and Potomac depot @ and waited until int a The train
came In, and this man (Hahn) got on, when the
Haneys spoke to hun and he spoke - II he knew
10 no too close to them, % and followed II" some az.
tance. They went up Sixth street to the Avenue
and then to seventh. josh Haney and Hahn went
~ shS ras
er's, at the corner Of u street.) i went across
the street and stood near the corner Of the mar
ket, and when Hahn came out josh Haney start
ed towards the lot, Dave joining them as they
passed. l walked on and crossed over to the
east side Of Seventh street rs they went into the
lot with Hahn, and was about twenty or thirty
yards from them. When they got into the lot
Josh raised q stick he had and struck Hahn on
the head, and ], not knowing that they intended
70 beat HIN, sung out Don't hit him. About
the same time the man hallooeh 'Oh 2 and Dave
hit him with the slung shot, and both Of
them followed up the blows. Josh Kicked
the money They went TO the gasliRht near the
corner OF the Smithsonian, and josh produced
The 'swag-a pocketbook and another book-the
time book. They gave me $50. Dave said to
me, go on, you oughtn't to have that much;
and josh took out the check, and Dave and
didn't know what II was; but Josh said 1t was a
check, and the man at the end OF the Long
bridge would tell them II II was good or not. We