St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-09-11
ST. ,Sohnsburp Galedonian.
st. Iohnspury. VT. Friday. sept. II, 1874.
Fearful Gallows Scene.

Fearful Gallows Scene
Five Men Dropped from the same Death Trap.
\ READY IIANGMAN SrEECIIE, OP
TIE DYING MEN.
Monday morning. at Napolconville,
the parish of Assumptions, the murdercrs
of Elisha Eastwood paid the penalty of
their crime, and IN the presence OF almost
the entire male population of the parish
swung aloit II dreadful and never +"
he forgotten example of high rctrlbn-
ton and incNnrahlc law. \ more terri
bic or dreadful execution has never been
Witnessed in this state, or one i'll which
the unhappy victims left fewer mourn
rrS.
Thursday evening the writer visited
thcm for the first time. and found them
smoking cigars and chatting lightly on
thcir backs Their ankles were secured
I'm the stocks. and under them lay IL
wrclchcd quilt, while a miserable apol-
ogy for II pillow proppcd up then
heads. The most striking figure that
presented itself WAS that of james Rob
cIt~on. a. he lay recruitment on his quilt.
Il~ WAS Il man of gigantic stature. SAID
to hc six feet fnur i'll height. but his
body WAS moi built in ratio, being rlth-
cr sli"ht. His shoulders were square
and broad. and his entire appearance
hrtukcmcd man of tremendous muscle.
Iii, RIGHT L." WAS cut off from the knee.
bat the facts of its nmputatiolr he had
failed to disclose. His face was posi-
lively an unprcpoSScSSing one. Tia"
Enrchead reccdcd back To Il thin growth
of rather light hair, and his brow over
hung pair of peculiarly slrcWd look
iny eyes in an omimou> and di>agrreahlc
way. lie wore Il light growth of hair
under his chin aud on his lips. and his
nose was slightly hollow i'll the middle.
ON the whole. lie looked like man
whose acquaintance in life could he adj
vantagcniIsll dispensed with.
The next most rcmarkahl" person
WAS John Ross he WAS of medium
height, huge in structure, ana win an
ann of IIcIculcau muscle. He bore MS
fate hl;ivclv to the end, and the strong
Ii. - of character about his mouth m
Dictated Il man of no u>lla! nerve and
determinations He was Il mulhit", with
Il small growth of hall on his chm. ana
a rood talkcr To boot. His manner du-
ring the latter DAYS OF his confinement
was perfectly tranquil, III fact, cheerful
M times. and his bravery nStilied con
age int" his lucklcss mates.
TIE LAST HOURS.
Anderson Perry and James N'lliihS
were beth gifts, strongly rcS.m"',hg
each other even in build, cNcG'lllG 'iEi'
the latter was the ,allci q the two
Thns.. men all contemplated then ialr
wi,n much more hafdih."d than their
white companion, but intoin" Maurice
was the most dt jrct~i at the numher
IlcNa- Il dark gri1, with Il full >tHhhlc
otncald ON his ACE, and his left eye
hat closed. a. though from contact with
some instrument. He WAS too dcprcSN-
ed TO tali, and spent his time III vain
.dnuS I" htain sleep.
Al tue olurrd men had wives and
childch, Wn we're admitted INTO the
ml'iI the day preceding the execution,
"a the utmost lamcntHti0n cnsucd.
R"hcrtSnn nothing was known. he
eng an ultr stranger III the parish.
Maurice bore he reputation Of IL life
l"n% 'il'f. and the others were remark
able as iliagc .bulIics and thugs
Thursday th.y ate nothing. but drank
gratefully OF S''ur wine Furnished, them.
During the night hey slept none. but
tossed uncaSllN on he floor. now and
then engaging IN S"nr. diSj0inted and
melancholy conversation.
The guards had been d0ul,lcd around
the Jail and The utmost vigilance pre-
jailed. The gallowS stood at one side
of the prison, facing the high road and
the bayou. 1t WAS quite nn "ri"i""l
structure, and one altogether suggested
by the unrNlnplcd numbers ot the con
,rmned men, A huge beam ran some
eighteen feet from the ground, and WAS
supported on either side 10y il heavy
column of wood: about half way. az
nine feet from the ground, ran the plat
iuim, which WAS 81 constructed as Il"
form ot itself the trap. Tw" pieces OF
lumber supported it. and these pieces
Were, iuircd hv i small wedge. The
trap or plattnIr WAS dropped 10y strik-
ing ont this wedge.
HEFnRE TUE HANGING.
l;v iorcthought on the pant of the
sheriff. all the stores IN town were cauS-
cd to bc shut up. The people kept
pouring lit on e, cry imaginable vehicle
and mr:ius Of travel. and 10y about IL
O'Clock II" less ihan 5,Wn people were
assembled. The sheriff had 900 m"n
uu,icr arms. whom lac arranged in ln'c-.
placinu two lines ON either side of In"
The people, except such rs received
special pcrmi~Siom were thus kept from
approaching the gallow>: hut from their
positions ont side il full view of the ter
Iillr instrument of death was easily
obtained. The utmost order prevailed
anon" the people. and all spoke. even
fur the period of two hours, III low
whispers, rs though fearful OF disturb
ing the impressive quictncSS that reign
cd around. An immense number 81
colurcd women were there, who. t"I
the most part. brought their children
To Witness the spectacle. At ~ O'clock
TIL" han"mau appeared on the platform.
and commenced grcasing the ropes with
the skill of II praticioncr. His figure
was tall and lac was evidently white
man, aud speculation was rife us t" his
identity. He wore white skull cap
and black domino, and attached to IA
rude girdlc round his body was \ blood
red scarf His appearance WAS III keep
ing with all the terrible paraphrrnalia
about him. and of the two the gallows
was the more agreeable spectacle.
LED To DEATH.
At 9:l5 The appearance of the sheriff;
at the Jail door was the signal that the
condemned men were being led to exc
tion. The low chatter among the crowd
ceased. and all gazcd hrcathlessly at
the point of exit SCOT the sheriff led
the way up the steps of the scaff'old.
and John Ross followed close behind
him. walking with firm determined
gait. hut with no appearance whatever
of the hlava'l". The rest were led on