Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-22
LOUISIANA.
A Wholesale Hanging.
Five Murderers sv,nr ,n,o r,s,n,,


Five Mnrderers Swing into Eternity
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 2l.-Andcrsol
Perry, John Ross, Antoine Maurice. Jane
Williams and John Robertson. associate
in the murder of Elisha Eastwood. an oil,
hat-boHman, on the 25th Of April last. wen
hung to day at Napoleon, Assumption par
ish- On the night Of the murder East
wood flatbOat was moved opposite Grisa.
mers plantation, about twelve miles from
the BadeaUx, on Bayou Lafourche. Their,
We're on board with him. hi,
wife and a negro woman. Abou
| O'Clock in the morning, three of the men
above named appeared on the bank, anC
| after calling TO Eastwood, went on board
They were armed with clubs and instantly
Knocked Eastwood down and assaulted the
women, but one Of them managed to es.
cape and gave the alarm. The men were
soon after arrested and tried at the special
term of the Fifteenth Judicial Court. As.
sumption Parish, ON the 18th dEy of JULY
and convicted. Gov. kellogg signed their
death warrants Aug. 1. To-day the SEN
tence Of tine court was carried cut.
The condemned mer never gave nm
hope. Their theRghts seemed 10 linger
more on this than on their coming fate.
Ihey implored continuously for pardons,
and beggedevery visitor to interfere In their
behalf. Father Orfe, their spiritual ad-
visor, talked with them often, irving in
every manner to soften their hearts 10 the
hard realities of their fate. Two only of
the prisoners, Robertson and Maurice. were
Catholics, but the Others seemed to take
equal interest and pleasure in listening to
Father Orfie.s adyices and consolation.
Ross, the boldest of them all, became
penitent, yet seemed to maintain some
manliness. He confessed the greatness. the
awfulneSs of his crime, and was ready and
willing, seemingly, to eypiate it on the
gallOws. The others, however, crawled
around abjectly on their hands and knees.
and sued almost continually in the most
servile manner for pardon or a reprieve,
anything to escape the gallows.
The men were ever on the alert for an
escape. Great care and vigilance was OBJ
served, yet they obtained a file, and on
Tuesday last fled their way through the
thick iron cage in which they were con-
fined. This was but a Temporary escape.
The Jail was so well guarded that the pris-
Oners We're easily recaptUred.
From Tuesday until to-day the men were
kept in close confinement and much of the
time in the stocks. The severity of this
punishment seemed TO produce a beneficial
effect. All the prisoners became penitent
with the exception of Maurice. They also
became somewhat encouraged, and smoked
and chatted. Maurice remained by him
self in sullen silence, and seemed ever af-
flcted by some procession of evil sights be-
fore his eyes. He was always trembling.
cursing and moaning.
Thus they livedfin prison up to Friday
No one save the priest seemed
10 show them any sympathy. The gal
lows were erected at the side of the Jail
facing the public road. 1t consisted of
two upright posts with a hsam twenty feet
in length between them. The platform was
eight feet from the ground and gave away
at the slightest touch. This Friday morn
ing the people from the neigh
bOrhoOd of Napoleonville flOcked into town
to witness the disgusting spectacle. They
crowded around the BAYOU and around the
Jail and waited for the appearance of the
prisoners. At 10 O'Clock there were least
800 persons present, some mounted and
some on foot.
AT o'clock the Sheriff got the men ND
and dressed. They were marched ont on
he platform, and man after man arranged
in position, Ross first, then Williams, Rob
artson, (white,) Perry, Maurice, and the
moose attached to the neck of each. Rev.
Father Or6e mounted the platform and
the souls of the men to God, in
/ long and eloquent prayer. The Sheriff,
who was present on horseback. then read
"a ln1f I'm 4
lneTs to know if any of them wished to
speak.
Ross made a short speech. but did not
lllude to his criminality or innocence, but
pointed TO himself as an awful example
md bid his hearers beware of a similar
ate.
Williams, who was frightfully excited,
broke into a wild, violent, mad harangue
lboUt meeting his hearers in heaven where
here We're no judges, no Vim. p. Kelloggs to
murder and hang poor negroes. So violent
Y did he become excited that he fell away
n fit, and lay as if dead without moving
or ten minutes.
Maurice burst into loud, hySterical weep
ng, deploring his fate and at that late hour
lleading for mercy. Father Orfie then de-
5cended and the hangman took his place
disguised completely. He drew the black
zap over the heads Of the men, placed
Williams, who was still in half fainting
tate in a position, and then went down
ust as the trap fell and the poor wretches
lropped with a sudden jerk, only to be
pulled back again.
At the fall there was a universal start. |
some Of the women screamed and tainted. |
4 horse or two ran of, and the whole crowd |
The men struggled but short |
ime. Ross was dead in six minutes, and |
he others in five minutes. Soon after this |
ne crowd drifted away, and the bodies !
we're cut down. TLey were taken by the |
,rieSt tor burial.