The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-08-22

received their charge and retired to
consider a verdict. Returning in fif-
teen minutes, their foreman read the
finding, which was "guilty," without
qualification, as to all accused. As
Stunning the usual sable robes, Judge
Beattie impressively pronounced sem
tence of death upon John Ross, James
Williams, Jas. Robertson, Anderson
Perry and Antoine Maurice, and the
doomed men were led away to prison,
where they have since lain, in an iron
cage, closely guarded night and day
by volunteer guard of armed men
under the direction of the indefatiga-
BILE Sheriff, Mr.. E. P. Helluin. On the
LIST of August Gov. Kellogg signed
the death warrants, designating Fri
day, August 2lst, between the hours
of 9 A. NJ. and ~ NJ. as the time for
the execution to take place.
ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
A short time since Robertson adj
dressed a communication, through his
counsel, to the Governor, asserting
that he knew of a mine of mineral
wealth, within the borders of LOuisi-
ana, and offering to lead party to it,
consenting to go handcuffed and pin
Toned, as he neither hoped for pardon
nor wished to escape. His request
was not granted, and the improbable
tale generally disbelieved. Tuesday
evening last, Robertson, who had by
some means obtained possession of a
file, succeeded in severing one of the
bars of the iron cage, and he and his
companions emerged into the hallway
of the prison, where they cried def
ance to the guards and refused to re-
turn to the cage, declaring they want
ed to be shot. A guard who essayed
to search Robertson received such a
violent blow in the breast from the
desperate that he has been expecto-
rating blood ever since. The Sheriff
was determined the gallows should
not be cheated of its prey, and gave
the insurrectionists so to understand,
threatening to MAIN but not kill them
unless they Immediately returned to
the cage. This produced the desired
effect, and to prevent another demon
stration of the kind, the fellows were
placed in stocks. Since this episode
the condemned men have been very
quiet and seemed to become more re-
signed to their fate as the terrible
day approached. They were visited
daily By the Rev. Father N. Orfe,
who converted them all to belief in
the Catholic faith, and buoyed them
up by his teachings to meet their ig
nominious death with filmness.
ON THE GALLONS.
Friday, August 21st, came on apaee,
and from early dawn the people of
the surrounding country began flock
ing into Napoleonville, and a steady
stream of humanity poured towards
the prison yard until the hour of the
execution, when fully five thousand
souls were assembled within view of
the gallows-tree. A guard number
ing nearly five hundred armed men
was placed around the courtyard in
such manner as to prevent the spec
tators from crowding near the Jail,
alongside which the eminous struct-
ure stood from which FIVE guilty souls
were shortly to be launched into eter-
nifty. From the top beam of the sub
stantially built gallows dangled five
ropes, each with the peculiar hang
mans noosen at the lower end, and
all eyes turned toward these when. at
a few minutes before 10 o'clock,
tall man enveloped in black cloak,
tied about the waist with red sash,
and mask over his face, appeared
upon the platform and soaped the
nooses in readiness for the execution.
At 10 sharp John Ross was led from
the Jail door, and ascending the scat
fold with a firm step, took up his po-
sition under the right hand moose, and
bowling pleasantly to the multitude
exclaimed in loud, clear voice,
!" How dye do, nay friends, one and
ALL" He was splendidly built mu-
latte, slightly above the medium
height, with a very broad, full chest, |
large limbs and head, low forehead |