The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-17

ssoAss ouO uo u8O no CHANCE LOI ImpT0vUUeQk 1911
crime was committed without forethought ana In
upon man against whom he hsd no cause q en-.
LAST AND FINAL APPHAz.
AZ baher nad been q faithful soldier TO the cause
crime, was honored on that account still BY his fe
low rS Si AZ II was hard that such soldier
SHOULD na Ge IN n such an nntimey and awu manner
cut on III tne very prime OF life. Such considera-
tons combined to urge upon those who ieit Ditv
for tue uniorsuiate man and kindly sorrow for his
utlve clemency: committee Of Respectable ana
influential gentlemen, representing this feeling, on
for Communication Of Bakers Sentence from
vain The Governor could sympathiHe uI ~ tb ~
kindly feeling which would mitigate this terrible
hardship. but his duty forbade q reversal OF his
former answer, and again he firmly but mildly
declined TO interfere with the execution OF the
law.
Is old In service being the same upon which q
noted criminal was executed about two years ago
Is located In small enclosure to the right of the
jail, in the yard, and is partially hid from the pub.
lie view. The cross beam rests on two posts about
sixteen feet high. and the drop is raised about
eight feet from the ground The latter is operated
either by drawing bolt or cutting rope when q
fall OF six feet Is allowed.
BAKER, THE CONVICT
was confined in an upper cell OF the Jail where
there was no fire, and the weather being bitterly
cold he suffered extreme physical as well Us men.
This morning ne could only parrake ola cup Of hot
coffee. he tried to sleep during the night, bat,
be the eor Was prasess IS. and lie
passed the weary hours pacing bis Cen the heavy
chains WIN which he was manacled cllnking dis
INTERVIEW IN HIS CELL.
This morning about ten O'Clock the HERALD cor.
CELL He was In state OF great mental depression
bordering almost upon insanity. While speaking
almost momentaruy by nervous Jerks and
starts. Though o desperate and bad man
he was pitiabe and SUi,,I miserable object
ae ,hs saa he had Ssn praYng
thought that though MS sentence was just before
death for the crime ne had committed. 1t was
committed while he was not In bis right mind, was
the result OF drinking liquor and was purely an ac-
cident.
present then kneeled on the outside OF the cell
band casped IN his through the bars the worthy
divine began to pray
HIS FAMILY.
When this was concluded the wife, mother, SIS
ters brothers and other relatives Of the condemned
man were admitted to take final farewell. Wife
their loving Breasts the ''f husband and SON
they now saw for. the last time. Sisters
sa% yoaHs oen %o were @
group we're crying piteously, making the scene In
ing ever witnessed. All, the Borrowing relatives
at a sign from the official In waiting, now took 9
iinal embrace, the females all crying loudly and
himself once more Baker seemed to become moro
tranquil His nerves were quoted; he was moro
resolute and manly effort TO control himself was
THE LAST SCENE.
At twelve midday deputy sheriff, two police
pose OF removing his manacles. This was no easy
task, as they were securely riveted The smith
remar Etq fry otsef vet nfp sawed
on that time myss and me my be
to be used, which, hurting him, he cried out,
"Don't strike SO hard; don't want to suffer two
the ja1ler's bracelets on his wrists being removed
at last, he asked the time, ana was told 1t was
hpa Nss h thu sep sa
another week in which to prepare to meet his
Maker and he hoped the answer would arrive in
he hung his head dejectedly, and calm despair
ettled on his dull features
Some one present then asked had "he thought of
his lamily9" Raising his head he replied "They
too must die, - and a heavy sigh escaped hum.
One O'Clock P. M. was nearly at hand and all the
meagre preparations for the death scene were
complete. A detail of the city police and Sherifrs
special posse were present to preserve order, and
O gaping crowd OF negroes surrounded the jail
yard, looking over the fence and peering In wher-
ever they could get glimpse OF the plank en-
closure around the scaaold, for this was al they
could see. Precisely at one O'Clock the Sheriff and
his deputies went to tho cell Of the condemned
man, and after removing large brown blanket
which hung over his shoulders he was conducted 20
the lower door OF the jail, through one Of the
windows of which he made mis- exit, and stepped
ON THE DROP.
He was dressed in O coffee colored coat Confed.
crate gray vest or undercOat, brown homespun
pants and black SLOUGH hat and rough boots all
OF them very dirty and hlhy, as was the condition
OF the whole Jail.
THE CROWD
in front of the scatfold stared, and pushed each
other to stare better, and Baker returned their
gaze. He was asked by the taller II he had any,
thing to say, 10 which he replied, "No; nave
SAID all that have to say" A clergyman present
then offered prayer, Baker kneeling after which,
in clear voice, he made OF himself a very lervent
and excellent appeal To Heaven, asking for forgive
ness and mercy. The rope being already over his
neck, 1t was thai-past one r. N.Y. adjusted after
fashion, the extreme end OF IL being tied round
the centre OF the crOss-beam. His arms were
plniOned. moment more and black hood was
drawn over mis- face, leaving the back OF the neck
exposed lew seconds later two heavy blows OF
SEVERED THE ROPE
and the drop fell, screeching as II it felt the
the agony OF It's then living victim. The body fell
scarcely TWO feet. The bungled moose slipped till
the knot came near the vertehra. Violent strug-
giles followed, the lower limbs and arms beng re-
peatedly drawn mp, lasting .Or several minutes.
ihe back OF the neck became terribly svonen and
discolored, the head being slightly inclined for
ward, and stranguatiOn was slowly doing ITS hor-
ribe work. Then, when the struggles had ceased,
several OF the spectators, some negroes among
them, came pressing forward eagerly, feeling the
pulse OF the strangled man with as much apparent
unconcern as IL the subject had been deaa brute,
instead OF human being.
EMULATION
was depicted on the face Of every negro, while the
little If any, sympathy. In twenty minutes life
was declared extinct, and, after hanging nall an
hour, the body was cut down, placed in an
painted pine coffin and turned over to the friends
OF the deceased for nterment.
Altogether this execution was conducted In as
COOL deliberate aud as commonplace manner aa
If such tragedies had been OF daily occurrence.
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