Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-11-21

spent by thu prisoner and his spiritual
advisers in the cell in religious CONVEX
sation, prayers, Bible reading and sing
ing, which latter could be heard through
the thick stone walls out in the street.
The sheriff did not take possession of
the Jail until ten a. NJ. Half an hour
afterwards the special depties, number
ing about sixty, of whom fourth were
correspondents, were admitted. There
were also twelve jurors, selected from
different parts OF the county in compli-
ance with law, as witnesses Of the exc
cution. The sheriff is not limited as
to the number of his special deputies.
Some forty muskets had been provided
for the occasion, but they were not used,
probably because so many deputies
were better acquainted with the pen,
which is mighticr than rusty muskel.
TIE SHERIFF AND TIE PRESS.
Sheriff Gill found he could not resist
the weapons of the correspondents, so
he gracefully surrendered, and made
them all deputies, and was kind enough
too, not to require them TO use any
other weapons than those to which they
had been accustomed. y separate apart
ment had been assigned to the jurors.
All the deputies were gathered in the
main vestibule, where the death war
rant, authorizing the execution, and or
dering it, was read by chief deputy
Major James f. McFarlan, who pledged
the deputies to the performance Of their
duties rexuired under the law by affirm
alton en- masse. Their duties as depu-
ties it seemed were simply to be specta-
tors. Among those present were three
of the Jurors who had convicted Udder-
zook of murder, also District Attorney
Wanger. The greatest decorum pre-
vailed among the assemblage.
TIE GALLONS, ETC.
AtIl o'clock Udderzook was notified
that the sheriff would be ready for him
between the hours Of 1l.3O and II
o'clock. The prisoner made no reply,
The Deputies and jurors at court, IN one
corner Of which the gallovs had been
erected. This court his only 60 by 20
feet, and is surrounded by high white
walls, with windows from the main
prison overlooking it. In the far cor
ner, under shelter of rough new pine
boards, was the gallows. Such aspect
men as it appeared was enough to shake
the faith OF the strongest III capital
punishment. 1t was hardly fit to hang
sheep-kiIing dog upon. The scatloId
had been used to hang thcregro George
Grant, two years ago, and the rope was
the same rs that used on the previous
occasion. 1t is not known where the
eallows was made, but some one sug-
@csted it may have come over i'll the
Nav Flower with our Puritan toreiath-
crs The instrument was IS l-2 feet
higli, ascended by seven creaky steps,
the platform being about p feet from
the ground. The rope was tied around
the cross-beam, and the drop was about
four feet. \ wooden chair, with the
back broken of, was on the platform
for the use of the condemned man.
Overhead, between thd'high walls, the
cold November clouds shut out the sun
LIGHT. and the atmosphere Of the court
was damp and chilling.
APPEARANCE or TIE PRISONER.
At five minutes past twalye o'clock
Uddcrzooli appeared from the prison
door, and passed between the lines OF
jurors and deputies. lie appeared to be
a man Of FIVE feet len inches in height,
one hundred and eighty pounds weight.
He was bareheadcd, and wore black
frock coat, dark pants and vest, white
shirt, black necktic or bow, black leather
slippers, showing white socks. His
clothing was neat, and he had button
hole favor, sent him by Mrs, Harris,
the wife of one of his spiritual advisers.
He seemed to be in full, robust health,
and bore himself bravely, without bra
vado or defiance. His hair, which was
tIich and carefully combed. appeared
almost red, and he wore only mus
tache on his face; bat the mustache was
LARGE and full and prominent feature
by color and size. His complexion was
clear. and cheeks rosy with health or
flushed with excitement. Udderzook
walked between Sheriff Gill and Rev.
Mr.. Evans. Deputy Sheriff Mcfarlan
and the other two clergymen followed.
The prisoner carried his head in an easy,
natural way, and his whole appearance
and bearing were striking; his step was
firm and he mounted the scaffold without
taltering.
on TIE SCAFFoiD.
Before leaving the cell he had care
fully brushed his clothing, and with his
own hand pinned the little bunch Of
of flowers to the laphel of his coat. His.
hand was firm while he did it, and no
sion of nervousness was exhibited mp to
the moment of his appearance among
those who were to witness his death,
nor even after he had ascended to the
platform. Even then he was calm and
collected as he sat for second on the
stool. Rev. Mr.. Best offered prayer,
in which the prisoner at times followed,
repeat the words uttered audibly. All
three of the clergymen and the sheriff
were on the platform, which was barely
enough to hold them. The deputy
sheriff stood on the steps. Rising from
the prayer, which, which was very brief,
Undertook cast his eye up to the cross
beam where the rope was triced up
ready for duty. Perspiration covered