Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-13

nv llC ttilJ SOJii 'ue plty YOU. III LID
name who has pardOned me, to lead such a
life that you will be prepared to meet your
God with jov and not with fear.'' Only
too devotedly yours.
VIM. H. MCCoTTER.
THE EXECUTION.
McCotter took his breakfast at O'Clock.
The meal was simply of coffee and bread
and butter, of which he ate sparingly. The
unfortunate man from that time forth
spent the time in praying and listening to
religious consolation.
At one time he prayed loudly enough to
be heard in the street near the jail. AT
abount eleven A. NJ, he began to dress for
the last act in the dreadful drama. His
dress consisted Of a black cloth suit, his
overshoes and felt ha>, with gray shawl.
Revs. Messrs. Baker and Williams were in
his cell all the time, preparing him spiritr-
ally for the ordeal.
FIRMNESS OF THE PRISONER.
McCotter maintained his firmness through
out. In the cell, while expecting the sher
iff in to tie him, he sat quietly, as if medi-
Eating. Whisky was offered him, but he
declined it. He laid his head on the breast
of Revs Messrs. Baker and Williams, Mr.
Muse, a lawyer, and deputy Dean, and
asked each to forgive and pray for him,
and meet him in heaven. He wanted Rev.
Mr.. Williams to read his short confession
on the scaffold for him, fearing. his own
strength to do it, but the minister said,
ono William, speak it out yourself, that is
best" and he did so.
DAVIS AND M'COTTER.
Before starting they told him to recollect
Davis, at Westminster, would die at the
same time, and let not his friends have it
1to say McCotter had shown less nerve. He
replied he would do his best. Religious fer
vor seemed to sustain his last hours He
asked the sheriff to tie his arms tightly
enough to prevent struggling, and give
him a long enough drop to cause death
the gallows Revs. Messrs. Baker and Will
liams led McCotter, his gray shawl con-
cealing his tied arms. Sheriff Hurlock and
Deputy Dean were on each side of the pris-
oner, and several Others followed close be-
hind. The ministers raised the hymn,
''Jesus, lover of my soul,' as soon as they
stepped from the Jail door. A few steps
further on McCotter joined in the singing,
continuing with short intermissions on his
part to the foot of the scaffold.
THE CROWD AND THE WOMEN.
He had expressed some dread of facing
the great crowd, which numbered about
twelve hundred, the great majority colored
and a good many women. Not very many
Cambridge people were present, but some
of them were women. None of his rela-
lions were in town. Many persons came
from Lakes district, in which the crime
was committed.
Nc Cotter's face, from his recent ablu-
lions, looked ruddy, with no paleness at any
time nor the slightest fear, only when MI.
Baker, having withdrawn to the steps as
the black cap was put on, again stepped up
and said ''Pray William" McCotter for a
moment seemed to be
GULPING DOWN soBs,
which could only be observed by those
close, and as the sheriff arranged the cap
McCotter said, 1T is too thin, | can see
through it, but it makes no difference, be
quick!'' as if his self-control was giving
away.
CONFESSION ON THE scAFFoLDs
After the prayer by Rev. Mr.. Baker,
McCotter cried out i'll loud voice II killed
Robert Insley: forgive everybody ON earth;
pray for me"
Rev. Mr.. Williams pronounced the ben
ediction. The black cap and moose were
adjusted. Mr.. Baker whispered, t'Pray,
William" and McCotter cried, in a loud |
voice, Lord have mercy On me'' Sever
al i'll the crowd responded ''Amen'' and |
''Lord grant it,"
THE DROP FELL.
A blow of the Ratchet cut the rope and |
the poor criminal fell and swung in mid /
air. After eight minutes the physicians |
oil no ,,111 leo and in, L.
was cut down dead The crowd quietly
dispersed.
TIE DYING STRUGGLE.
His death was very easy, the drop was six
ken. For minute his body did not move
then he tried to clutch his leg behind, and
70 draw up one arm. Drs. Bayley, Steele,
Houston, Bowdie and others, invited by
5he sheriff, were present lii eight min
ties they felt his pulse and thought he had |
)een dead g minute. The body was cut
Town afteen minutes after it's first suspen-
Jon. A few persons tainted one. stout
Itlzen, at the moment of the exc cution.
AFTER THE EXECUTION.
he rope, particularly the moose part, WAS
tut up, and small pieces carried away by
Aieoi VhCNOul6l , Idully dI6 peOplS ~
FOOD name. He was not a drinking man,
ind this murder was his tifst crime.
Execution Of Davis.
OF the execution Of Davis the Sun has
he following account:
AT 6P M Davis desired. that barber
night be Sent .or, and while he was being, t /
haved the folio wing !
TELEaRAPHIc CORRESPONDENCE
ook place. t4aNas handed dispatch from
'ol. MaQlsby,, his counsel, dated at Bar {
UNI S Hotel, Baltimore, as follows s'Did 6
on kill Abraham Lynn P" Davis very f s
DOLLY took a pencil from his pocket and
7rote in reply, II did" This he handed TO
he sheriff, and it WAS at once sent over c
he wires, Deputies. Pouder and Matthias i
pent the night with him. About midnight
E arose and occupied some time in Writing !
lree pages of What he said was the speech
e designed making from tho gallows, but
fter flushing and reading what he had
ritten ne in q somewhat pettish manner / O
ne the sheets OF paper into small pieces p