Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-05-07
BY TELEGRAPH.
Execution.


Sturevant, the triple murderer, was hanged
this morning in the county Jail yard. 10 the
last moment the doomed man maintained the
mposure and stability which had character
lied him throughout, and was apparently un-
moved by any conception OF The possible nor
rors of the future. The arrangements for the
execution were perfected, and from probes
Sional poiut of view il was complete success;
The old style OF scaffold, with lis platform and
drop, was discarded 10 this case. and the more
modern arrangement OF puileys and weights
was adopted, by which the body is Jerked INTO
the air by the momentum OF a falilng "eign'
attached to the other end of the rope. This
was the first occasion on which this instrument
had ever been used in this State. A large
number of sheriffs Of the different counties OF
the State were 10 attendance with view OF
witnessing the experiment. The prisoner took
farewell leave OF his wife and his child last
evening, since which time he has seen no Que
but the prison official He retired about half
past nine o clock and slept soundly and undls-
turbed uutil o clock this a. Ill. Owing to his
expressed determination to take his own lie
double guard had been put over him and his
every moment was under the sIrlctest suIyeli-
lance. AT halfpas, six . clock he breaktasted
with as much apparent East as though prepar--
ing for & mere pleasure "trip. He converse1
but little, ar:ayed himself 10 plain black
suit carefully brushed his hair, and at eight
O. clock had an air of one all ready and waltlng.
The Rev. Edward Hathaway, the prison chap
lain, was with him, but to all his efforts to turn
his attention to the subject OF moral aecouuta-
bility, repentance or spiritual salvation he made
the same reply, You know nothing more
than [ what remains 10 the future. AT y
@ clock the reporters and few others were ad-
mitted to the corridor of the Jail, and Sturte-
want was led out to ste to the last services
of the chaplain He seated himself directly 10
front, tilted back his chair, and With one hand
partially supporting his head, submitted to the
service more as necessary Ingredient OF the
execution than something In mercy AID KIND
ness for him.
PLYMOUTH, Mass, May The little knot
of twenty, who stood with uncovered heads
around the prisoner, each and all were more
affected than Sturtevant. The chaplain shook
hands with him and babe him farewell with
deep emotion. He alluded to the fact of their
irrecouciahle difference on religious topics, and
omitted any special exhortation. After read
ing the Scriptures and prayers, Mr.. Hath
away addressed the prisoner 10 general terms.
While feeling allusion was made to the
wife and children 5000 to be widow and
orphans not the slightest emotion was Vls'
| ible. His countenauce dehed scrutiny. At
| ten minutes of 10 o'clock all but the prison
officials We're excluded and the hnal prepara-
| ton was made The prisoners arms aud wrists
were piponed with strong leather straps aud
the black cap was placed upon his head, but
not drawo down over the face however.
| Promptly at 10 clock Sturcvaot Was led out
| to the scafod walking with firm step the
| fifty teet or more that separated him from
death. Stepping upon the platform, which
was but few inches FROM the ground, he faced
the crowd still without emotion. As the uooSe
was placed over his head he moved 1t to one
side as if anxious to expedite the business
The sheriff assistants quickly arranged the
prisoner aud to the inquiry whether he desired
70 saw ANYTHING, the prisoner pleasantly re-
nlied. "Nothlng whatever" The Sheriff then
read the warrant, aud shaking hands with the
prisoner. commended him to a nerctul Sa-
vior The straps we're then placed about his
ankles and knees, the cap drawn down, and lu-
stantly the Sheriff touched the spring and the
murderer was in u twiukling pulled into the
air. The body was j"rked up about five teet:
| The neck was not broken aud death eusued
from strangulatlon.
S,urteyant was convicted ofmurdering Fhos.
and simon Sturtevant, and Mary Buckley, an
| aged domestic, on the 18th Of February, 1874
| after a long trial 10 which circumstantal evil
dence played the most important part. The
| murdered men were relatives Of the condem-
| ned. who killed them to obtain large amount
| of money they possessed. The woman was fol-
lowed through the fields. and beaten to-death
| The triple tragedy was one of the bloodest IN
| the annals of crime.