The Republican journal., 1875-07-01


Maine, living in the peace OF the state,
must and shall be protected. This Is the
murderer's doom"
AT THE GALLONS.
Carving their unconscious burden, the |
officers moved down the path to the dread |
instrument of death, that stood erect and
grim as tate. Two collins lay under the
high PLATFORM As they carried their bur
den up the steps, Wagner was seen erect
and self possessed upon the platform. A
box was placed beside him, and upon this
Gordon was seated, supported by the at
PENDANTS Two cords Of half inch Manila
stuff, with loops at the end, hung from the
cross beam These had been stretched
and waxed until they We're slippery and
pliable. The ropes We're placed about
the necks Of the tanting Gordon and the
calm and self possessed Wagner The
nerve OF that man Wagner was wonder
full He nodded to acquaintance among
the prison officers, smiled at the dread
preparations and bowed his head to the
fatal moose as though he was receiving a
coronet. He was even iocose. incredible
as it may seem. Deputy Crosse, who was
adjusting the ropes, said to him, lis it
all right, Wagner" Il don't know" was
the reply, 81 Was nerer httag hct0rc I"
Then he remarked looking over the crowd,
This seems to be holiday for a good
many people 1t isn't much OF a holiday
tor me.n
The scene at this moment was one OF
thrilling and terrible interest. Two hui
man beings about to be launched into the
dread and unknown future, at the stern
= "a, If hn .,\I
firm in a dreadful duty, but one they had
sw orn to perform. The groups OF awcd
spectators. The sky OF a perfect summer
day arched over all The breeze laden
with the sounds and scents of June-thc
odor of flowers, the song Of birds. The
love of life seemed doubly strong at such
time-and yet these two beings stood
close on the verge of eternity,
LAST WORDS.
1t was now ten minutes to Il. Sheriff
Torrey asked Wagner if he had any thing
to say. lie looked coolly around, hesitated
moment, and spoke-''i have told the
true story at my trial 1t will be found
to be true some time. God will help me
| believe in him. That is all
THE DEATH.
The black caps were drawn over their
faces, Sheriff Torrey pressed with his loot
the spring, the trap fell with clatter OF
iron - the men shot downward, stopped
with 4 sudden Jerk at the end OF the rope,
swaycd slightly to and fro, and turned
slow " around with the untWlstlng OF the
ropes The strongest ncryed men among
the spectators werovisibly affected. Some
aycrted their ewes and walked away There
was profound Stiffness, as the black figures
at the end Of the ropes, covered by the hide
Gus caps, swayed to and fro. After hang
inc about twenty minutes the medical men
pronounced them dead, and they W ere low
cred into their collins. Or examination
Wagner's neck was found to be broken,
but Gordon7s was not.
THE OFFICERS.
1t is proper to say here that the eNecu-
ton and all details connected Herewith
We're attended to with al! consideration
consistent with duty The reporters are
under obligations to Warden Rice and
Sheriff Torrey for their courtesy. The
Sherilf's Deputies present were G.. X.
Morton, Union; Isaac Carkin, Appleton
Thos. b. Crosse, Rockport; Joseph San
born, Ninalhavcn The following We're
the Shertl''s witnesses: Harley Mills, A.
Watts, John Rose j. Peabody, Thomas
ton; W. d. Carleton, JOS Stetson, VIM
Stetson, Camden; Armander Daggett,
Cornelius McGee, f. H. Oberton, Rock
land; Seth Patterson, Wiscasset. Among
the physicians present in addition to those
named, were DIR. }. c. Parker, Lebanon
DR.. Z, A. Thompson. Dover; DIR. b. Por-
ter, Newport; DR.. Paine, Camden; DR..
Savage, Wiscasset
TIE BODIES
Gordon had written letter to Mr. S ii
Rich, son Of Raymond 5. Rich, of Thorn
dixie, requesting him to be present and
take charge of his body after death. Mr.
Rich and his brother r. T.. Rich came to
Thomaston for the purpose, and had an
interview with Gordon at the Warden's
office on Thursday night. They We're both
schoolmates Of Gordon's During the in
terview John talked mostly about the in
Justice of his conviction, and told over and
over again the absurd story about the myth
Charles W, Greene The body Of Gordon
arrived in Belfast by the steamer Richmond
on Saturday. lie requested to be buried
in the orchard near the house, but that
request was not complied with. He was
buried in the cemetery south of the rail
road station-not the one in which his VIC
Tins rest The body, in charge Of the
brothers Rich, was taken to Thorndikc
Station on the morning train of Saturday.
The box containing the coffin was placed
in 4 building near the Station where it
remained until taken to the cemetery
About one O'Clock the funeral services
We're held by Rev. Mr.. Moment, of Free
dom. Gordon's father mother, brother
Joseph, and one of Almon's children were
present The coffin was opened, and n
view of the body afforded to all who de-
sired it,
GOEDONS LETTERS.
Gordon left a number Of letters.-o
for his father, one for his mother, one for
his brother Joseph, one for the two little
boys Of his murdered brother Almon He
made no confession by letter or otherwise.
The letter to his father is perhaps the most
interesting. and is in many respects like
the rest. We give it below
My Dear Father: AS | cannot see YOU, |
will write a few lines tor YOU to read, and as
this being my last letter TO you hope that it
may benefit you in the WAY it is intended
me, ever impressing on my mind good, sound,
moral, worldly principles, never refusing to
grant any request of mine, whenever you have
thought it was beneficial TO my interests |
can look back over my past life, and see where
have done wrong, by not needing your good
advice. Dear father, wherein | have ever
Wronged you | earnestly ask your full forgive
ness: have often recalled the many happy
childhood days | have spent walking in the
fields and woods with yOu and my dear brother
Almon. Oft do | remember the family circle
of our once loved and happy, but now sad and
desolate home. Oh, how often has a PRAYER
been offered up to our Savior in that then hap
Ply home in behalf Of each ami every member
of that family circle.
Father, your house hls been made sad hy the
Wickedness of those who have escaped the law
was innocent but could not prove myself SO.
And it seems that Coy. Dingley dare not give
me time, for fear that my innocence will prove
itself.
Dear father, when the death angel lowered
around the body of dear brother Almon, | was
innoccntly and calmly sleeping in my bed the
sleep Of one that had resolved to lead a true
,,ll e, Ia