Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-26
tached to side beam Of the sallows. The rope

the prisoners consisted Of sack and pants Of black
| sack cloth, made by Andrew Evans of Rockland
cap of the same material was made in bag form,
to draw down over the head and face previous to
the execution, fastened around the neck by cord
1t the design to clothe the prisoners just be-
fore taking them TO the scafold. This duty was
Ito be performed by Deputy Warden Rice. From
the cells they would go directly to the gallows all
the religious services being held in the cells, Rev.
j. X. Mason officiating, the other clergymen in
the place having been there but short time, and
being unacquainted with the prisoners, were not
present.
At ten o'clock Rev. Mr.. Mason called upon
Wagner to hold his las. interview and offer the
last prayer. He was in n tender, subducd spirit,
but did not show much pentence. The chaplain
engaged in earnest prayer, and bid farewell to
Wagner. Passing on to Gordon's cell, to engage
IN like service, he found the prisoner lying on his
bed, with blood about the mouth and apparently
conscious. He spoke to him, felt Of his pulse and
tried to arouse him from his condition Of stupor,
supposing that the excitement of the past few
days might have eliminated in an epileptic fit
But he was unable to arouse him, and thinking
that something serious and perhaps fatal had
taken place, he called Surgeons Levensaler and
Hitchcock to make examination. This they
did and found that Gordon had stabbed himself in
the breast with a knife and was bleeding pro-
fusely. The persons to witness the execution
lad gathered in the guard room, and the War
den's office, and the news that soon spread that
Gordon had committed suicide gave an additional
tragic character to the already sufficiently sad
scene about to be enacted. The report spread
that he was sinking fast, ard would not probably
live to the hour assigned for the execution. The
physicians entered the CELL and stripping the
clothes from Gordon, they saw bloody knife
lying by his side, and the clothes saturated with
blood, the patient wholly unconscious. Cor
seventh ribs, three inches below the nipple, and
three inches left Of the sternum. The instrument
used was the blade of an old shoe knife, such as
is used in the shoemake,'s shop A large number
of the same kind may be found there now. 1t
was worn to point, and made very sharp, and a
rag was bound around the bottom of the blade,
forming a sort of handle. Various coDjectures
were made as to how the knife came in the prison
er's hands, some asserting that he
must have secreted it about him
while employed in the shoe shop some
time since, and others that it might have been left
in his hands by his relative, the son of Raymond
S. Rich, who called upon him last evening. Rich
was friend and playmate of Gordons. When
Gordon was taken up a week ago and placed in
his cell to await execution, his clothing was
stripped from him. and he was carefully searched,
was also his cell, but no implement of any kind,
or anything from which one could be constructed,
was found 1t was quite evident that the blade
was thrown into the cell from the floor below, by
one of the prisoners Or walters.
Besides this wound which Frustrated Gordon,
several cuts were found on one Of his limbs. IIav
ing failed to sever one of the arteries there, he
made plunge for his heart, but struck outward
towards the side, and too low instead ofinwardly.
A few weeks since Gordon was detected in max
ing an instrument in the shape of a lancet, with
which he probably intended to commit suicide
No one, we have limited, was in the cell
with him at the time, but the sentinel passed by
his door frequently. The Deputy War
den had assisted Wagner in assuming his black
suit, and was following Mr.. Mason to the cell OF
Gordon for the purpose of assisting him to dress,
so the deed must have been committed about
twenty minutes to eleven o'clock.
At eleven o'clock the official care of the prison
ers was turned over by Warden Rice to Sheriff
Torrey, who at once with assistants proceeded to
the cell of Wagner, where portion of the death
warrant was read.
The death warrant Is a large, mournful looking
document, 20 by % inches, having black border
ing, and black seal, looking as deathly as any
thing can on paper. 1t i, addressed to Sheriff
Torrey. 1t rectes the crime for which the prs-
oner stands convicted of murder in the first de
gree, and the finding and sentence of the court
The Sheriff is required to fail not ON his peril to
inhict the sentence provided, and make return to
the Secretary Of States Office of the warrant and
his doings thereon. On the back of the warran,
Sheriff Torrey will make his certificate that the
sentence has been executed as directed The
warrants are similar, with the exception of the
name of convict and statement of crime. Attached
to each are the reprieves that have been issued
The warrants are signed by the Governor and
Secretary of State.
Wagner recognized among the assistants, Jo-
seph Sanborn, and said, referring to his black suit
of clothes, IL suppose am in my grave clothess'
Mr.. Sanborn replied that he supposed he was
Wagner continued, ut is q hard thing to die up.
on the gallows.' 1t was suggested that he woult
die happier and easier if he was innocent, as he
claimed he was. eyes" he replied, "but have
mother" and she'd tears. Turning to two other.
be asked "Are these the men that are to hang US ?
At quarter to eleven o'clock. Wagner was led
from his cell by the Sheriff accompanied by hi:
deputies. He appeared cheerful and undisturbed
and although tears were in his eyes, his face
| beamed with smiles. In descending the frs
! fight of steps he showed slight weakness of the
| limbs, and tripped once twice. But this wa
! the only weakness exhibited on his Fart. Across
| the guard room, down another flight, and still
another, and yet another, marched the solemn
procession, till the gallows was reached. Wagne
stepped upon the drop without any assistance, anC
turning his face to the eastward, looked up to thu
sun for the last time. While the officer was put
F.! ting the rope about his neck, he asked Wagner i
| the rope was adjusted right. Wagner jestingly
said 81 don't know, l was never hung before
| Perhaps you have" He looked towards Deput,
| Warden Rice, and said in clear, ringing voice