The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-03-19

! McMerris, II. r. Carman, Peter Carroll,
Barney Dunnegan, Cal. Dawson, Isaac
| Lively, VIM. Y. Jeffrey, james Quinlan,
James NJ. Reynolds, Richard Whitaker,
August Martin, VIM. l.. Cooley, Robert
Dawson, ]. 5. Worthington, Thomas
! Archer, John &. Hanna, Corbin Onion,
Joseph Pyle, jas. Chamberlain, John Gross,
| VIM. II. Slagmcr, Jacob Larue and John
Magness.
Their services were not brought into
active requisition, however, as the best
order and decorum were observed during
| the whole Of the dreadful scene. Besides
q very small number of the citizens of the
town there were but few persons present
from the surrounding county.
THE PLACE OF EXECUTION.
The place of execution is on the Aims
house Farm, the property Of the county,
about mile and II half west of Bel Air
The ground is slightly elevated, and sur
rounded by . thin woods, none ofthe trees
however, being near enough to afford q
view Of the gallows from their tops. A
space 80 feet square was enclosed by O.
board fence 16 feet high. In this enclos-
ure a strong gallows was erected, the top
of the structure reaching to a level with
the fence. The platform was about eight
feet square, with the drop in the middle.
ARRIVAL AT THE GALLONS.
The route to the gallows was through
the Almshouse woods, and being but little
used it was extremely rough. Upon reach
ing the enclosure the prisoner was assisted
out, and walked firmly and resolutely into
the pen and up the steps to the platform.
Rev. David $. Baker, with Sheriff Jar
rett, Deputies Cairnes and Pyle, and Mr..
&. w. Richardson, Griffin's counsel, accom-
panied him upon the platform.
APPEARANCE OF THE PRISONER.
uiiiiin was short, thick-set negro, %
years old, and weighed about 11j pounds.
his complexion, rs he stood upon the
scatfold, was black, with an ashen hue,
caused from confinement. His head was
large and round, his neck very thick, the
muscles at the back standing out almost
beyond the back OF his head. He wore
gray trousers, his coat or jacket being con-
ceaied by the black gown. Upon his
head was well-worn gray SLOUGH hat,
without any band.
THE PRELIMINARIEs.
While the preliminaries were being ar.
ranged, Griffin leaned carelessy against
the scatfold railing, chewing tobacco and
calmly surveying the scene. He Joined
with the minister in singing the hymn,
Nearer my God, to Thee"
His voice was clear and strong, and en-
tirely free from emotion. After singing
the hymn, the ministe. made 81 fervent
appeal to God to have mercy upon the
condemned man, notwithstanding his great
crime. At the close of the prayer the
preacher babe the prisoner farewell. saving
to him, i'll a voice audible to all, "Joshua,
good bye; hope we will meet in a better
world" Griffin merely bowed and smiled,
but did not speak. Being asked by tic
Sheriff if he had anything to say TO the
crowd around, he again smiled and replied
in the negative lie told the preacher he
had said all he wanted to say.
Griffin acknowledged his guilt to his
counsel, Mr.. Richardson, as he stood with
him upon the gallows, alleging that he had
killed her because she wanted him killed.
He said he thought lie had struck her but
twice with club. lie told the minister
and others that he was ready to die. and
on the gallows when asked if he thought
he ought to be hung, he answered in the
affirmative.
THE FINAL PREPARATIONS
At five minutes after ten O'clock, Griffin
stepped upon the trap. His legs were
bound and the shroud let down, covering
his person entirely. The moose was adj.
justed about his neck by Deputy Sheriff
Calrnes, who also drew the black cap over
his face, and then babe him good bye.
His coffin, plain pine one stained like
walnut, was brought in before the final
M mn "a ~ ~ E,;4
ed ut it calmly nor did he betray the
the slightest emotion at any time while
the preliminary arrangements for his exc
cutOn were being made.
THE END.
Deputy Cairnes was the last to leave the
platform. AS he reached the top step, at
ten minutes after ten o'clock, the Sheriff
who was lower down on the steps. pull
ed the trigger, and the trap dropped. He
fell full five feet, and was left suspended by
the neck. He struggled violently for at least
ten minutes, making gurgling noise as of
suttocation, and even gasping at intervals.
Then his body became motionless.
EXAMINATION By PHYSICIANS.
The body was allowed to hang for TWEEN,
ty-tve minutes. when it was examined by
DR.. e. Hall Richardson, of Bel Air, who
pronounced him dead. After it had been
allowed to hang some minutes longer the
enclosure was cleared of all except the sur
geons, reporters for the press and few
others. The body was then drawn up to
the platform, and the corpse, vet warm,
laid across the trap door, which had been
raised for the purpose. A post mcrtem
examination was then made by DR.. ]. E.
At ;o1,n
University otMaryland School of Medicine,
Batim &c, assisted by DR.. A. S. Winches-
ter also Of Baltimore. 1t was found the
subjects neck had not been broken. The
body was cut open from the breast bone
down, and the intestines removed and
packed in IL vessel; the seal p was cut across
from ear to ear, and laid back before and
behind, displaying the skull, which was
sawed through, and the brain removed and
also packed. The skull was remarkably
thin. Its top was replaced the scalp was
pulled back and stitched the long Incl.
sion in the belly was stitched together, and
the body, which had been claimed by no
kindred, was placed in its coffin and buried
on the almshouse property. The brain
was afterwards weighed in Bel Air, and
its weight ascertained to be 40 ounces,
which is six ounces below the average
weight of the healthy brain of an adult
subject The vscera and brain were taken
to Baltimore for anatomical purposes.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
\ number of curious persons, failing to
procure passes admitting them within the
enclosure, cut peep holes in the fence with
their pocket knives. The Sheriff, howev-
er, seeing that the crowd was not large,
and to better preserve order, had the gate
opened, so as to admit all within the en-
slosure.
Among those who were present at the
execution were Mary A. Taylor and Hen
IA "a ihn hrI,t hnr nnI cinln,. e II,o