The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-24

E,,crrENsFDSr IN THE yILLAGE-VIsIT TO THE
CoNDEMNED-HE TAKES NO PART IN RE
IIGIOUs SERVICES = THE SCENE AT THE
sCAFFOLD.
IBy Telegraph to the Sentinel.
EFFINeHAM, I'LL, June lS.-This afternoon
at . O'Clock, Nathan Burgess was hanged by
the neck until he was dead, dead, dead. in
the yard of the county, Jail. The quiet little
town was filed with people from different
parts of the state, as well as from al parts OF
the couuty. While it is true that none,
comparatively, OF the large number as
senbled had any thought OF getting view
of the hanging, yet the vicinity of the JAIL
was crowded from early in the
morning until q long time after Burgess
was cut down, and the body taken
away. The entire county seemed to DO I'M
bued with a wonderful amount of morbid
curiosity which could hardly be satisfied.
The small boy partially forgot the lesson OF
the day in the financial success consequent
on selling pictures of the condemned man,
and extras of the local newspapers, gotten
cut for the OCCASION, as startling bit of en-
terprise. Even while it was known that
the condemned man was stepping on the
fatal trap, the boys were reaping harvest
of ten cent pieces by the sale of pictures.
At half past 9this morning, when Sentinel
reporter visited the condemned man he vas
found in his cell in company with Sheriff
Jennings, Of Fsyette county, of which Van
dalis. where the murder was perpetrateo. is
the county seat, and Mr.. Reinhert, the muir
derer's attorney, Burgess was
LOOSELY DRESSED,
and seemed to feel the reliet OF having his
letters removed, which was done the night
before, having been kept in chains for some
time past. He did not have on any shoes,
and had not as yet put on the clothing in
which he was to be hung. He was disposed
to converse freely, and for quite awhile en-
Gagged his attorney in corner of the cell,
detailing his personal affairs and giving di-
REGIONS as TO the disposal there
of. He informed your representative
that he had slept from O'Clock to 8,
o'colck. The rest of the night, he said, he
passed in meditation. He was not much
worked up by being sleepless, but, to the
contrary, seemed in perfect repose, as he
lay in his bunk and thought over his past
life. He ate few mouthluls at breakfast,
and was confident that pardon would come
from the governor. His attorneys, who had
b en- to see Governor Beveridge the day:be-
fore, reported that his excellency would not
listen TO any arguments in his case. Never
theless, the poor man maintained that
there was room for hope. He did
not seem to have any capability of
fine feeling, but made one think by
his manner that his conviction was all the
result of conspiracy. BE expressed him
self as being satisfied with the efforts OF his
counsel for his life, Two Of bis witnesses,
he said, were absent at the time Of the trial,
and if they had been present hecould easily
have
PROVED AN ALIBI.
He had no idea who the person was tina
committed the murder. As for him, he was
not rear the locality at the time and knew
nothing about it until his arrest. Four
ministers came. in to see him, and
remained some time praying for and con-
versing with him. He reverentially bowed
his head while a prayer was offered. but
would say nothing to show that he had &C
copied the promises contained in the good
book The ministers were the Rev. MIR.
Pollock OF the Presbyterian Church, the
Rev. Mr.. Mentally of the Southern Methodist,
the Rev. Mr.. Perkins of the Baptist, and the
Rev. J. n. Lapham of the Methodist. They
returned at noon and remained with him
until the execution. Several days ago q
Catholic priest called on him, but he refused
to see him, saving that he would see only
ministers of the Protestant church. At
dinner he ate bite or two OF bread and
drank a little water, and then ar
rayed himself in a new black suit of
new shoes, black necktie and
black SLOUGH hat. AT 1:15 the doors of the
jail were opened for all who had tickets:
Your representatives. ticket read as fol-
lows:
Admit correspondent OF the Sentinel to the
execution of Nathan Burgess at bingham,
June Is, 1875, between the hours of1O o'clock
A. NJ. and 4 Pm. VIM. G. BATY, Sheriff.
Passing through the Jail we entered the
enclosure, and about forty persons, that be-
ing the number admitted, involuntary
shuddered at the death dealing contrivance
It was then that even those who were
always willing to cry: "Hsng him. That
is what society demands" first felt that the
question of capital punishment was a pro
found one.
THE PLATFORM
was about twelve feet square, and about
seven rect from the ground. A large cross
beam ran overhead, about seven feet from
the platform, in the center of which was a
common augur hole, through which passed
the inch and quarter rope. This rope was
fastened at one end of the beam, and when
the moose on the other end hung sabout
right for mans head, there was at
least six feet of slack rope hang.
a slight weight to pull it through. Directly
4 80 A. A.