Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-28
EEKARh.iBLE PROPHECI ON THE
GALLOWS.

:. correspondent of the New York Herald, in
furnishing that paper an account of the recent ex
ecution of two persons at Greensburg in West
morelaud county Pennsylvania, makes the follow
ing statement concerning remarkable prophecy
made by person hung in that county in 1880 for
a crime which he declared himself to the last not
guilty. Singular, yet it is true, that though there
have been at least quarter of q hundred murders
committed in Westmnreland county since the
year 1880 no one of thu perpetrators has suf-
fered the extreme penalty. In this connection II
may not prove remiss to mention prophecy, SIN
gular in its character and remarkable for its full
ilment, made ON the scatfold on the occasion OF
the last execution in the county. This was Jo-
seph Evans, who was tried, convicted and execut-
ed for the murder of John Cissler by striking him
over the head with shovel. This occurred on the
last day of December, in the year 1929. Evans
was tried at the February term, 1880, of the Court
of Oyer and Terminer, and the jury, after being
out one hour, returned a verdict of murder in the
first degree. 1t appears Evans, Cissler ard two
other men, named Linsibiger and Ball, were all
fellow laborers the canal and occupied the
same shanty. A quarrel arose, and on the trial
the Witnesses, Ball and Linsibiger, swore that
Evans struck Cis.ler with shovel, from the effect
of which blow he died. An extraordinary part of
the trial was the charge of the judge. He eX-
planned the law, and commented upon the testi-
mony in snch q manner that 1t was impossible Tor
the Jury to do otherwise than render verdict OF
guilty unless they had disobeyed the virtual in
structions Of the Court. The Governor desigrat-
ed Tuesday, the 10Th of April, as the day upon
which Evans should be executed.
Cpon the margin of another world and with all
the horrors of death before him he asseyerated
that the testimony Of Ball and Lnsibiger false
and that the killing of Cissler was accidental. He
admitted that he had lived wicked life, and ad
vised all present to refrain from gambling, pro-
family and intemperance, and ascribed his prema-
ture and ignominious death TO his addiction to
these vices. lie then in the most solemn manner
stated that, he was to be hung fer crime which
he had never committed, NO other persons would
be executed in Wes.morlan county for period
of forty years and furthermore, that several wit
Gesses-names them-that had sworn falsely
against him could no. die natural death, the
Almighty knew Of their sin, and would not let
them die naturally. Singular as it may appear,
there has not been execution in the county since
that OF Evans forty four years ago, and, what
is still the more singular Of the witness he men
toned one was drowned, one was kicked by a
horse, and from the injuries received, died; one
was hung in Ohio for horse stealing, by a mob,
one was struck by lightning and killed, and the
last one was killed the old postage road stand
ing on or near a water tank, when train of cars
rolled him over and left the lfeess remains Of the
witness a round mass of human flesh. Those ar
rested and tried for murder have either been SEN
fenced TO various periods in the Penitentiary or
have escaped the horrors of the gibbet by swa-
lowing poision on the near approach of the fatal
day.
Many of the good people of Westmofland, hon
est, industrious farmers, remember the last words
of Evans on the scafod and wonder at the reason
of the verifcation of the wicked mans prophecy.