The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-23

with Weston and Thompson, who died
by strangulation without much auffcr
ing, apparently. Ellis, however. had
turned his head aside just MS tho ,ipnn
had been given, bringing the kun,
under his chin. and IL Was too late fer
the deputy to readjlst the moose. tn.
result WINS protracted agony for Fills
and u spectacle that must have satsUed
the most hardened Sixth Ward roneb
in the assembly. The moose only tight.
ened sufficiently to torture without ef.
fcctually choking the culprit, the strain
Of suspension being borne by the back
Of his neck, and his throat being onlv
slightly compressed He uttered n hor.
rible, gurgling cry, and struggled yio.
lently. The upright boards at his side
were within reach, and he kicked
against them with one of his united feet
Tint pushed him so far In the other dl.
rection that he touched Tompson's mo.
tionless body. AT once he threw his
legs around Thompson. clingipg with
desperation. Next he was able. by rea.
son Of the loose piuioning Of his arms
to rench the moose with one hand
Everybody seemed spcIl-bound with
horror Sheriff Connor and the depu.
ties stared ut the writhing BODY. and
hurried advice was offered, but nothing
done. Ellis continued his struggle
throwing his legs around Thompson
and clutchinR the rope ut his neck, for
u period that looked like five mtn,,tes
to the spectators, but really was min.
ute and half. In that time frequent
gurglings in his throat and stillcd cries
were tokens Of his awful suffering. Then
he lifted himself by u combined effort
to his feet and one hand 50 that he was
able to speak.
"Oh, God save me! save mor' no
shouted.
At last contortion made him. his own
cxecutioner, for, ~ he looked his hold
and slipped back 10 II tension Of the
rope, the moose slipped TO one side Of
his chin. and he was choltcd to death.
Thompson died IN six minutes, Weston
in seven, and Ellis in ten. AT the end
examined the bodies, MS they swung in
the wind, and pronunced life extinct
The corpses were lowered into the
rough boxes, and the spectators dis.
perscd. Then three hcafgeB were driven
into the yard, and the boxes were put
into neat, stained collins and carried
away.
ELLIS FUNERAL.
The bodies Of Weston and Thomson
were taken 10 Calvary Cemetery for
burial, aud Ellis 10 the chapel Of the
Five Points House of Industry, wherein
the Rev. Messrs. John T.. Betker. Brown
nnl j. A. Davis prayed, read passages
OF Scripture and sang. A paper, written
nj the dictation Of Ellis a few DAYS be.
fore his death, was read by Mr.. Davis,
In 1t Ellis says
i became acquainted with Weston
about one week before the murder or
The peddler. He laid the plot. and
thompson and myself were drawn into
The dreadful deed. / struck the first
blow, and Thompson broke his head
with u stone, Weston directing and urg-
ing US, saying, Don't let him holler;
lead men tell no tales" As soon IA the
spirit left the body OF the peddlcr, ! felt
had owned New York I would have
given 1t to buy back the departed spirit.
am young and would like to live, but
my crime h awful, and pray God that
Ill young people will shun wicked CON-
)any, and learn from my experience
never to follow tho advice Of wicked
ncn. God, for Christ's sake, humbly
rust, has pardoncd my great sin, and l
Orgive Weston and all who have done
nc wrong. | thank all who have been
tind to me. j rest SO comfortable that
when fold my arms TO sleep ut night l
cem just a5 II ! was ready TO go. 1t
eems that | see my crown already in
he hands Of the angels.
Ellis sister and his sweetheart lis
ened tearfully, and after the reading
he sister cried out, 20 God, forgive
liml"
Mr.. Davis said that Ellis had been
member Of the Colored Union MethO-
list Church in Thirtieth street; but
hat after his imprisonment In the
Combs the pastor and leading members
4 that church refused TO visit him.
The coffin WIS opened, and the hun
red or more persons in the chapel were
llowed 10 look at the body.