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

fatal moose and trap and was noticed
by those who watched him to shudder
just the least bit. He dropped his eyes to
another part Of the floor of the platform
Immediately after, and kept them there for
some time, not showing any signs of emo
ton, however. The Rev. Mr.. Pollock of
tered iervent and solemn prayer, while
those inside paid breathless attention. On
the outside of the twenty foot walls enclos-
ing the gallows there was continual muir
muir, as if the crowd Of between two and
three thousand people were conversing in
whispers. Sheriff Baty. who is small but
resolute man, arose.and said: It became his
painful duty to read the following:
THE DEATH WARRANT.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EFFINGHAM COUNTY, IS.
The People of the State of Illinois to the Sheriff
of said County, Greeting:
WHEREAS, On the 18th day of March, in the
year OF our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and seventy-fve il being the fifth regular day
of the regular March term A, ID. 1875, of The Cir
SuIv con vitd d III oo i ~ hi t 49, 81 W Hl
murder of OF Joseph Robbins; and,
Whereas. On the Dist day Of March, A. ID. 1875,
being a continuation of said term OF said court,
the said Nathan Burgess was duly arraigned for
sentenc-, and was there and then, by the judge
| OF said court sentenced in these words: There
fore IL is considered ordered and adjudged by the
court here that the said Nathan Burgess be taken
from the bar of this court to the common Jail OF
Effingham county, and there be securely kept
until Friday, the 18th day of June, In
and then on the SAID day. between the hours Of
/ 10 O'Clock in the morning and o'clock in the
afternoon of said day, within the walls of said
by the neck until dead" We. therefore, com.
nand you, in accordance of said sentence, and
order that on the 18th day of June, A. ID. 1875
between the hours OF 10 o'clock in the morning
and O'Clock in the afternoon OF said day, you
take the said Nathan Burgess within the walls
OF SAID jan, or within an enclosure adjoining,
and lang him by the neck until he is dead. And
that you cause certificate that you have done
so to be filed with the clerk of said court, as The
law directs. Herein fail not.
Witness; w. q. Lacrone, clerk of our said court
and seal IN e. eof, at the city of Efiingham, in
said county, this 10Th day OF June, A. d. 1875.
Il: s.: LAcaoNr, Clerk.
THE SUPREME MOMENT.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
above, the sheriff added, "And may God
have mercy on your SOUL" in very loud
tone of voice. 81 will give you,' said the
little sheriff, stem minutes, during which
time you may say anything you may de-
SIRE" The doomed man sat still and. with
out raising his head or showing any signs OF
emotion, said in an almost insudible voice.
81 have nothing to say only this. that 1 die
an innocent man. 1 am not guilty."
The Rev. Mr.. Barkis then offered
short prayer, in which he
urged all to remember that the Lord was
ready at any time to pardon our sins. Bur
CESS then shook hands with the following
persons in the order their names are given:
the Rev. Mr.. Pollock, the prosecuting attor-
ney. Sheriff Jennings, City Marshall Dobbs.
Deputy Sheriff Nuxsll, the Rev. Mr.. Barkis.
the Rev. Mr.. Lapham, the Rev. Mr.. Nc
Nslly, Judge Jones and Sheriff Baty. They.
with the exceptions of Sheriff Baty, Dobbs.
Sheriff Jennings, and the Rev. Mr.. Lapham,
then left the platform. Burgess still gazed at
the planks with an absent-minded, indiffer.
ent stare. At 81 minutes past Sheriff Baty
said, Burgess, you have but three minutes
left. Have you anything more to say?"
There was no reply. minute passed, and
the sheriff falteriDgly said. Burgess, two
minutes more" The poor fellow
RAISED HIS EYES
to the sheriff's watch and turned pale.
"One minute more, Burgess" said
the sheriff. This was too close and
he reached out his hand and his lips worked
as if he were trying to say something.
The Sheriff offered to shake hands with him.
supposing that this was what he wanted.
but he gasped, Charley Hausman,'' as be
pointed to where that person was standing
in the yard. Hausman came upon
the platform, and as the prisoner
caught him by the hand, the
tears began running down his face.
Said Burgess, Charley, you are the only
witness who told the truth against me- :"
Hausmsn replied that he had to tell the
truth. Sheriff Baty then announced.
"time's up" and with his deputy raised the
overcome man to his feet. They walked
across TO the center of the trap.
placed the white esp over his face
and tied his hands TO his hips. he
aided them in this. The moose was placed
around the neck and the knot under the
right ear. Dobbs unfastened the little
catch in the trap door, Baty gave the door
a kich with his foot, and Nathan Burgess |
was shot into eternity. The body fell like |
dart, and your correspondent Will venture
to say that no one of the 40 or so |
who viewed the horrible drop
were free from a chilling sensation |
until after they got out of sight of the place. |
The fall broke the neck, and after the duh |
thud there was not even the sound of |
breath. Two or three times the legs were |
drawn up straight in front of the body, but |
were quickly lowered. His pulse was
seventy-eight. strong, directly after falling, |
which was exactly two anda halfminutes
after o'clock. At 2:7K it was..i2O, weak,
ard at 2:l2H
PULSATIoN HAD CEASED.
The attending physicians were DIR. Groves,
DR.. Eyeisham and DR.. Lscrone. At 2:15 a
neat coffin was placed under the body, |