American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-16
Hanging q Desperate.

the holy communion. Collins arose at
half-past five this morning, after COM
Portable nights sleep. Father Reardon
was with him again at six O'Clock, and
stayed with him until eight. Collins
sat down to breakfast, eating with an
excellent appetite. He still refused to
be seen by any one but the clergyman
and the Jail officials. Father Reardon
says that he was prepared for death.
He was little nervous. A new suit of
black clothes and shirt were taken in
to him at eight o'clock and he put them
on without betraying any emotion. At
half-past ten he was quiet and collected
in manner, except that his hands were
slightly tremulous. Father Reardon
was with him, and on the table were
prayer-book and gold crucifx. Col
Inns conversed a little and pressed the
few visitors to take cigar each, full
box being on the table.
For some years he worked as deck
hand on the Sacramento and San Joa-
| quin river steamboats,, and when not at
work spent his time around bar-rooms,
loafing, drinking and quarreling. With
a Mexican, Emanuel Burgeon, he was
almost terror in the towns along the
river, being powerful, INSCRIPTIONS,
unprincipled bully. He was a native
of Ireland, 35 years of age.
At half-past IL he left the cell, &C
companied by Sheriff Rogers and Faith
er Reardon, and walked through the
hall to the room adjoining the jail-yard.
He walked with a sprightly, rolling
gate, and seemed cool and composed.
He sat down by the side of the father
while the death warrant was read, be-
traying no emotion and making no
movement hands being strapped
to his side-beyond bending forward
once and kissing the crucifix the priest
held in front. After the warrant had
been read he arose and walked UP the
steps to the scaffold with the same
sprightly step and composed demeanor.
Arrived at the platform he stepped upon
the trap and looked she Sheriff in the
face. He was placed wrong on the
trap, and at q sign from the Sheriff
turned in different direction, facing
the walls. He had only wrist straps at
the time, and others were quickly adj
justed around his elbows, pinning them
to his sides; his thighs and ankles were
also pinioned. While this was going
\ on he was repeating prayers after Fa-
Their Reardon, saying them hurriedly
and nervously. He bore up well, how
ever, and showed no signs of
weakness. After the Sheriff took down
the rope which was hanging to one
side, and fixed the knot under Collins's
left ear, he turned and whispered not
to make it too tight; then looked up
once at the sky and said nothing more.
The black velvet cap was then drawn
over his head, and at seventeen minutes
to twelve Sheriff Rodgers cut the cord
that held up the weight on the bolt.
The trap opened with harsh, grating
sound, and Collins fell through. There
was slight twitching and contraction
of the muscles of the body, but that
was all, and after two minutes not
tremor was noticeable. After ten
minutes the coffin, Of plain redwood,
was taken and placed on two chairs.
At five minutes past twelve o'clock the
body was lowered and carried by four
men to the coffin, laid on the lid. and
examined by the physicians. The cap
was taken off and the face found very
much discolored. The neck was broken.
The Whipping-p0st in delaware.
At New Castle, Del, seven men were
logged on Saturday in the presence Of
about 500 spectators. Quite number
of women were present who seemed to
enjoy the scene. The first to receive
the punishment was John Conner, con-
victed of stealing basket of tomatoes
and sentenced to pay 30 cents restitu-
ton money, one month s Imprisonment,
and to wear convict's jacket for six
months after his discharge from prison.
He received five lashes lightly laid on.
The second was a negro named Scott
Wilson, convicted of stealing pair of
pantaloons. He was punished with
twenty lashes. In addition he will be
imprisoned for six months, must wear the
jacket six months more, and must pay
81 restitution money. John Carpenter,
who had been convicted upon four
different indictments of stealing a COW,
received forty lashes without word in
dicating pain, although his back was
badly lacerated. He will pay $175
restitution money and be imprisoned
for two years. John Brown, convicted
of stealing mare, and sentenced to
three years. imprisonment, to pay 800
restitution money, and to stand in the
pillory for one hour, received twenty
lashes, well laid on, bringing blood.
His hour in the pillory had weakened
him, and he groaned at each stroke.
John Smith and Joseph Darias, ne
groes, who had been in the pillory for
an hour, received the same number as
Brown. They suffered much and
writhed in pain, Darias, who is an old
offender, begging and pleading with the
Sheriff for mercy. When it was over
their black backs showed horrible
sight. Darias, convicted of horse-steal-
ing, will also be imprisoned for two
years and pay S75 restitution money.
Smith, who was convicted of larceny,
has only six months imprisonment to
serve and $12 restitution money to pay.
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