The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-04-22
THE SCAFFOLD.
A White Man, Negro and Three In,
w dlans Form the Qnlntelie.
tE -
Seven thousand Versions crowd Abou,
the eaiiows nv spcctaiors-Order
Z aud Quiet Reign.

LlrrLE Rock, April 2l.--Slx men,
Aaron Wilson, full blooded negro
Gibson lshlambkee, Esham Zealey
and 'Orphoks McGee, full blooded
Choctaws, Ozea Saunders, full blooded
Cherokee, and William Leach, white
man, were hung at Fort Smith to-day.
They were all sentenced at the last
term OF the United States Court for
the Western District OF Arkansas. On
the third OF September last, six men
were hung there and these six were
executed on the same scailold. A spe-
cial courier to Ozark, thirty.iive miles
distant, late last night, gives the fol.
lowing particulars OF the execution /:
All six OF the doomed men rose early
this morning and ate hearty break.
fast, Soon after this reprieve from
the President for Saunders was re-
ceived, which left but five to suffer ON
the soaflold. About six o'clock their
shackles were removed, the usual black
gowns we're dispensed with, and the
morning hours were passed In COM
pany with their spiritual advisers. At
lO:4S the guard formed, and the pris-
oners were marched out, heavily
ironed, arm-lnrarm with the guards,
through dense crowd TO the gallows.
All was quiet up to the last moment.
The negro was sneaking, aud asked
the executloner not to draw the rope
too tight. AT ll;4O the trap was
sprung, and five bodies dangled In
the air Wilson died in eight minutes,
zealey and Isblambkee In nine, Leach
in ten and MCGEE instantly. Zealey
groaned several minutes, Wilson'S
limbs twitched, aud he broke the cru
elk from the ribbon attached to bis
neck, holding II In u death grip. The
bodies were then cut down, and those
who had friends, took possession OF
hem. Leach's remains were given to |
ais wife, Wilson's to the Catholics.
The crowd was orderly and quiet.
There were seven thousand spectators.
Wilson urged all Of his friends to re-
DIN the Catholic church aud meet him
n heaven. The remarks of the In
iians were Interpreted by an Indian.
leach forgave the court and all of his
nemies. Many of Saunders Indian
riends who We're present were jubi-
ant over his reprieye.
Marshal Pagan yesterday received
1ord from quite number of proml-
ent Indians, notifying him that the
riends of Saunders would attack the
,rt and fight the Marshal before they |
,ould permit him to, be, executed,
aunders belonged to q secret organh-
alton. of Cherokees, every member of
hitch swears TO live or die for his
rother. Several times the friends of
aunders attempted to interfere, but
ley were promptly put down by the
Iarshal's forces. i"3 'A@,A,o
Saunders made written statement
rotesting his innocence. Leach, the
'hite man, made a written statement
bout his life, but declined to say any,
ling in reference to the crime for
'hich he was hung. To-day Zealey
10 written statement that he was
Utility. lshlambkee, who was CON
icted of the same crime with Zealey,
nd he was guilty. MCGEE leftastate-
tent in which he admitted he was
Utility of the same charge. He was
venty-three years of age, land was a
lember Of the Presbyterian church.