Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-01-08

rather inclined to the opinion that we
will travel in contrary directions; how
ever, keep a stiff upper-liP, Billy; we
will die game " At ABOUT twelve O'Clock
Father AlOysius entered the prisoners
cell and remained with him until the
hour st which he was taken out for exc
cution, comforting him with the rites
and ceremonies OF tie Catholic church,
and placing crucifix, suspend5d d Dy a
blue ribbon, around his neck. The day
was truly beautiful and bright, the
balmy atmosphere making everything
outdoors look che 4riul aud com. table.
TIE CROWD
around the jail inclosure was so dense by
eleven O'Clock that il was almost impOs-
sible for even fOotmsn to pass through
the crowded street. Toe deputy a. the
gate was besiegei with all manner OF
enttest'es from eager persons to enter,
someOf them being ladies, who in many
instances offered to pay an aimittance
fee, Captain Dawson, the gate-keeper
being gcompelled to employ his best efJr 8
of firmness to keep tine rsbble from
! pressing an entrance. By twelve o'C lck
every available hOusetop and prominent
position that afforded q view OF the gal
| lows was crowded, and the ma IS # hu-
maDity man Tested the intensest anx-
| iety ss the hOur set for the execution ap,
| preached.
THE GALLowS,
stationed on tho south side Of the jail,
| has bt en- described in previous numbers
| of the APPEAL; 1t is therefore unneces.
sary TO do so here.
THE LAST HOPE GONE.
During the morning MessIs. J. D. Ad-
| ans and ]. w E:dTitge (Sc0tps coun-
sell sent telegram TO the governor on
the subject of committing the sentence
| OF their client, TO which they received
the following reply:
NASHVILLE, January 7, 1876.
[ have already considered simi ar
application, and decline to interfere.
JAMES D. PORTER.
FROM CELL TO sCAFFoLD.
Precisely st one O'Clock Frank Scott
was taken from his cell by Sheriff An
deIsln, who, with the assistance of Jaif-
er Jackson, pini0ned his arms and
wrists, in which condition he was con-
Quoted to the scaffold and up the steps
leading to the platform; the doomed
man walking with firm and steady step,
every feature OF his countenance and ac-
ton of his body manifesting ths most
stoicsl Indifference at the awful fate
about to overtake him. Up on the scaf-
fold he took bis seat by the sheriff on
the rude bench, his eyes wandering
vaguely in every direction, his gaze
seemingly attracted by objects in the
defiance. He was accompanied on the
scafold by Father Aloysius, Of the
franciscan order; MessYs. Adams and
E bridge, his counsel; DIs. Morrison
and Marable, and the reporters of the
press. After q silence of about two
minutes, the doomed man began cor
versing with those around him, his
counteDance wearing a pleasing smile,
and his words spoken with remarkable
disiinctness.
HIS LAST MOMENTS.
Scott remarked to JSier Jackson that
he was more inttr sted in the surround
ing locality than he was in the vast
crowd of spectators assembled to see
him hung. He said that he never
thought he would be such an important
character. After come instructions to
him by Sheriff Anderson, the prisoner
arose and walked to the front of the
platform, with unfaltering step, taking
his place on the drop, when the sheriff
rsad the death warrant heretofore
printed in the APPEAL), The authority
OF reprieve Of the execution from the
tWenty-fourth of December to the
seventh of January, at the close OF
which he asked if he had anything to
say. Scott stood for some moments ap.
parently contemplating the surround
ings, whsn he btgan talking in very
loW voice.
LAST WORDS.
He said be had but little to say; he
kew he had 10 die, and was perfectly
resigned to it; he had b2en properly
treated by the church aud officers of the
court and Jail. He repeated his state.
ments formerly made, ,h2t he had been
convicted on false testimony. He was
Prepared to meet death, the debt that
every man, woman and child had to
pay. He had been bleseed with the op-
ptr,u0ity to make preparation for 6eath.
He alluded to the difference between
meeting death afI'r lingering sickness
and the manner in which he was about
to meet it, expressing his preference for
the latter, as he believed he was now
better prepared than he would have
teen otherwise. After 8 few remsrks
Ia tn strain, he turned to Father Alloy.
sius, asking him to perform the last
s9rvice of the church, and stepped back
to the center CT the platform, where he
and the priest krelt, the prits! TecitiDg
the service and forms of the Catholic
church, Scott moving his lips as if re-
peating after the priest.
ANXIOUS TO GO.
When they aIo ie to their feet the vic.
tim resumed his place on the drop, re-
marking to Sheriff Anderson: "Come
on now, Captain, am in hurry to go;
my arms and hands are hurting me,
and l had rather go now than endure
tbs pain.n He then shook his hat from
his bead, telling Captain Anderson to
give 1t to some Of the boys tmeaning his |
late fellow prisoners), Captain Auder-
son took the hat and promised as he
wished, and proceeded to eonfine his |
feet and leSs While this was going o /
q carr on the outside of the wall dumped |
load Ct spectators on to the ground,
which created a CO.'S derable commo.
iion, which was noticed by Scott, who |
looked in the direction and seemingly |
enjoyed the scene. The rope was then |
placed around his neck, ScOtt holding |
bis head to one side and accommoda- !
ting himself to the press ure Of the cord, |
shaking his head and shoulders so that |
it would settle straight on his neck. |
This done, Captain Anderson stepped |
to one side, which Scott 70 DOUBT un-
derstood to be the signal to spring the |
trap and turning quickly called cut. |
"Ain't you going to put on the cap?"
Captain Anderson was arranging the |
cap, and Immediately placed 1t on the
head Of the victim, forever shutting cut
the beautiful world from his gszs.
Then,
ONE, TWO, THREE,
the sheriff sprang the trap, and the
body OF Frank Scott fell with thud
and was dangling in thu air precisely at
the hour requested by the unfortunate
victim. A minute after the fall the
bosom Eeaved slightly, increasing the
exertions to breathe for a bout two min |
utes, then the whole form began q gen.
tie quiVer. increasing to violent convul.
sious until about fCuT minutes, when all |
peTCe 1tib'e motion ceased and the body
was
STILL IN DEATH.
DR.. Marable said that the neck was !
broken by the fall. AS the trap was
sprung the multitude gave on the in
s'aat a kind Of half.groan and half !
gTunt, indicating that Thousands OF eyes |
had witnessed the awful fate of Frank |