Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-29
A MurIerer'S Vision.

A Murderer's Vision.
Had Becher the Essex c,unty, Ontario,
murderer been executed on the 2lst of De-
cember, as sentenced, it would have been his
second execution. Ii this assertion reads
strangely it is capable Of such az explanation
as will reoder it perfectly plain.
Belcher is cool mau He stained bis saods
with human blood ouly after he had brooded
over his wrongs for weeks and weeks, aud ouiy
after he had come to the CONCLUSION that his
own life was burdeo. He scarceiy y attempted
defence when his trial came on. He could
have secured witnesses whose testimony would
have Influenced the jury in his favor more Or
less, bu, he would not send for them. He
could have made statement eXcuslug his crime
In a measure and showing that be had
been deeply wronged but he would scarcely
speak. Wheo the Judge put on tue black cap
aud sentenced Belcher TO be hanged the nurd,
erer exhibited less emOVlou than any other per.
sou 10 the court room. 1t was only after he had
been ironed hand and loot and placed 10 the
murderers cell iu the grim Jail at Saudwich
that he seemed to realize his situation.
Its all right; III be there When wanted"
he grimly observed, aud he talked freely with
the numerous journalists who sought interviews.
There were few residents OF Essex couaty
who wanted an execution to take place. lhe
couuty has not had one tor years, and the in.
hu.nce of the anti capital puoisn ueut people
of Michigan is strongly felt along the border.
Steps we're soon taken to secure Communication
of sentence Beicher was apatheticat first being
more inclined to put the moose over bis head than
to cast it from him. There came reaction. Per
haps the winter sunshine pouring through the
cold iron bars and warming the t1agstones OF the
corridor warmed his heart at the same time.
He could hear the merry shouts OF the boys as
they slid dowu hill or skated on the river be-
low, and the musical jingle of sleigh bells could
not be kept out by the massive walls Becher
waited to live. He wrenched at his irons with
the strepgth Of giant, and called out because
the hours and days were flying SO swiftly. He
besought the press TO plead his case; he called
for lawyers; he remembered that he had wit
nesses. The strong man broke down and be-
came child, and every day, and every hour,
outside of his sleep, he thought OF the grim
gaows, the fatal noose, and he saw hlmself
dangling 10 the air. Three days before the re.
prieve came be said be would die game; but he
said it with face as white as snow and every
nerve trembling with tear. Had he been taken
to execution he could not have walked alone,
and be would have sunk down on the trap.
All Essex county were at last working 10 his
favor Petitions were circulated, mass meet
ings held, and an irresistible Influence was
brought to bear 90 the Governor General.
Belcher hoped and feared. Repricvcs are
not 80 commou in Cauada that murdercrs 10
the shadow of the gallows can rely on them
and keep their courage up. When sheriff and
wurdeo and murderer were counting the hours
the retrieve came. BcIober escaped the gal.
lows, but the doors of kiogstou were to close
on him for life. 1t was evening when the news
came, aud when the telegram was read to him
be could not utter word.
An hour before the sun went down the jail
was very quiet. 1t is always 50 when the
shadow of death holds the keys. Belcher
paced up and down. his face haggard and worn
and his eyes wearing such look as one
never sees outside Of prism walls. Out
jn the courtyard men were at work, not
at the gallows, but at some repairs. Bel
cher believed that the scatold from which
he was to swing was being erected, aud
his heart must have stood still as he heard the
hammer aud saw at work. Lcanlng against
the wall. his eyes looking into vacancy tue
murderer suffered all the pain that real exc
cution could ioAtct. Some of the prisoners
were watching him. They saw him hold out
his hands for the Sheriff to remove the irons
They saw him knee in prayer. They saw hlm
arise and look around as If following the ottl-
cials to the gaows. He looked up as If sur.
yeying the swaying moose and shudder passed
over him.
The prisoners could read his thoughts as
plainly as if be had written them down. !n
imagination he mounted the gallowS lie
looked at the moose again and suddenly Jerked
his head aside, as if the rope had touched him.
He bent his head as if TO have it passed over
and tichteued about his neck. When he stood
rs if waiting for the trap to sprlng, bis lace
vas no longer pale; it was so ivd and dlstort
ed that almost every line of humanity was
crushed out of sight. The trap tell, and with
nm awful gasp, a shout. a scream OF agony,
Relch.r fell to the floor, his tongue protrud-
ng. his ewes open and CLASSY, and froth
ooziny from his mouth 1t was quarter OF 40
hour before he was fully resusclIated, and his
first words we're:
90, God! but how the rope cut INTO my
It. was another fifteen minutes before the
man could be convinced that his execution was
imaginary. lie had suffered ali that hang
mans victim suffers and in piteous tones he
cr;sd ont while tears ran down his face:
"D,u't hang me again On, my throat Is
SO sore u -, e.,; ,o,s,,r
,r,nnd the neck They unbuttoned the collar;
Inrned it down, and there was bright REQ
mark clear around the throat
Eaots only are stated here, aDd men may
,heorize as they feel inclined. That marx a'o
not die away for thirty hours, ana the mur
derer complained of swollen tonsls ana sore
throat. His reprieve came Only after ne ma nae
heen hanged, aud yet 1t saved MS '':e'-'e"
York Herald.