The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-27

past Ave Frost took little rsfreshmens u bread and
milk and from that time until the execution he re-
NAMED cain and talked but little. While dressing for
tho gallows ne attended by the Rev. Mr. Lam
son and Deputy sherins Carl, Keens and Both
WE'LL also by Special 0nicer Cleveland. who
has been hts guard Mr. Cleveland spoke word
OF encouragement 10 the doomed man. expressing tho
hope that he would DO able meet his fatc resig
nation and caimness Frost replied that he was feel
ing well had not felt better he lad OF six
teen years II decided that he should make no
speech from the scanold
STATEMENT By FROST
About half an hour before the execution he made
statement to Rev. Mr.. Lamson, who took down an alb
ssract Of IT. The statement reiteration Of the
evidence he himself gave concerning the
trial. He strongly asserted that he innocent Of
territorial wful MURDER and said that he died in the
full hope and assurance that long develop
ment would be made TO prove that his account OF the
killing true In his statement he forgves his
WIFE, against whom he had been very bitter, die
tat6s pathetic goodby to her and MS children
SPECTATORS TIM
The execution attracted the usual number OF curious
ones, who the number of hundreds lined tho streets
adjoining the Jail Some 200 persons witnessed tho
execution, which took place in the guard OF the
Jail. The spectators all seated. There
present many medical men, Mayor Hson and other
city officials
HouRs
go Arm was his demcahor, that while dressing his
attendant remarked 10 him, You've got the most
OF any man ever saw" to which Frost replied,
"I'm not afraid I've been afraid TO die. Soon
after no remarked. "Im tho happiess man in the
prison this morning" Ho ate his breakfast Of brown
bread, milk ard cheese his own selection,
wish his usual appetite. After breakfast no wrote
farewell letters to his children and whilo doing APP
pcarcd somewhat melancholy but he rallied and
chaited and laughed with his usual unconcern Al
tho gail0ws Frost's face betokcned emotion. Ho
kept his eyes hAcd before him, casting no glance ut
the spectators and 1T the gallows TIL lie turned
to ascend the steps, when he raised his eyes TO tho
beam and for an instant cropping them upon the
stairs hc took the first step upward. As
Frost seated upon tho fatal Platform Rev. Mr.. Lam
offered short prayer, in substance iollows:-
20 God, We confess Thy power and wisdom and Thy
mercy Thou art our Creator and the Creator Of this
man, who IS meet Thee Bless the State
that for safety and security about to perform tins
solemn and awful act. Have mercy on TINS man. Meet
him now and conduct him 10 Ihyset For the sake u
Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. Amen"
EXECUTION
Immediately at its close Sheriff Spraguo read tho
death warrant rapidly yet distinctly, and when he had
uttered lis closing words, For which lhis shall BIO
do execution and pressed firmly upon tho spring
releasing the trap Frost had rson IRON his chair
when the reading Of the death warrant was begun
around his legs and arms, and before the reading
finished had shut out the light from him forever by
drawing the black cap ovcr his head There not
an instants delay, and less than five passed
between the time tho doomed man took his first step
upon tho gallows stairs and that which his body
thrown downward by the rslease OF the drop Tho
drop fell with hardly audible sound the light
body OF tho murderer brought the rope to strong
tension. The drs. thrill Of q shudder had not run
through the more sensitive OF tho spectators when
the body was seen spinning At the end Of the
rope almost headcss. fearful tear, extending
the front Of the throat and blood gushing
streamR Every eye rveied upon this startling and
taAo 4 t..du "a
disclosing and then concealng this cash. The blood
forced upward ny tho artei ai spured ioun
tain Ike from TO two eet tho stream falling
floor u around the hanging body. This circle
extended the framework OF the gallows, winch
was in many places nccked with drops Of blood and the
woliing life blood, pouring from the gaping wound
down the front OF the body, trfckled from his
feet forming central pool directly beneath the body.
THIS account doubtless full Of horror TO the
reader, but II tails short OF tho realities Of the
scene Still, the spectators did not waver from tho
sight The man was dead. No one could doubt but
that his SOUL declared guilty by mortal judges and
jurors, already ut tho bar Of another Tribunal.
There was q real feeling Of relief that there had been
slow coming death. terrible throes OF muscular
agony, and SO all watched with bated breath tho hnu
OF the great tragedy.
For two minutes the arterlal gushinga of the
blood continued and then followed the slow dropping
blood from the body. Drs Woodward ana Jewstt
the body, mere iormality In this The knot
OF the rope had been placed behind Frosts left ear
almost round to the centre Oi the neck. He
no especial development, and, though he
weighed l20 pounds, the drop was enough not oHly
To break MS neck which 10 tho common
acceptance OF the EXPRESSION but 70 the spinal
column entirely. The muscles and entcguments Of tho
forward part OF the neck could not Withstand the sud
den strain brought upon them, now that their
aid gone and parted, leaving the body hanging by
the entcguments OF the portion only The body was
allowed hanga few minutes nfter the examination by
the Doctors when II was lowered upon the bier and
carried from beneath tho gall0ws The rope pulled
up the beam; tho Spectators AZ tho Sherin's
quest, withdrew and In twelve from the time
they rs heard the tread Of the executioners party
the eyes OF the executed murderer closed.
Er0c waQ n n In hIuck hp 1rlnfh anti
black cloth CATERS and slate-colored giovea
A STATEMENT ny FROST
At an interview this morning with his counsel and
the Rev. Mr.. Lamson Frost madethe following state
for publication after his DEATH After speaking
OF the killing Of Townc, he said -
II placed the limbs, rs have affirmed, In the
field. l did not know, neither do know, removed
them. took them from under tho barn with my
hands to tho cornteld carried them TO tho
swamp On the night OF the 22d OF July did not take
the from the harm, any othor night to draw
the body TO tho swamp make the same statement
as the whole that Mr.. Ball has in his book.
Thus refers Frosts statcmcnt declare all men
That die innocent Of wIlfu murder die cherishing
no feeling OF resentment toward any one. l die ior-
giving all tho world for any wrong have received II
kindest feelings to General Sprague, his deputies and
all the prison officers.
To his counsel he said -"Try and keep track OF this
matter. hope and am assured that IN time II will DO
cleared up"