The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-12
EXECUTION OF SMITH.
THE MURDER OF A sHIPMATE ExPIATED AT
NAssAU-coNFEssIoN OF THE CONDEMNED.

THE MURDER OF A sHIPMATE ExPIArED AT
NAssAU-CoNFEssIoN OF THE CONDEMNED.
NASSAU, N p, Feb s, 1876.
The dread sentence OF the law was duly performed
Frank Smith between the hours of ten and eleven
A. NJ yesterday within the walls of the Nassau Prison.
This man. murdered the OF the brig Florence
John Gambler Avery, the 10th of December,
arrested the 30th tried the 10Th and 9th OF Janu
airy and executed the 4th of February, period
of only thirty days having elapsed between the
murder and its expation.
Passes to witness tho execution were granted to
about fifty persons among whom noticed several
members of the medical faculty. press, both native
and foreign and the church AT O'Clock precisely
the black flag hoisted at the cupoa and in few
minutes the solemn procession, composed OF the Pro-
vost Marshal, officials of the prison. ministers and
police attendant the prisoner made its appearance
from south door of the prison. and winding slowly
the south side of the kitchen turned gradually
to the left and approached the scaiold facing east
Smith slightly in advance.
THE GALLows
in all its grim ugness was erected just south of the
division wall, simple open framework with the old
fashioned drop, beam, released by the withdrawal OF
bolt The coffin OF the prisoner just the foot
Of the steps and the rope on the cross beam with
It's open, must have been terrible evidence to the
man of the reality and quickness OF his approaching
the foot OF the scaffod by the Rev r. Dunlap and at
its conclusion Smith firmly walked up the ladder
tended by the Marshal and prisoner, who acted
hangman. His legs were then pinioned and the cap
drawn over his face His only that he for
gave his executioner, who he said only doing his
duty and a request TO OF the prison officers to
stand by him 10 the last The being put over
his head and the knot drawn Just under the left ear
the hangman went down the ladder TO spring the
bolt when, the prisoner either from fantnoss from
inability keep bis balance while tightly pinioned,
fell on his back upon the drop. He at
raised, the bolt drawn and the ominous jerk OF the
rope told its own sad tale little muscular twitch
I'M OF the lower limbs for about two minutes and then
pronounced dead by the medical officer and being
cut down was conveyed INTO adjacent building for
surgical examination His face, when the cap
moved presented very composed and natural appear
ance the eyes closed and the mouth slightly
open There we're no indications in his countenance of
his sudden and violent death The usual inquest
held at eleven O'Clock and the customary verdict rem
dered
A MEDICAL EXAMINATION
OF the body took place IN the afternoon, when II was
discovered the neck was not broken death being
caused by stranguiaton His lungs liver and other
organs In healthy condition. but his heart was
pronounced TO be of the smallest in an
adult Thus suffered man in the prime of life, pic
Of health and strength, and 70 all appearance OF
so gentle q nature that cannot comprehend the
mysterious influence that impelIed him TO commit
foul and brutal a murder. Three days before the exc
cuton he mado hong confession, the gist OF which
was that he murdered the mate from any i'll feeling
nor quarrel from any desire rob- he knew he
had money. II was, says Smith, caused by an ire
ststibe temptation which him at times and
which finally trumphed He killed Avery on the
deck coming behind and striking him the skull
with boats tiller and then threw the body into the
water before life extinct He expresses hope Of
pardon from God and man. and ends by thanking all
the prison authorities for their kindness