The daily gazette., 1877-09-21
THIRD EDITION.
THE EXECUTION
JOHN RHODES, THE NEGRO MUIR y
; DERER, HUNG AT NEW CASTLE.

JOHN RHODES, THE NEGRO MUIR
DERER, HUNG AT NEW CASTLE.
The execution OF John Rhodes, took
place at 10.31 this morning, at New Cas-
tie, and the prisoner conducted himself
very manfUliy. He was led out to the
gallows by Mr.. Herdman, the TAILOR, ac-
companied by Sheriff Grubb, Rev. Mr..
Spottswood, Of the Presbyterian church,
and Rev. Mr.. Young, of the colored
church. He assembled the steps of the
scaffold without any trepidation or fear.
AFTER stepping upon the fatal trap, the
Reverend Mr.. Spottswood stepped for
ward and offered up fervent prayer for
the salvation of the doomed mans soul,
Rhodes accompanying him in prayer.
At the conclusion of the prayer Rhodes
again stepped forward and said: Gentle
men. hope you have nothing against
nae. Have you? He was very much oblip-
ed to Mr.. Grubb, Mr.. Herdman, Mrs.
Grubb and Miss. Whitfield. Fare you well
l am going home. 10
The Sheriff then advanced and placed
the black cap over his head ,and then the
light of day was forever shut out from the
eyes of the condemned man. After plac-
Ing the cap over his face the sheriff step
PED back and king up a hatchet with
one blow severed the rope, and John
Rhodes was launched into eternity. The
drop fell at 10.31 o'clock and with dull
thud the hung suspended in the air. ~
There was slight twitching of the
arms for about one minute, and then all
was still. Two minutes afterwards his
pulse was beating irregular, at 1O.35 the
pulse was beating at 120; 1896 118, and ro-
markabty strong; TO-. .38 they fell to e6;
and at 10.41 the,pulse bad ceased to beat;
and at 1886 the bodyswas lowered and
placed in pine coffin, having been hang
ing twenty i've minutes.
When the trap was sprung, the knot
shpped from under the ear around to the
back of the neck, and death resulted
from strangulation. The rope cilt deep
" nto the flesh and a slight trucking of
the blood could be seen.
BEFoRE THE EXECUTION.
The prisoner spent very quiet night,
but did not sleep much, his mother, sis
ter and a lady friend remaining with him
and also one of his spiritual advisers. He
ale hearty breakfast this morning after
whicn he was given cigar by MIR. Harry
w. Morrow, which he smoked with a
keen relish, and after he had finished it
he asked. for another one saying: "It
would be the last one that he would ever
smoke on earth"
He also presented M. Herdman with
an eagle penny, dated 1887, having the
| name of "H. B. James" cut upon it, and
said that it was the only thing that he
had upon earth, and asked that he keep
it in remembrance of him as long as he
lived.
When asked when he would like the
executson to take place, he replied, .'that
he would like it to take place as soon as
possible, that he wanted to 90.
The Jail physician DR. G.. Troup Max
well, stated that 1t was a remarkably
easy execution. The execution was
witnessed by over 100 persons.
At 1905 O'Clock he bid his mother, sister.
lady friend, the Rev. Mr.. SpottSwood,
Young and several of his friends farewell,
Previous 10 bidding farewell to his imme-
diate family and friends he was on his re-
quest conducted by Mr.. Herdman to cell
No. 80, occupied by John Duckery, father
OF The woman over whom the murder was
committed, and bid him farewell. After
bidding him goodbye, he returned to his
cell and put on IA pair of white cotton gloves.
Mr.. Herdman then entered the cell and
bound his hands and arms He was then
led out to the scaffold, remarking as he
yassed into the yard, "This is beautiful
day"
After the body was placed into the coffin
the body was delivered to nis mofher, who
took charge OF IL and will have IL Inferred
in the PotLer's field.