The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-08
A HANGING PARTY.
wM. 9. BERGEN EXECUTED At MOUNT
VERNON, OHIO.
The Pre- tminaries-N0 Reporters Desired
"A Bunslsng Hangman and Death
from stranguIatien, After a Second

The Pre- reiminaries-No Reporters Desired
A Bunslsns Hangman and Death
from stransuIatien, After a Second
TrlaI.
MOUNT VERNON, Dee. THE crowd around
the jail this morning numbers about two hun
dred, and is increasing as the hour for the ex-
eeution Of Bergen approaches. great many
have come in from the country, owing to q
rumor that the execution would be public.
Bergen, after bidding his mother and friends
occupy his cell during the night which request
the sheriff complied with. The sheriff entered
the apart m ment at 10 O'Clock 2. M and remained
ing. At O'Clock Bergen fell asleep and slept
until 80 a. IN.
During the night Bergen was quite takative,
and appeared as calm as ii no unusual even
was to transpire.
He made special appeal to the sheriff to ex-
hreeen tha he would have an put
on the sheriff which would prevent him from
admitting, any one except his a sistants. the
clergy and these personally Interested. He had
no hesitaney in speaking Of his execution. but
seemed rather anxious to talk Of the event. He
will not say word upon the seaffold, desiring
only O prayer to be offered by the ministers.
unless he thinks that there are too many tres
ent. IN which event he may score the reporters.
He told sheriff in confidence some things
concerning his past life, which, of course, the
sheriff will keep secret. He requested that the
rope should be q cotton one which has teen
complied with.
Sheriff Beebe, of Montgomery county; Sheriff
Beach, of Knox county. and herff sherrard.
of Putnam, are t. assist sherg Gay.
At 8 O'Clock this morning Bergen's mother
end youngest son went to the cl thing house II
J. S auffef 4 Son and purchased black cloth
coat and black doeskin pants. aud had them
sent to Bergin at the jail,
At about o'clock Bergen partook oi hearty
breakfast sent him from the Curtis House,
AT 1880 o'clock. Auditor Castle AMI Robert
ments and to take charge Of Bergen's rem aims.
Castle was overcome with emotion, and was
quite bitter in his denunciation of capital pun
ishment. These gentlemen state that 1t was
Mrs. Bergen's request that the body Of her son
shou d be allowed to, remain in the, jail until
midnight, fearing to hayee. IT removed while the
| remove the remains during the afternoon. as
soon rs possible to the residence of Leister
Hedlsy a bro fher-in- law Of Bergen, from which
place the funeral services will take place at
o'clock Tomorrow afternoon.
The Execution.
MOUNT VHRNoN, o., Dec. 7, / p. m.-Wm. g.
Bergen has paid the penalty of his great crime
having been executed at 1910 to- day. He en-
| tered the inclosure accompanied BY Sheriff Cav
and ,sstants and Reyefends Thompson and
| Barrows, and stepped upon the pla form with
When asked if he had ANYTHING to say, he re-
| piled, No, except i want you to pray nod
ding to one of the ministers, His face was pale
| was slipped over his face his eyes closed for q
The service of the Episcopal Church was read
| united and the poor victim. staggered NJ
| against post. He was only sbo ked ami was
perfectly conscious. As he was lifted to the
| scaffod by the sheriff and assistants. he shook
| his head under the black cap, and kept repeat
| ing. "Ohl this is bad murder then added
| but can stand it. The moose was again ad-
justed during which he spoke to the sheriff
saying. ,"Yop are choking me little now. but
go ahead. Johnnie"
While the ministers administered what con
ISOLATION! they could the dro,gg, again fell, ant
with q little better success. The knot. however
br6keh, ard the 'st,fh was actually Sitting es3
to death II was fully eighteen minutes
| before he was pronounced dead.
The reporters and witnesses, were bitter I. in IL
however justice to Sheriff Gay to say that he
was in no wise to blame His assistants wer'
men Of experience, and to them he had entrust
ed the main details No one regrets the unfortu
| nate occurrence mrre than he.
| man named J. I'll. Tucker, real estate agent
| from Columbus, during the second hanging
| tainted, AMI caused quite commot1on.
| The body OF Bergen was taken in charg'
shortly after the execution. and conveyed to thu
| residence of his bro'herAin-aw.