The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-24
AN AMERICAN HANGED IN ENGLAND.
The Crime Horrible Scenes Caused by Bung.
ling Hsngmsn.

| y
| ling Hangman.
[London Times, of April 81
John Henry johnson was executed on
Tuesday morning within the borough
| gaol, Leeds, for the murder OF Amos
Waite, at Bradford. johnson was a
married man, but had left his wife in
| America, and lived In Bradford with a
| woman named Sewell. He and Waite
had been drinking together on the day
of the murder, and the latter made
some improper advances to the woman
Sewell, which led to q fight between
him and johnson. After the two
men had separated, Johnson went home,
procured revolver, and returning, shot
Waite through the left breast, death
being instantaneous. At the trial plea
Of insanity was set up, but was not sus-
tanned. On Sunday afternoon the rela-
tives OF the condemned man, including
his father, mother, brother and sister,
had final interview with him, and O:
all Of them he took an affectionate fare
we'll. He has also written the following
letter, which has been delivered by his,
brother, to Mrs. Waite, the widow OF
the murdered man:
"LEEDS BOROUGH GAoL, April /, 1877.
"Mrs. Waite-I take the liberty of
writing these few lines to you asking
your kind forgiveness for the injury
which have done you, by taking away
the life OF one who, have no doubt, was
the nearest and dearest to your heart,
and whicn rash act has been tue means
OF taking away that support which your
self and family stood 80 much in need
of. do hope and earnestly pray that
ravens when they cry) will bountifully
supply allyour needs, and that yourself
and family may never want. know
that this is poor restitution, but il is the
only restitution left me ON this earth,
and l felt in duty bound to make 1t, and
1 do hope that you will accept it In the
same spirit in which it Is written. Ohi
Mrs. Waite, you know that / would not.
nor could l, nave done such an awful
deed IL l had been in my sober senses at
the time; and, il the prayers of the live
ing availeth ut all for the departed, may
poor Amos soul rest in heaven, where
hope to meet him. Once more ask
your forgiveness, and remain a truly
penitent sinner. JOHN HY. JOHNSON.
''May God Almighty bless you and his
poor mother, and comfort you, is the sim
cere wish and prayer Of, l may almost
say, q dying man"
At the prisoners request, Mrs. Waite
wrote reply to his letter, in which she
told him that she might forgive, but
could never forget MIN, and that she
hoped he would obtain tull forgiveness
from God. Since his conviction, john
son slept well till Sunday night, when
his rest was somewhat disturbed, and
towards morning he became agitated,
and engaged in prayer. He was visited
by the chaplain at an early hour, and
so0n afterwards became more collected.
Askern was the execationer.
The prisoner walked with a firm step
to the scaffold. A frightful scene oc-
CURED ON the bolt being drawn. The
rope, unable to bear the mans weight, |
broke, and Johnson fell fiat on the |
ground. IT was thought at the time he |
was dead, but, on looking behind the |
screen, ne was seen standing upright. |
and endeavoring to walk. A second |
rope was then procured, and johnson |
was again led to the scatfold. The rope, |
however, from some cause or other, did
not run we'll, and the unfortunate man
struggled hard tor about four minutes |
before death put an end to his suffer-
ings. The black flag was then hoisted
and the crowd outside dispersed.