The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-14

twelve feet long nine and half
wide and seven feet six inches high. The
two uprights for the gallOws were four by
six inches, and sixteen feet six inches above
the ground. The cross beam was four feet
by eight feet nine inches long, with braces
on each side. The ropes passed through the
beam, and were secured to cleats below, so
that the bodies might be lowered after the
execution. The trap door was eight feet
four inches by four feet, secured by four feet
hinges and held in its place by a spiral
spring with lever attached. which could be
worked from the platform or from below
The lever was sprung from the interior OF
the court house, the handle being on the
inside of the main room.
When the sheriff was about to move Simp-
son and Henry from the Jail to the court
house they begged to be left in their cells
until the time fixed for their execution. AT
half past 10 o'clock posse of citizens armed
with bayonet rifles formed a line in front of
the Jail, and Sheriff Wade and his deputies
pinioned the men, while Fathers Wigat and
NlcAlee spoke words of hope in their ears.
During the process of pinioning neither of
the men made remark. At 10 minutes after
IL o'clock each prisoner, both of whom had
slept soundly during the night, was
given a glass of whisky, which was swal
lowed with avidity. At Ii minutes after IL
o'clock the procession formed and filed out
in the open air, where there were thousands
OF spectators, both black and white. The
sheriff and his deputies led the line; then
came Simpson and Father McAlee, with
Henry and Father Wigat directly behind;
the armed men filed along the side, leaving
a small detachment in the rear. When they
arrived at the scaffOld the legs of the prison
ers were tied together. Neither showed the
least sign of fear on beholding the instru-
ment of death. Father McAlee prayed the
prayer for departing souls and an act of con-
triton in which the doomed men Joined
while shrouds were pulled over their bodies
and black caps were thrown over their faces
and the trap fell, leaF ing the bodies dangling
in the air. The rope was of unusual thick
ness and slipped behind Henry's neck caus-
ing him to die from strangulation. Simp-
son also died from strangulation. The rope
held its position below the ear, throwing
the head we'll over on the right side.
As the trap fell the crowd came forward,
and the squad of men in front of the gal
lows, thinking a rescue was anticipated,
brought their pieces to bear and with bay
onets pointed drove the crowd back. They
retreated with sullen manner of discon-
tent, and from that time all'was quiet. The
usual drawing up of the shoulders and heav-
ing of chest was observable in both men for
a few minutes, this being particularly
marked in the case of Henry, who
seemed to die very hard. Thompson
heaved his shoulders once or twice and in
less than three minutes he apparently
ceased to breathe. Nine minutes after the
drop fell Doctors Digs and Spalding felt the
pulses of the prisoners and pronounced both
dead Eleven minutes later the bodies were
lowered and placed in rough collins under
the gallOws. Henry's eyes were partly
opened and he was frOthing freely at the
mouth, while Simpsons tongue protrudee
and appeared to have been bitten nearly in
two.