The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
HOW ONE FEELS AFTER DEATH.
strange Experience Of n Man who Was
Hanged by n Kentucky Mob.
IPaducah Ky, J Sun. ]

| reporter for the Sun some time ago made
the acquaintance OF gentleman in Living
ston county who Is himself q living iIIustra
| ton OF the careessnPss with which an exctet
| mob OF men are accustomed to fool with
mans life, II they once get him into theil
| clutches. The gentleman alluded to Is nov
ID the city, en- route with his family to Texas
| which State he will make his future home
ana from him permission was obtained tC
make use OF the following facts:
| Inc most of our readers are familiar with
Inc details OF the murder of Marks, the
Evansville commercial traveller at n point
between the Tennessee and Cumberland
rivers known as "The karrows" several
years ago. The name of the murderer was
ouillvant, and he was a merchant at the point
named, ana was in the habit Of buying goods
~ tne 1lrtn Tor which Marks was travelling
Marks, on his rounds, called on him as usual
Sulllvant invited him to spend the night with
himself in the store. That was the last ever
seen OF the unfortunate drummer alive.
us mutilated remains were subsequently
hXnulned from o grave near by where thew
fad been placed by Sullivant, who lndoubt-
edly slew him for the purpose of robbery
sibut, with the strange fatality which so
oIteh putsues the perpetratcg1 Of great
crime, the criminal makes tSme hlunder
which almost invariably makes his detection
easy. In this case Sullvant sent forged re-
celpt Tor moneys paid and q receipted order
for more goods. The firm, knowing that the
documents Were not in the handwriting of
aascertained that he had disappeared. In the
hands of shswd detectives they at once fur
nlshed the clue whicl, in the end secured the
capture and conviction Of the real criminal.
his Simply as preface to the story OF Mr..
Geo. W. McGee:
While the officers were searching for clew
to the whereabouts of Marks, some one, whose
name Notice. to this day, does not know, art
fully threw suspicion on Mr.. McGee. This
suspicion was famed and kept alive by Sul-
N hat m
taken from his bed by q mob Of armed men
a rope attached to his neck tho end OF which
was attached to the pommel of saddle. and
away he went Arriving Mt a lonely spot in
t.e Woods-and one who has ever Travelled
the country between the river" as II is eNl-
ed, knows that there are many places in that
locality peculiarly adapted to deeds Of vio-
lence-the rope was detached from the sad
die, and, while these midnight marauders
gathered around by the light of lantern
candle, the line was thrown over the low
dangling branch OF tree, made taut.
and McGee at the same time in
formed that he had better speedily
make his peace with God, as he had
but few moments to live He was urged by
the leader to tell the whereabouts Of Marks
remains and, II any his aecomplces in the
taking off, AS MCGEE was entirely inno-
cent of the dark deed, of course he could an
sWer that he knew nothing about it. His as
L
saw or heard Of the man before In my life
was answered by the remark from SuIlivant
hlmself "George, that Is too d-n thin !"
Mr.; McGee says that he distinctly saw the
lantern wayfptwice in the air He was lifted
bodily from tie ground into the air: he knew
that he was being drawn up over the limb by
the rope. There was no pain as long as he
was ascending, When ne settled back. how
'ver with slight jerk, his suffering was ex-
He could feel his eyes suddenly
4 IN N I'm .fNf frS.n a
sockets. He tried to scream but no sound
Ssued from his throat His arms were unpin- |
oned, and he endeavored to raise his hands so |
Is TO grasp the rope above his head that he |
night relieve that terrible shortening of his |
,reath, which seemed at each muscular at- |
empt at respiration, as If the air would escape |
rom his lungs and force itself out through i
he pores OF the skin on his breast and back. |
The muscles of the arm refused to obey his
Will. bis joints experienced sensation SINH
az to that one would imagine the piercing
u red not needles would produce The knees
witched and jerked convulsively. All this |
apparently In minute of time. Then deli
lous sensation Of ''cool numbness," to use his
'Wn words, commenced at his extremities, stole
over him. He lost all desire to save
imself preferred to die where he was Almost
very act OF his life no matter how trivial WI
ashed through his mind with the rapdity of
gntnlng. A distant roar as of far-away
ataract, grew gradually more and more dis
NO. uuLii TIE lettllul noise was almost deaf
ming, then changed with the rapfdity Of
1ought itself into the most delicious music
g had ever heard. Everything became as
ght as midday although he could distin-
ulsh nothing OF his surroundings, and final
unconsclousness. 1T was not absolute IN
'nsclousneSS, either said Mr.. MCGEE. 81
.nnot describe it inteligibly. do not know
any words that would convey to you a cor !
t idea OF the sensation. / was myself and
ot myself. L seemed to be sailing away
trough space, as you have seen large bird
Dat through the atmosphere without the an
aren't motion Of q wing or feather Another
ing that is indelibly impressed upon my 7
ina was the terrible, oppressive, horrible 81 q
nee-worse than silence Stiffness" that +
listed above, below, about me. Still float G
thing, thinking. of nothing. hoping for e
'thlng; ever and with increasing rapidity q
owing on and upward" p
But gradually, continued Mr.. McGee, this o
rfectly contented, devil-may-care feeling d
to disappear. He became cont II
ious of bodily pain again. It seemed as if q
'n bands had been frightened with screws a
out his head and chest. He consciously ii
sped for breath He heard voices the II
lIds neutrality-suspicious. at first then one @.
u tWQ mere and there he understood. At a
st. fully restored to consciousness, he heard n
captors gnarreling fiercely as to whether a
Snould pc strung up again or carried to the
llthiand Jail. He was lying on the ground,
euiotsL blceulDS from the cruel rope, which
II enclrcled his neck. Water was brought
M a creek near by and dashed over him.
~, at last. he was mounted upon a horse 81
q, Still in half-dazed condition, moved be-
ay. of
lie arrived at Smithland about daylight, III
8 locked In Jail, where he remained three p1
Us and was then released, Sullivant taking W
place. Inc latter Is now serving out la
sentence at Frankfort. W.
AND, asked the reporter. "you think, fl
10, you came near starting up the golden
lrs, Mr.. McGee?"
Starting" answered that gentleman 81
3 already halfway up They needn't tell
sir, there Is no hereafter next world
1lleVe have been nearer to it than anv 81
n alive. do not know what kind Of world MI
=, but OF life after death | am satisfied. ma
know that all the while was floating go
YARD my body was dangling by rope to lai
ilmb OF tree, practically, Sir, practically,
iead-as dead as q door nail" ]
in
I'M
Southern netn nnn.a. NJ