Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-26


isnow cottonfeld. 1e died very bravely,
protesting against the manner OF his death,
and claiming that lie was executed In vio-
lation Of law. lie was magnificent spec
linen Of manhood, and was engaged to he
married TO n beautiful young Kentucky
girl within few days OF the date OF his
hanging There were no unusual circum-
stances attending his execution. lie died
quickly, and apparently without much
suffering.
SEVEN MEN HANGED OK ONE scAFFoLD.
When the trial Of the rest of the band
had begun, II was discovered that the Court.
martial had determined TO make differ
onco between the men who had been prom
ised share OF the $4,000, to he given at
the close OF the expedition, md those who
were simply detailed for service without
knowing the precise nature OF the expe-
lition. The prisoners relied upon the
fact that the whole twenty men were de-
tachcd for this service from the same brig
adc. and that their raid was hence a mill
tnry expedition, and not the work OF spies
They defended their having adopted cili-
zcns' dress by citing instances where Nor
gan's raiders, having been captured in
squadrons in civilians clothes, were treated
by the FcderalS as prisoners OF war. The
trial was a lengthy. tedious one, aud the
decision reserved for some days.
One day the men were in their prison
| playing checkers upon the floor and sing
| ing quite merrily when some one called
attention to the fact that large body of
| hnrscmen had halted in front of the Jill
| door 1t was noticed that mn immense
mass OF people were collected in the streets
| near the prison. The door was thrown
open and an Off 'er standing in the door
way called for William Campbell of Ken.
/ tucky, George -. Wilson, Maj ION A. Ross,
| Perry e.. Shadrack, S,muel Slavens, Sam
uel Robinson, and John Scott of Ohio.
| The men arose a. they were called, except
! Robinson, who was very i'll with n fever
/ and had to lie raised TO his feet and sup
| ported while he stood. The off ;er com
| mnndcd the men TO follow him, and they
| left the room with him. The prisoners
who were left were in deplDrable condition
OF uncertainty. They did not know whelh-
er their comrades had been carried out for
exchange or parole or death No intima-
ton of the decision of the Court had been
| given. At length they returned, healed
by George Wilson, who, with u face pale
as death, said: Boys, we are to be hung
Immediately
The guards came in with the men, and
tied them hand and foot. During this
preparation the condemned men took last
farewell OF their comrades. Wilson, who
had been for years mn unbelicver, turned
to Pittenger, a comradc who was quite re-
ligious and said "Oh, PitteHger, / know
that you are right" and then, turning to
his friends" he said: Boys, when you
come to die, try to be better prepared than
I am now ~ Shadrack, who had been the
! - q tl bat al
less man, said: "If were only prepared
to meet my God, | would be satisfed," !"
He was urged by Pitenger to calm him
self and think Of Heaven, but he replied
at is too late now-but I'll try, I'll tryp
Slavens who was n man OF immense stat-
ure turned toward his friends and said
"Oh, boys tell my wife and children !" and
then broke completely down, and could
say no more. Young Scott, who was mar
ried only three DAYS before lie left for the
army, never said a word from the time his
sentence was announced. His lips were
drawn tight across his mouth, and his
: hands clasped in front of him. lie never
J spoke n word. Rose is said to have beer
the frmest of them all. He said, Boys, il
! any of you escape, tell them died for my
country; that l died like man, and dc
r not regret it," Robinson, so i'll that h,
could hardly speak, and could not stand
, had TO lie carried from the room. ONLY
about three minutes wns consumed in the
preparations. The men were then carrie,
: through the front door and placed in nj
open cart. The cart was surrounded by
| heavy force OF cavalry, and an immens
throng of sightseers accompanied it.
TIE GALLONS SCENE.
The place selected for the hanging wn
, within the city limits. An enormous seal
= fold was furnished with trap door, whic
: sank from beneath the feet of the men II
= the springing of trigger. After the me
', had assembled the plank, and the moose
) had been adjusted, George Wilson asked t
; be allowed to make 4 statement. Permi,
:, sion was granted him, and, standing thci
" in the shadow of violent death, with til
), fatal rope about his neck oking his voc
u u down, lie made speech that went to tn
u heart OF every man that heard it. lie spok
{ without tremor, and with calm and di,
Z tiact utterance. He said ii was not tn
! part Of brave men to murmer at deaf
u when they were brought face to face wit
&c it, and that he had nothing to say again
u the decree of the Court that had brougl
&c him to the scaffald. lie decried. howeve
II in name OF his comrades and in the nan
=" of Justice, the manner uf the death to whic
Ie they had been brought. 1t was not such
70 death rs soldiers deserved. lie said thi
= he and his comrades had been moved
~ mn honest and patriotic love of the Unio
u lie deplored "the wickedness of the Soutl
u ern leaders" who had "misled and deludt
'' the people into making an unholy al
hopeless war" lie dweIt with great e.
~ thllsiasm upon the cause OF the Union, al
!. predicted that in shoit time the sta
~ spangled banner would wave over the vel
" spot on which the scaflold theu stood.
- then closed his speech and announced tn
To- he and his comrades were ready. His col
rades listened attentively to his wore
m turning so that they might face him. Th,
OF seemed to be very much moved. Robins
~ was an exception, as he was very ill wi
ed n fever.
va After Wilson had concluded the trap W
1t sprung, it is believed by the Sheriff Of I
es county. The trigger was concealed, and
nd was not definitely known who touched
ad The men fell simultaneously, nrd {
m crowd averted their faces for an instaI
III, When they looked Mt the scaffold aga
It's only five men were hanging. Slavens a
as Campbell, who were very large men, h
re broken the ropes and fallen upon {
tn ground. They were writhing there in gre
he agony, half strangled, and the moose st
to pressing about their nccks. The cro'
he made rush toward the PROSTATE M
lie The Lieutenant in charge OF the hangi
rs. drew his sword aud, standing over the m
at drove the crowd back The rope "
to speedily loosed from the necks OF the V
ed Tins and they were assisted into n sitii
Iu- posture. They recovered their senses in
err moment, and both begged for drink
lg, water. This was given them and reviv
hrs them very much. The ropes were III
Try re -adj justed, and the two men were ma
ey to re-nscend the scaflhld. Their oomra
ey were cOrpscs. The trap was set again, a
th the fatal trigger was touched once more
* The men iell with dull, heavy tn
Try Camphclls neck being apparently brOL
est by the fall. Slavens, however, was doom
1t to still further torture. Ills immc
,vei,lt and size were such Tint his