The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-20

court mouse. Inc ScaUOlQ is erected lew
feet south of the door of the Jail, and in plain
sight from the cell windows of the condemned
man.
THE MURDERER.
John w. Beavers was SO years OF age
about medium height and compactly built
weighing about 155 or 100 pounds. He had
dark hair and cold, sinister looking steel
gray eyes, which were constantly in motion,
seldom being fixed on one object for any
length OF time. In conversation he evinced
restlessness, dwelling for a moment on one
subject and then on another.
THE EXECUTION.
At half past IL O'Clock the members of the
press were invited inside of the Jail, and the
prisoner was brought down. He was accom-
panied by the Revs. Tinsley and Silver, and
his lips were moving in silent prayer. Sheriff
Nugeht proceeded to tie his hands, and after
he had placed the rope around the left hand
Beavers remarked, THAT is a little too
tight" The knot was loosened slightly.
The cord was then readjusted, and his hands
were tied together. He then said, "Mr.
Nugent, hadn't you better put handouts on
me?'
mo; don't like to do that" replied Mr..
Nugent, and the victim nodded his head in
silent assent of the edict. His arms were
then pinioned behind him, after which he
walked out and assembled the scaffOld without
evincng tremor. The rope was adjusted
about his neck by the sheriff, while Beavers
stood calmly gazing upon the crowd, not
speaking word. To say he was composed
is but feeble expression as indicative of his
calmness He stood upon the trap as If pur-
siding the most ordinary vocation OF lie.
He was accompanied by the Revs Tinsley
and Silver and after chair had been gwen
him the Rev. Tnsley delivered the following
prayer:
THE PRAYER.
Almighty God. Father OF Mercies, God of
Justice, we acknowledge that Thou {
Almighty aud Merciful Father. We acknowl-
sins, and, coming before Thee, therefore ac-
knowledging the justice of this sentence, ac-
knowledging, D God, that thou art our
tent, believing sinner. We thank Thee. o
Lord, that this man has had set before him
life and dea n; that he heartily, we
he IS trusting ps" in the mercifal promises Uses
of Him who said, "Whosoever will let HIM
drink of the water of life freely" Thou hast
said, "Ask and We shall receive" Now, Lord,
we come TO ask pardon for this man, who has
committed a great crime, for which he pro
fesses to be profoundly sorry. We bese, CHI
Thee to support him in this sad and trying
hour. We ask Thee to be with hum every
moment while passing through the valley Of
the shadow of death. Do for hun; support
and blessings for this unfortunate man, not
because of any merit there is in prayer, but
because of the merit of the blood, the death
and suhering of Jesus Christ, and b. cause
Thou hast encouraged us to come and accept
mercy at Thy hands. We ask, therefore, In
behalf Of this man, that Thou wilt have mercy
upon him. We thank Thee for the signs which
he gives of penitence. and now we commit his
soul to Thee. Merciiully receive his spirit
when he takes his departure from this earth
to that better life. Unworthy as he is, save
him, and save us, Tor Jesus Christ's Jour Re-
deemer's) sake. Amen.
THE DEATH DROP.
When the word Amen" had been said,
the clock in the court house struck one, and
then the black cap was pulled over the face
OF the doomed man. When the third stroke
of the clock had been sounded, Sheriff
Nugent pulled the lever, and John w. Beav-
ers was launched into eternity He had
nothing to say on the scaffold, his lips simply
moving in silent prayer. The following is a
record of the beating of his pulse after the
fatal drop:
First minute with respiration -. .......... ~
second 70
miro minute
E0urln inlnute '--...-.-----.- '-i 10
lfbn min u ie-.---..----..--.-..--. -. los
sixth
At the seventh minute. no pulsation was
perceptible at the wrist, but at 10 minutes
the heart was pulsating lbs to the
decreased to 81, aud at 13 minutes no
pulsation was visible, and he was pronounced
dead, and at II y minutes he was cut down.
and after being placed in a plain poplar
coffin was delivered to his friends. His neck
was broken by the fall, and it is
evident that his death was instantaneous.
Twenty-three minutes after the trap fell
the temperature in his mouth was go Fair.
enheit. A singular circumstance Is that
" a ci mi n q
respiratory muscles or diaphragm after the
hanging.
The body was taken to Liberty church,
where it will be buried by his friends.
THE CONFESSION.
Mr.. James E. Benham, who was member
of the Twenty-second Indiana regiment dur
ing the war, and a comrade of John w.
Beavers, was sent for by the latter soon after
the trial, Mr.. Bsnham visited the Jail, and
bad long and confidential talk with the
doomed man, who seemed to have desired
the visit of Mr.. Benham that he might re-
lieve bis bosom of great weight. Knowing
Mr.. Benham would not divulge anything
until after all efforts of Beavers attorneys
had failed and he had met his fate, he pro-
ceeded with the following full and free con-
fession:
/ first conceived the idea of numbering Sew
ell about one year ago, as and another part
ner were talking about making "raise."
The other party had killed three men. Alter
ward visited Sewell's Office, and learned that
he owned piece of land in Ripley county
Indiana. This is the manner In which in
tended 10 make the raise: L make Sewell be-
lieve had money, get the deed made, and get
possession of the deed by decOying
him into the country and numbering
him. L then wrote SeweIl card to
meet me at North Vernon, telling him
thought we could make trade for the land
in Ripley county. wanted 10 get him out in
the country, so we met at North Vernon. L
told Sewen that my partner and had about
$50. ewell had the deed already made out.
We hired a rig at North Vernon and went TO
look at the land. told Sewell it was trade,
and he paid the taxes while we were al Yer
sailleS. My intention was to murder him on
the road back from Versailles to North YER
non; thoaghG he had money; but had no
good chance. My object was to get pos
session of the deed and what money he
had with him. When we got back 10 North
Vernon / told Sewell we would 20 down to
Holman and Sc my partner, as he had the
money. Sewell wanted TO hire a two-horse rig