The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-01

for suitable place for the erection OF
the scaffold for several days past, with !
out being able to select the spot, or rath-
er without being allowed TO do so.
Whenever he spoke OF place, re-
mOnstrances were at once raised by per- |
sons in the neighborhood.
Yesterday he decided on the south |
east corner of the Courthouse yard, but
members OF the City Council and the
Court officers objected so strongly that
he sought another locality, notwith-
standing the snow had been cleaned
from the spot and the gallows hauled to
Moiz's stable. on the opposite corner,
ready for erection.
The scaffold was finally erected at a
spot III the rear of the old Linden Grove
Cemetery. In what is called upper
Willow Rum" Nature has peculiarly
adapted the place for the purpose 10
which it was assigned. A natural basiu,
| surrounded on all sides by hills and
plateaus, gives one the idea OF an arena
Of ancient times. The scaffold was
erected last night, a Watchman remain
ing on guard till this morning.
rope was stretched three hundred
feet in circumference around the scat
| fold. Z :porters and Court officers were
| accommodated inside the circle.
THE DOOMED MAN.
| Watson awoke at O'Clock this morn
ing and prayed loudly on his knees from
that time Till O'Clock, for forgiveness.
Turnkey Bateman opened the oell.do0r
and the prisoner walked the corridors
nerv0usly until the time or starting for
the scaffold.
| Watson ate a hearty breakfast OF
boiled eggs, fish and rolls. At u quar-
ter past nine Sheriff Lowe, accompanied
by Deputies Felthaus and COX, led the
doomed man from the prison, and
posse of twenty-five citizens with guns
and the same number OF police escorted
| Dim to an omnibus in readiness at the
Greenup-street side OF the Courthouse.
THE SCENE AT THE sCATFoLD.
As early as 8 o'clock crowds COM
menced Solng towards the place OF exc
cutioa. The bills around the place Of
execution were crowded with specta-
tore, and the rope around the scaffold
was pressed BY surgiug crowd Of men,
women and children.
| DR.. J. j. Dulaney and two or three re-
portefs standing on the platform were
made targets tor snoWballs by 1ltppant
lyoulhs in the immediate surrounding
crowd. The snow fell in steady fakes,
and the weary waiting for the Sheriff
aud HE charge went on.
Tie dimensions OF The scatfo!d wsre
feet by 10 !eet, IA feet from the ground to
the beam, and 8 feet from the bottom OIL
the trap to the ground. 1t was erected
by Mr.. D. r. Williams. an architect and
builder, and the trap device was de-
lsigued by Mr.. +. Rough, and worked
with lever, simple and effective, avoid
Ing accidents.
On a post in the ground at the side of
| ha FIR n ball tkA
when IL dropped. 1t was one of the
most complete affairs OF the kind on
rec0rd.
At 1920 Sheriff Lowe appeared ON the
scatlold with rope in his hands, ac-
lcompAniel by Mr.. Braoker, who made
it. The rope was one-haf inch oatgut
and hemp.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
At 1O:35 the procession appeared over
the brow of the hill, the prlsoner in a
hack guarded by posse on foot armed
with guns and fixed bayonets, Charles
Donnelly, the undertaken, coming
first in a buggy. After the prisoner
a hack with relatives; with the prisoner
was Deputy Sheriff Felthaus and two
Sisters.
Ascending the scaffold, Felthaus and
Lowe were on each side, accompanied d
by Fathers Jopss aud Lambert. The
prisoner, with dry cough, took a seat
nervously on the rlgAt railing, alter an
anxious look at the crowd In front.
The prayer Of "Our Father" was re-
peated by the priest, and then the
Apostles Greed was repea ed, the pris-
oner repeating after him. The crucifx
being placed in his hand it shook like an
aspen. Attempting to look at the crowd,
Father Jones put his hand up depreca
tingly. The prisoner kissed the oruci-
ix. He kept his hat on, his hands being
lied.
Deputy FelLhaus tied the arms of the
prisoner at the elbows, also tying
his legs. On the scaffold were also
Sheriff Lowe and the prisoners attog :
ney, r. q. Gray, and Mr. Lew. Bracken.
Sheriff Lowe adjusted the nOJse. The
prisoner stepped forward and said ::
"rhe Lord Jesus Christ has called me,
and am going home. All world, vain
world, I'm going home. A mighty heap
of rascals are left behind. They will
follow me, aud some 30 the lowest pit OF
HELL"
| At 1915 the moose was adjusted by
Suerif Lowe.
At 1o:47 the drop fell from the hands
OF Sheriff Lowe.
| At 1O:49 the pulse beat at 40, ana IL
minutes later AT AZ. IW0 Mlhu.0S after,
some pulse still felt.
AT 1880, still warm; two minutes AZ
tier, working fasLer. Almost impercepti-
BILE ~ minutes later.
JusC as Sheriff Lowe grasped
the lever Watson whispered to him
.'Leave me down as easy as you oan"
| Coroner Averdick and Dr. j. }. Du.
laney watched the pulse, aud found tn at
In 9H minutes the pulse was too slow to
count it, and In 10:3e minutes pro.
nouuced The man dead. The neck was
not broken.
Watson was dressed iu dark jeaus
pants, All old black doeskin frock Uoat,
slippers and brown wooden SOCKS. A
piece Of wind0w-Dlind cord was used In
fastening WaLson's arms and legs. He
was taken down at niue anu a half min.
utes after IL U'clooK.
No inquest was heh. The ply siciaus
a3ksd ssiali=Aion 70 EAks Il sasl:oai 2x-
aMina4ion OF his body, but the Sheriff
t0ld them that the body was out Of his
possession. After hanging eighteen
minutes u ooftin was pat Under the scat
old and the body placed in it and re-
moved.
The crowd, which at this time mum
ber over twe,Vs thousand, spread In