The New York herald., 1878-07-06
EXECUTION OF HARRISON A. BURK-
LOW.
[BY rELxGnApH TO THE HERALD

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
VIENNA, johnson county, H., July g. 1878.
johnson county, though ono oil the oldest In the
State aud with criminal record OF no lgh. hue to-day
witnessed her first judlcsi taking OF is must
be inferred IRON this assertion, however, that the
hanging to-day the FIRST that has taken place
in the county, II was not; but It the nrst under
sanction OF law Within the last dozen years two or
three men nave met death IN this county at the
ropes end but at their trials Judge Lynch presided
THE CRIME.
The crime for which Harrison A. Burklow to-day
paid the penalty with his life most
ubsrs,e and cold blooded recorded in this por-
ton OF the State. David Wagner and Burklow
employed a. laborers NJ Msssrs. Chapman n Hess
sawmil, al Foreman, seven miles below THIS place.
Up 10 within twenty.iour hours oil the murder wag-
oncr and BurKlow the best Of terms
aud we're much III each others company
Tn~y we're near neighbors, aud their families su..
tanned friendly relations 10 each other. On the 4th
OF Ju,y ls17, Wagner attended the celebration IA ut
Caro- and when he returned to Foreman IN the
ing he was under the influence of liqior Burklow,
VINO had remained al home In Foreman during the
day had also drunk TO excess, and, hearing
wagon~r's boastlpg that he could whip any man
in Foreman, followed him to his house, where
war Of words ensrei, but trends inter
ioreu ard they were separated without comins TO
b oss Tue next day, July D, Wagoner weut 10 nis
work IN the mIl as usual An hour later BurSiow
made his appearance IN tue mili looking lor
Wagner aud swearing he would ''settie hn.' He
iound Wagner carrying an armiui OF timoer.
revolver and the former, seeing him com
ing dropped the timber ana threw up his
hsnd., a, The same time crying out, "Don't shoot,
Burxlcw, Don't, don'i, Bursiow. don'tl' But
Burklow was detcrni ned ~ have Wagoncr's lie. Ho
fired, the ball pierced wagoner's nesri ana he died
instantly. Burkow was immediately arrested and
brought here to Vienna aud placed IN jail. out Was
subsequently transferred TO Caro- Tor .rear safety
Iasat .a.rt mi th. l.at
son County CIcuil Court Tue legal struggle lasted
week, NJ the conclusion OF wnicn TIME It VAS gwen
TO Jury who, after an absence OF Two bour-, re-
turned verdict OF gull y oil murder In the FIRST
gree anu liked the puDnhment AT death. Alter vari-
Gus legal delays JuGge DOugherty, on the 10th OF
January last, pronounced the sentence OF death
against the cuiprL ihc case was subsequently re-
vIewea by the supreme Ccurt, shtcn aihrmed tue
nndrvs oi lower Court aud named ihc 5,h OF July
u the day Tor execution.
rHE ExkcrrIoS.
Tne Court ordered thut tue execution should take
place between twelve O'Clock, noon, aud four O'Clock
p. NJ All tho preparations beng IN readiness at
quarer 10 three O'Clock r. NJ Shern Carter, the prs
on aud two clergy stepped upon tho platform at
the head o the STAIRS leading IRON the secoud sory OF
is,L Here a matt was made, anu the sher n, IN the
prcscuce OF two thousand people, IN a loua, clear
vOice, read the death warrant Ihe prisoner
sood uorjecty quiet once or tw ice casting
his eyes over the multitude below Al the conclusion
OF the reading o the warrant tue sheriff asxed Burk
allow " he desired TO address the people. when he
81, pJ ed forward ana spid:-
"FnInsps-I have bu, liite to say, but will say this
Is hard sentence that have got thought | would
shout all I can say through the papers
| will not say much nov, as II IS
very hot | hope every one will think this matter
over aud give " Iuil justice. Iw say think have
not been iairiy treated since the com mnencemenL
wilt say have malice against any one, either ut
Formsn or anywhere else, and hope have the sym
pathy every and nope they VIII forgive me and
~di lorsivc them II tncy nave done me any wrong,
and hope God viii forgive mc tor all the wrongs
nave done q nd take me to a bstter world"
Having nn,sned his speech the prisoner vas ushsred
the enclosure At the foot Of the stairs and IN The
esnrs s which the soaAeld uAs arectAA Ma uaaaisA