Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-22
A PRIVATE" HANGING.
How the Farce is Carried Out in Eng
land.

new lOfk Almes Letter.
1t was believed up to the last mo-
ment by the morbid and criminal
classes of England that Charles Peace,
who had so often cheated the police,
would swindle the gallows." The
newspapers have fed the populace
with so many of this great
criminals frmness, resources and
courage that it came to be thought
among the ignorant and vulgar that
the man led a charmed life. 1t was
reported in the press that he had an
abnormally long tongue, and that he
would, as soon as it answered his pur-
pose, choke himself with it. Nothing
has been too wild for rumor to invent
and for the press to publish concern
ing this notorious malefactor though
his career has been sufficiently re-
markable without the addition of a
single touch of ex~aggeration. A thief
Of the most daring and ingenious char
acter from his boyhood, he has died a
murderer, with a lie on his lips and a
confidence as to the future. than which
one cannot imagine a more grim satire
upon scafold repentances. From the
journals, and from men who were
present and saw the wretched bust
ness, | gather that a crowd of to-day
only wants the opportunity to behave
just as badly as it did when Dickens
looked at it thirty years ago. Some
Of the people ~cOngregated at a point of
the prison, where it was reported they
could hear the executioner draw the
fatal bolt the others crowded where
they could see the officer whose
duty it was to run up the black flag
which denotesthat the drop has fallen.
This officer arrived at his station at s
o'clock. With the flag in one hand.
the rope in the other, he awaited the
signal to raise it. The crowd surged
to and fro, eursing, laughing, yelling.
and perpetrating ribald iests. When
the clock began TO strike eight. and
the flag was not raised, there was as
much lmpatience as if the people had
been looking on at the black ceremony
itself He's cheated the gallows.h 1
shouted one. A" Bravo, Charley. cried
another. Aye, but he's a sumner.
cried a third he's swallowed his
tongue. Then there was a cheer and
a roar Of laughter, which / am told
was heard by those inside, breaking in
upon the solemn funeral service.
When four minutes past the time had
gone, the crowd became intensely tx.
cited. Some Of the noisiest Of the
%concourse offered long odds that Peace
had done a little escape " or "foored
Jack Ketch." Then a woman had
Mysteries, and the crowd howled at
her. But suddenly up went the black
flag, and a shudder seemed TO run
through the surging mass, but. saws
one Of the reporters, the feeling soon
passed away, and from the large mum
Der OF the assembled crowd rose a
icndlsh and inhuman shout"
The delay Of some minutes in the
%o9ecltion Of Peace was o%ccasioned by
his addressing the four reporters who
were admitted TO represent the entire
English and foreign press on the eca
sion. lie made a great effort to +" die
game, but he triedat the last moment
to extend his WRECKED life for a Row
seconds longer. At last the exeou-
TONER put on tho cap, but no sooner
had no done 50 than Peace, 10 a sharp.
J quick voice from underneath, said,
should Ike a drink. Have got a
drink to give me 2" He said over and
over again hat he wished 10 die. hut
he fought hard, poor wretch, for min.
ntea OF existence e the last. fihe
chaplain went on reading the funeral
service.
l., Can | have a drink? Oh. can I
have a drink ehimed in the man on
the fatal drop. Thoro was no repIy'
Only the solemn words OF the lar.
son and the tOlling Of the prison
Dell Lord Jesus receive his soul n
sald the chaplain-away few tho bolt.
ana the miserable man fell without a
struggle, and up aloit rose the black
nag. outside the prison walls. the
aiialr Is over but the influence Of tbo
criminal, II is feared, will long be folt
IN the depraved walks Of life
Charley Peace is a hero. and his
deeds will have many imitatofs. All.
most an ontire page Of the Evening
Standard in London was devoted 10
the execution and career Of Peace on
tuesday and yesterday, in addition 10
iong reports Of the Lass scene. an The
leading journals have editorials upon