The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-17

me from hell, for I'm dying In the Lord.
at was On the first Of June that | got int
Amelia; / spoke to her. and she gave me
peach. ] took her into the slaughcer-h house
am guilty. You want to know II
i WAS ever In trouble before. / was ones
sald | did; but didn't. Oh yes had fall
trial.
you ask me II have brother, named
Mason Cheney, In jail2 Yes, sir. He was sen:
fenced TO the Penitentiary for life. He did
the same thing as did. 1t WAS his sweet
heart. and he threw her over the fence on M
dallagher's pla' 9 and killed her. This was
four or five years ago. About that attack on
my keeper, Mr.. Lucien Dardenne was put
UP to that by two Or three fellows that were
here. 1t was not my intention to Kill him
| Those fellows promised to help me tie MIN.
and then we were all going to get out. All
was going to do was to hold him. But must
say he has been very kind to me since. and
don't bear him any hard feeling, ana ne said
| he don't bear me any
II am now prepared to meet my God. All
| am sensible. This is ali the punishment
I've had SO far" pointing to the shackles on
will fly To heaven tomorrow. God has been
here with me- and is staying with me all the
| time. have seen my mother and have bid
"The people and preachers have all gone.
| They left me at o'clock, and | have had
| plenty Of time to think. And ] have been
thinking that they would have sent me to
prison for life but that they want To hang me
for an example. Well, ] suppose that the laws
are down IN the book and must be carried out,
laws II they were not carried out"
This ended the interview, and the reporter
withdrew leaving Cheney alone with his
thoughts.
OHENEY's LIFE.
There Is nothing of Importance in the life
hEt
life OF the average farm hand up to the time
Of the crime for which he is to pay the pen
atty with his life; but taking him, together
with the male portion Of his family they
seemed to have been inspired with brute pas
sions. and oil, save Robert, who Is to suffer
the most extreme penalty Of the law, are to-
day serving life-terms In the Penitentiary for
tho same olrenses.
Some three years ago John Bull, or John
Cheney, father of Robert committed assaults
upon various negresses In Iberville parish,
and his last, committed on DR.. Slaughter's
place. caused him to be sent to prison for life.
Mason Bull, another Of the sons, outraged
his intended wife on Mr.. Gallaghers place,
o fence, and as she was in delicate condition
she died from its effects. For this offense
Mason was tried, and escaping the gallOws
by hairs breadth, was sent to the Peniten-
tlary for life.
THE sCAFFoLD.
H5 SCHIlpIu C'Il5l5ltu ol bWO uUI1RuLS anu II
cross beam, to which was attached the fatal
noose while below, supported with an iron
trigger, was the trap.
1t was erected In the courtyard, on the left
hand side Of the court building, under several
large trees, and was safely guarded
THE FATAL DAY.
Yesterday the condemned man, after few
hours sleep, awoke with the dawn, and at
O'Clock, the shackles having been knocked off
his feet, he commenced to walk up and down
his cell with a firm and steady tread. He
was asked II he would have some breakfast
He said no, but asked to be given a glass of
milk: The milk was furnished, but he could
not drink more than half of 1t.
At this time his spiritual adviser came and
from that hour until 8 o'clock he was occupied
In prayer.
At half-past o'clock he was asked If he
wished to see his mother again. FL replied
mo; every time she comes here 1t makes her
cry, and ! don't want anybody crying for me
when don't cry for myself" He was then
informed that there. were number Of his
friends on the outside who wished to shake
hands with him. He said, ''Let them come
up" which was done, and about seventy-flve
men. women and children shook hands with
him, GOD blessed him." and then filed out of
In Jesus, who had appeared to him In his cell
that night In the shape Of an angel robed I'm
white. who assured him that he was going to
the land on the brighter shore.
When all OF his friends had left he was taken
by the sheriff to see the other prisoners con-
fined In the prison. He bid them all good-by
and told them that Ii they got out or their
present trouble to take warning by him, and
try and stay out OF jail and become good
men,
At about five minutes to Ii o'clock the con
demned man walked out Of the prison door
between the colored preacher, the Rev. Ashby,
and the sheriff, led by the executioner and
followed by few friends, among whom was
his step-sister.
Precisely at II o'clock he mounted the scat
fold.
Being asked by the sheriff II he had any
thing to say, he addressed the $500 people
assembled to see him die, as follows:
"Well, my friends, stand before you like
here to look at me and see how die / have
sinned against the law, and the Lord has for
given me for 1t, forever and eternity. God is
more than man, but man makes the laws.
There is nothing but sin in this world.
- have had good treatment by my iaiier,
the sheriff and the jaier's wife / have no
antmosity against them. The preacher, Mr..
Ashby came all the way from Donaldsonville
to pay his attentions to me-
Everybody attention; white folks and col
ored citizens, just pray to meet me Oh the
banks Of the River Jordan, and that ! might
see my God.
''There Isl great multitude here; some are
sorry and some are glad to see me go; am
Let this be an example to all OF you young
people Of my age; curb your passions, and
prepare to meet me In Jordan. This is all /
have got to say"
His remarks being at an end the sheriff as
cended the scaffold and pinioned his arms and
legs. During the whole of the ordeal the Gull |
prit never showed the slightest emotion
At ten minutes past IL o'clock the black
cap was adjusted about his face, and at II rs
the executioner. GerIigan Rngwald, jerked
out the trigger, the trap fell and In the pres
ence OF the awc-stricken multitude, suspended
between heaven and earth dangled the body
of Cheney.
AS the moose had not been properly ad-
lusted by the executioner, the neck was not
broken, and he was strangled to death, suf-
fering excruciating pain, as evidenced by his
terrible contortons.
At III 80 he was pronounced dead by two
cut down. placed in rude coffin
and turned over to q negro society for burial.
they having asked for the body This ended
the first execution for this olfense In this
State since the war.