Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-01
Aufs FOR A.ufE.


ASlfS fVU N.eWes
: PArtseulars 81 tAs Hasgins q Richard
the Nsbraska Murderer.
Omaha Republican specials.
Whom sheriff Kisrnalnt arrived With Ricl
ards . little after midnight, the prisoner vi
. at ones placed in the sheriffs Office an
made himself at home thoroughly. He va
: in charge of the sberiff and three or fou
} deputies the rest Of the night. I went I
see him at about $50, and found him th
coolest man in the crowd, the sheriff beinI
very nervous. They were then getting ava.
with apples, canned peaches and crackers
and Richards appeared to have IN excellen
appetite. He was chatting pleasantly will
Deputy Sheriff Peters and Constable Jot
Windsaksr. After he finished his lunch ht
spent the reminder of the time till daylight
in writing his autograph and bits Of dogger.
81 on scraps of paper for various parties.
The name of 8. D. Richards, written in
round, bold hand, seemed to have great fas-
cination fer men Of morbid desires.
RefereAce was made to the early photo
graphs, one taken at l9, showing side vhls-
Eers. Eyes," he said, II wore whiskers
young; I had them at IL" Then pausing
~ II. rejecting on the evidence Of virility.
he continued, II tell you I have lived a fast
life, yes : life. boys up to the last year or
eighteen months, that I have enjoyed"
One correspondent asked for 2 lock OF his
hair. There being no shears Richards said
with Z peculiar smile, "You can get it after,
perhaps" A knife was suggested. "All
figh,9e said he, "whack away at it." At
their lleays-taking he expressed his thanks
Rr tho feeling aGedbless you" Of the journ-
alists. He said, II feel that God will bless
ne and give me strength" He pressed our
hands tightly. His hand was no longer
warm but very cold.
AT ten o'clock he was - brave as ever,
no evidence of weakening.
At 1880 about $500 men alone swere
gazing at the yet u~ntensnted scaffold. The
crowds impotence was but little shown in
the few mlnutes' lull here, but at 1874 the
crowd at the court house began to move to-
wards the scafold, and they completely
surrounded q carriage containing Deputy
Sheriff Peters, driving Rev. Mr.. Gee, facing
the doomed man, and Sheriff Kiernsn and
Richards on the back seat. They drove
slowly to the scaffold, consuming three min.
utes in SO doing. After alighting Richards
mounted the scaffold with . frn step.
AT IL :4S Kent spoke briefly by way Of
%introductioa. saying the time had now
come for the vindication of the laws.
A minute later the sheriff read q
copy Of the verdict Of the jury, the sentence
and the warrant of execution. All the
while Richards stood facing the crowd and
never displayed q, particle of emotion, his
dark grayseye sweeping alternately as if in
search of q look of pity, and then not find
ing it, giving . look Of defiance. 1t took
four minutes to finish reading the
At two minutes before l the
sheriff began Tying Richards. His
hands were Bound t0shis side with small
wrapping cord, and the cord was passed
around his thighs and ankles, which were
then strapped, as also were his knees.
Richards here spoke. He had not much
to say, but he gave his experience as q
warning to all. He said he felt that he had
made his peace with God. He babe all
farewell.
Rev. Mr.. Gee then stepped forward and
said he was here at the request of Richards;
that his respect for Christ, for himself and
for Richards. would sanction his (Gee's)
that attention be paid while q few
verses were read from the bible
and that all join in singing q
hymn. Mr.. Gee then read from Isaiah,
first chapter, sixteenth to nineteenth verses,
Wash ye, make Clean" ETC., and from St.
John, third chapter. fourteenth, fifteenth
md sixteenth verses, "And as Moses lifted
p the serpent in the wilderness" etc. He
gain asked all to join in the hymn, "There
) a fountain filled with blood" etc. Alive
after ! o'clock, Mr.. Gee recited a
,rvent prayer for tranquility, composure (,
nd strength in need for this ordeal. In i
70 minutes the prayer was over and Rich I
rds spoke, repeating his warning. 1t did
OF, he said, require 50 much strength before :
|od as one might think. He gazed heaven
ard fervently during his remarks and con- e
|uded with "God bless the whole people," T:
At ten minutes after l, the rope was plac-
! around his neck. Richards did not even
MI. Gee shook hands with him
the last time and Richards again spoke,
his words with frequent "God
less you" Towards the end his voice fell,
ecoming scarcely audible.
At eleven minute, past I the black CAP
'as drawn over his face, and for half a min
te the doomed man stood m~otionless. with
the solemn grandeur of eternity before
i'm and he weakened not.
At exactly l o'clock, eleven minutes and
hirty seconds, Sheriff Herman kicked the
and the drop fell. Nearly six feet Of
ope was allowed and Richards' body fell
18th q dull but very loud thud. The neck
as not broken. For as much a q minute
I'D a half the body raised itself at each
separation, while the feet swung to and fro.
Vandenpurg and Dalrymple were
romptly In place to make the examination,
.ichards' pulse lost none of its regularity
II 4 few minutes and then fell rapidly. In
minutes after the drop fell.
was pronounced dead. The BODY
as allowed to hang minutes longer,
nd was then cut down.
PLUCK AND GOOD AIM.