Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-05

followed by the other deputies. owing 10
his badly sprained ankle the deputies were
obliged to carry him up the scaffold. Prayer
was offered and the death warrant read.
When asked il he had any to say, rising
from the chair and placing his sprained
foot on the lower railing and his hands on
the upper railing, Magoon spoke us fol-
lows:
THE SPEECH on THE GALLOws-AN EARNEST
FLEA FOR LIFE.
Gentlemen | stand here to-day to be
hung as an innocent man. We went TO
Montpelier and got some liquor and returning
drove to Mrs. PERKINS,. God knows | never
hurt Streeter in this world. We stayed there
awhile Streeter was going to stay all night
and this woman gave him half a pie which
he ate. Now couldn't get this woman 10
testify at the trial If she isn't guilty of the
crime that | am to be hung for, why didn't
she go out and see Streeter when she knew
he mad been killed No, she didn't care
anything about it. | am innocent and it is
wrong to kill NE. The good honest people
of Vermont would do me justice if the facts
had been presented right by my lawyers.
They have Just as good right TO 90 10 the
hang it as TO hang ne. My lawyers took
over two thousand dollars out of me- Now
Just look at it. | am going to explain to the
good people of Vermont, so after am dead
and gone they will know how it is. Now
hang me for nothing. 1t wont be three years
before YOU will lind you have killed an honest
man but it will be after | am dead. That
man in Rhode Island said the same thing,
and sure enough in three years the murderer
himself come round and confessed il. Yer
mont people with emphasis /, You have re-
fused to grant Il Christian man II fair trial.
Mrs Perrin had had fight with Streeter in
the spring. She pounded his head anu LETT
long scar indicating with his finger across
the forehead and she offered II thousand
dollars for somebody TO Kill Streeter. L
ought to have had time to get evidence be
fore the legislature, but they wouldn't let
me- Give me one year TO get new trial
and if the decision is against me after fair
hearing, | wont find word of fault for be
ing hung. always used Strceter well, kept
him in spending money, fed him for eleven
months and now to be killed for treating
a man well it amt right trembling violent
" and shedding tears. It's unjust. Why,
think of ii gentlemen could leave a three
year-old colt in the road and 60 back and
kill man. Doctor Jackson said he was
shot through the check. never had gun.
want TO explain 50 that the people of Yer
mont may understand after ! am killed that
| am an innocent man.
Here he stopped The sheriff then asked
.'Have YOU ANYTHING further TO say"
Magoon replied.
Il can't think of anything more, if have
got to be killed"
lie was then bound and while standing
on the trap he called out to Doctor Watson.
Take good care of me Win You take me
home:"
Doctor Watson standing about twelve
feet away replied,
Il will leave you at your Brother Johns.
Magoon in an undertone replied,
We'll we'll
The cap was then drawn over the face, the |
drop fell and he WAS sent into eternity. He /
died in fifteen and one half minutes. His
throat was nearly cut OF by the rope.
WINDSOR, Vt, Nov. 2S-The execution |
of Magoon took place in the prison hall where
Phair was executed, the rope being the same
used in executing Ward, Kavanagh, Barnet,
Welcome, Miller, Gravclin and Phair. None
of Magoon's family have visited him
and no demand for his body was made, until
this morning when DIR. q. l.. Watson of West
Topsham arrived, MaSoon's wife having, last
night, decided to send the following;
To the Hon. Warden of Vermont STATES filS"h AMI
High Sherln ~ " m,lsor county
GESrLENrN: We respectfully request that you
deliver the body uf Asa Magonn ~ III o. l. Nai>'h
that he NAV take II Ia us for burial.
Very respectfully. MKs. ASA NtGuoN
A. j. WALL ICE Postmaster.
IVES Tnpsham. Nov. p. ls'9
NIngoon was born in Corinth and IL s'Niy
wears old lie has borne II hard character
fn many years and is suspected "i having
two other persons one
German peddlar, who is said Ia have
been last seen at his house and the
family was afterwards in possession OF
goods believed to belong TO the peddar.
A house in which a Mrs. Bowen lived was
burned at Corinth, and her charred remains
found in the ruins with the skull broken in.