St. Landry democrat., 1879-05-03
A HPRIVATEo HANGING.
How the Farce is Car led Out i'm Eng Eand
"A Howlisg Crowd.

| HOW the Farce is Car led Ont i'm ngEand
| "A Hewliug Crowd.
New York Times Letter.
It was believed up to the Last moment
by the MOI bid and criminal classes O
Englen that Charles Peace, who had 81
often cheated the police, would "swindle
the gallows." The newspapers havl fed
TIE populace with 80 many illustrations
of this great criminals frmness, resource:
and courage, that it came to be thought
among the ignorant and vulgar that the
man led q charmed Ii g. It was reported
in the press that he had an abnormsliy
long tor que, and that he would, as soor
as it answered his purpose, choke himself
with it. Nothing has been too wild for
rumor to invent and for the press tc
publish concerning this notorious male
factor; though his career has been suffi'
GENTLY remarkable without the addition
of single touch of exaggeration. A
thief of the most daring and ingenious
character from his boYhood, he has died
murderer, with lie on his lips, and 8
confidence as to the future, than which
one cannot imagine more grim satire
upon scafold repentances. From the
journals, and from men who were present
and saw the wretcbed business, gather
that crowd of to-day only wants the
opportunity to behave just as badly as it
did when Dickens looked on it thirty
years ago. Some of the people congre-
gated at point of the prison where it
was reported they could hear the execu
toner draw the fatal bolt; the other
crowded where they could see the officer
whose duty it was to run up the black
flag, which denot q that the drop has
fallen.
This officer arrived at his station at
eight 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, cursiug, laughing, yelling,
perpe trating ribald jests. When the
clock began to strike eight, and the flag
was not raised, there was as much impa-
tienceas if the people had been looking on
at the black ceremony itself. "He's cheat,
ed the gallows," shouted one. "Drayo,
Charley" cfied..snother. "Aye, but he's
sumner" cried third, hes swallowed
his tongue" Then there was cheer
and roar of laughter, which [ am told
was heard by those inside, breaking in
upon the solemn words Of the funeral
service. When four minutes past the
time had gone, the crowd became il
tensely excited. Some Of the noisiest of
the concourse offered long odds that
Peace had "done little escape" or
s'foored Jack Ketch." Then q woman
had Mysteries, and the crowd howled at
her. But suddenly up went the black
flag, and q shudder seemed to run
through the surging mass, "but," says
one of the reporters, 'sthe feeling soon
passed away, and from large number OF
the assembled crowd rose fendjsh and
inhuman shout"
The delay of some minutes in the exc
cution Of Peace was occasioned by his
addressing the four reporters who were
admitted to represent the entire English
and foreign press on the occasion. He
made great effort to "de game" but
he tried st the last moment to extend
bis wretched lite for few seconds longer.
At last the executioner put on the cap,
but no sooner had he done 60 than
Peace, in a sharp, quick voice from
said: Il should like a
drink. Have you got a drink to give
me 2" He said over and over again that
he wished to die, but he fought hard,
poor wretch, for minutes of existence at
the last. The chaplain went on reading
The funeral service.
"Can have drink? Oh, can I have
! drink 2" chimed in the man on the
$atal drop. There was no reply. Only
he solemn words of the parson and the
,olling of the prison bell. "Lord Jesus
:eceive his SOUL" said the CHAPLAIN
way few the bolt, and the miserable
nan fell without a struggle, and up aloft
ose that black flag outside the prison
walls. The affair is over; but the influ-
nee of the criminal, it is feared, will
oDg be felt in the depr.ved walks O!
lie. "Charley Peace" is hero and his
eeds will have many imitators. Almost
n entire page of the Evening Standard
n London was devoted to the execution
nd career of Peace on Tuesday; and
in addition to long reports of
ne last scene, all the leading journals
ave editorials upon the subject.