Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-24
Benjamin Hunters Last AOurs.

DR.. Randall W. Morgan, county physician to
tie board Of chosen freeholders for Camden
couu,y, and Wto attended Benjamin Hunter
whiIo the latter was il Jail, has presented his
| sworn report to the bosrd.
In regard to the mooted question whether
Hunter was given Whiskey or not 10 bis last
hours, DR.. Morgan thus states, under oath:
II kept him steadily upon a supportlys
treatment uuder whic. he each day showed
decided improvement. Up to noon OF the
second day after the attempt, he had refused
any nou!ishmeut, saying he did not want it.
aud asking to be allowed to die. | then cx.
planned that was put there TO prelong his lie,
and that | did DO. iuteod he should get away
from US in that manner. [ set pitcher OF
beef tea outside the cage, tellins him that the
ucn would give it to him IS he wished. but
that II it was not eli gone By supper time b,
would have 20 take the rest by Injection.
When l came ct supp,r time It was gone, and
we had no more trouble ABOUT nou.lshmet
"On the morong of the execution went
into The cage early, and stald the rest or the
morning with hm, st tie request of the sheriff.
10 order to see tina. uothiog improper should
happen, as We had bccn od to cxnect scene
a. tho galCTj.
''Eyerytbiog went Oh puoh as usual 90 such
occasions, players had been go5e through. aud
Hunter was dressed lying on his back in the
bed with bis eyes closed, wScn be requested
nae to give him some whisky.
Hall an hour before the haOaiog was TO take
place | accordingly gave hin abont a huid ounce
of whisky, promising nim more 10 fifteen miD
:i5cs. | followed i, with li:,!e water, when
be thanked me and Rauted more whisky.
to!d him | would give bin more 10 little
while. Ii tGon:y raiau,es attar the hr5t whisky
aud ten nlcutas before tho execution l gave
bin about tlli5 ou1cc more OF whisky, lo'
loved BIZ sonc water He thanked III, aci l
had scarcely time to Hs!k outside the cage and
Sc! down the glass, WbcE be began 70 expecto
rate aud slob5cr, aud throw his head to ono
side, ac;iog as uesr as possible the drunkeD
I:.l.
His designs then were quito p!a'-: "Hough
to gee, that be WAS by this m 7aua clthar nopl0g
D iaduc, tho sheriff 10 pos.2ooa or get the
sympa,hcs OF the popuIace. Su,h a .hlos a5
being intoxicated Was suprcmeIy ridiculous 10
taos, Of ri who had wltu.ssac his taking the
whisky, and particularly tbos, used to hi
ways, but conicg as he did, it is 90 wotdcr
that ne should coDvcy the lnprcssloo that he
was beast;ly dsuck.
'Itsomc were iucIiGoG TO thiak ths! pcrhapa
10 his weakened condition two cuuocs OF whi;-
key might make him drunk, they should re.
member that Only few uighis before he had
plot aud bali 10 him al ouC,, and it did not
ntoxic2te him.
while the knot vas beicg adjusted to his
neck and the waite Cap s,t:iog on his heid, m
opened ais eyes aad looked straight end full 10
ry face for ciyht or ten seconds. uo,! the car
was pulled dowo over them. There arc certain
characteristic evidences of death by LaDglog
DOT proper to menlioa here, ani Which could
not prcscut themselves We're the party uocon-
scious or dead before haogiog, aod which wcrs
present to marked degree 10 this Case, xnd
were noticed by the physicians who saw tho
hody after desth"-EhNddclphn Ersn'ng BM
kttn, March 81.