The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-27
a TENNESSEE HANGING.

y IENNESSEE HANGiNUs
Two Negro Murderers, After Subsection TO
the Hangman's Offices, Subjected to EIec-
trical Experiments-The Doctors Fail to
Rekindle the Vital spark.
[Mdrfreesboro Tenn Cor. Chicago Times.
Fifteen thousand people gathered
here to witness the execution of Burrell
Smith and John Hall. Both slept well
after midnight, and awoke feeling re-
freshed. Smith said he could not die
in peace unless he ate piece of pound
cake, which was given him. Most of
the morning was spent in religious de-
votion, the greater part of which con-
sisted OF singing songs peculiar to ne
groes. One of these celebrations, chants
or medleys was:
Father. where will you be when the general roll is
Taking in sisters, cousins and aunts;
and another:
Holy Lord. holy Lord. we will have love in today.
think, brethren, ats eating the honey and drink
l am sometimes up and sometimes down:
and still another:
have found my robe: il fits me well;
tired ii on at the gates of hell.
The condemned and six others in
their cells sang these songs until just
before the time of leaving for the scat
fold, when they called for Bill Smith
(colored), in Jail for incendiarism and
robbery. One white man and seven
negroes have been sentenced to long
terms of imprisonment on the evidence
of Smith and John Hall, which the con-
demned have always asserted to be
false. When Bill confronted them as
Brothers in Christ" they remarked to
him: Thank God, we are saved" Hall
remarked to him: "Can you profess
Christianity? Do you still stick to the
lie you have told against these eight in
nocent men, and have you repented or
changed?" To which Bill Smith re-
sponded: "By God Almighty, 1 am
"Then sink down on your knees and
swear it," said Hall, and the three fell
to their knees, and each, with
uplifted hands, swore that he
had told the truth. All three
arose so much excited that they had to
be separated. Burrell Smith and John
Hall, who had put on black gowns fo1
the gallows, were then conducted out OF
Jail and through dense crowd to the
scaifo'd. Just before their arrival the
amphitheatre erected by the owner OF
the ground as a speculation gave way
smashing ankles and creating STAN.
pede. Both criminals came upon the
scaffold with CHASTITY smiles, and sa.
trembling like aspen leaves on the seat
during the proceedings which followed
After hymns, prayer and sermon from
colored minister, Hall and Smith
stepped upon the drop. when they said
Let all take warning by our fate. We
hope to meet you all in heaven. Fare.
well, world, and God bless you" The
fainting of white boy created some ex.
element, delaying the adjustment of the
cap. Reasserting the innocence of the
eight men sentenced on Bill Smiths test,
imony, the black cap was placed over their
faces, and the Deputy Sheriff ordered
to cut the rope. AT the first blow he
sent the Ratchet into the post, missing
the rope. AS he cut the rope Smith
stopped down as if in swoon, Hall get
ting a clear fall of four feet. Smith
writhed as if suffering acute agony
Hall passed of with two shrugs of the
shoulders. Both were pronounced dead
within seventeen minutes, cut down.
placed in collins, and hurried as speed.
ly as possible to house 800 yards dis.
tant, where Drs. Byrne and Murfee, OF
Murfreesboro, and Dr. Sleger, of Nash
vile, had arranged instruments and APP
pliances for the purpose of resurrection,
IN the presence of large number OF
physicians. Thirty minutes after the
rope had been cut that experiment was
tried. The clothing of the muir.
derers was quickly torn from
their bodies, which were wrapped
in hot blankets, the dislocation OF
their necks reduced, and artificial
respiration kept up. Electricity was
then applieu to different portions of the
brain and spinal cord, AMI other stimu.
lants used. Muscular movements were
apparent. The pulse beat feebly
Temperature was raised to LOB de-
grees. The eyes opened and appeared
to be directed to different objects il
the room, with the regular breathing
and muscular contraction. There wa:
peculiar expression of the face anC
eyes, sound with each inspiration an(
expiration. The bodies presented
llfe-like appearance. DIR. Sleger her,
stated that the desired object had bee,
accomplished, which was to show tn,
action of electricity and other modes o
stimulation upon the nerves and mus
cular systems. The stimulants wer,
then removed, when the bodies cease,
to show any signs of vitality. The DO
dies were given the doctors, at the re
quest of the murderers, for disse ct on.
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