The Osceola times., 1880-07-10
EXECUTION OF SAND
FORD GEORGE AND
RICHARD MCGEE.
Twenty-Five Hundred
People Witness the
Execution.

Early yesterday morning th
people from all parts of the count,
began to assemble, TO witness th'
execution of George Sanford anC
Richard McGee, for the murder o
Armstcd Penn, and sentenced al
the last term of the Mississippi
County Circuit Court. AT bal
past twelve O'Clock the prisoners
were marched out Of Jail, accom-
panied by their spiritual advisers
TO the gallows, which had been
erected in the upper part of town
on the river bank. Divine services
werc held, conducted by ievs. J.
NJ. Collins, Leroy jackson and
+. Morgan. Gospel songs and
prayers were offered up to the
thrown of grace, addresses and ex-
hortations were delivered, in turn
by Elder Nose Elliott, Rev. Leroy
Jackson, Rev. j. NJ. Collins, Rev.
T. Ricks, aud Rev. p. Morgan.
Everything beng in readiness
Richard McGee stood up, and SAID
"My congregation, | killed that
man, and l am sorry for it, and ]
nm ready TO go, that's all ] have TO
say"
Sandford George then got up and
said:
"My congregation, both white
and colored, it is a solemn thing to
some folks, to staad here as | do
drawing my last breath. Thank
God | am prepared to go. / did
murder the old man. | killed him
because l had a fuss with him, and
because he had money, but / didn't
get the money. | was brought up
right. 1t wasn't because l was not
brought up right by my mother.
II was't because was not brought
up right. killed him. 1t don't
matter much to tell you how he
was killed. | shot him and bit
him the first time +; the second time
! missed him. | am prepared 10
meet my God. | would say to all,
to not follow my example. | did
do horrible deed, but thank God
that Ive go, forgiveness. l want
you to meet me IN heaven; don't
take my example. | want you to
be prepared az | am prepared to
meet my God. This Is all | have
say"
Elder Elliott then exhor.cd the
crowd to so live that they would
not have TO 60 feet foremost &c
meet their maker. The prisoners
then shook hands with the officer,
and those on the platform, and
took an afiectionste farewell of the
ministers present. The death war
rant was then read by Rober
Dean, Deputy Sheriff, after which
the prisoners were placed on the
trap-door, their arms and feet SC
curcly pihioncd, and os the black
caps were about TO be placed ovel
their heads, the prisoners, in cho
rus said, " Farewell to tins world
goodbye to you ALL" All being II
readiness. the prisoners stood for ;
few seconds as motionless rs tive
statutes. AT precisely two O'Clock
Sheriff Haskins sprung the trap
and Sanford and McGce wer,
launched into eternity. Theii
necks were fairly broken by th'
fall, and not q muscle seemed tC
move for some seconds, wher
Sandtord convulsively struggled
surged and writhcd in agony. Tive
strands Of the rope, near the cross
beam broke and 1t became neces
sary for several men on the plat
form to catch the rope and hold "
his weight, and keep the rope iron
breaking off. McKee's pulse ceased
beating in eleven minutes aiter thu
drop, that of Sandford in twelve
when they were pronounced deat
by the attending physicians, Doc
tors Prewitt and McGavock. The
following table shows the condl
lion OF their pulse from the time 0
dropping until dead
MCGEE,
4 IL minutes, o6 beats
8 3 4 minutes, t2O beats
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