The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-07-26
Leaving the Jail.

Leaving the Jail.
\ posse of sixty men were sworn i'm and
attended the sheriff and the condemned
man to the scafiold. At ILLS the melan-
choily procession left the Jail and proceed
To the spot where the last scene Of the
lifes drama of John W. Patterson was Ia
be enacted. The streets were thronge,l,
and the crowd pressed close upon the posse
i'm their eagerness Ia obtain u glimpse oi
the man who WAS allotted but IA few mo
ments more of life. In death-like silence
the throng pressed on: the streets ri the
city were deserted, and the thousands of
people followed in one continuous stream
the funeral procession IN the place where,
i'm H. beautiful a spot rs can be found ON
the in 4 of the glolse. the author of a foul
murder was To- expiate his crime upon the
scati, Ill. and the avenging Nemesis of out
ragged law was To be satisfied.
The birds sang bli;helv i'm The vcrnal
foliage as ii in mockerv OF the solemn
scene there being enacted. Around and
above all the warm rays of u scorching
July sun beat down upon the heads "i the
awe-strickcn crowd beneath: the fragrant
summer breeze famed the pale check OF
the doomed man, ~. with bowed head. he
assembled the scati"ld and took his farewell
look n, earth. An awful broodin. silence
was over all, with strained eyes and eager
ears. the vast asscmblagc noted every
movement al the scafiold. some standing
with uncovered heads in the presence al
the terrible king 81 tcrrors. unlnindful -:
the Scorching beams of the midsummer
sun that beat with unrelent:ng !crvor upon
their devoted craniums.
The condemned man passed his time in
tie corridor of the Jail from the time the
minister left him until ten. when Sheriff
Hopkins told him to prepare for his doom
He made ready by changing his toilet, AZ
firing himself neatly in sui, of black
which had been purchased for him hv
the sheriff. At eleven o'clock the
sheriff entered and told him the
time had arrived when he must
pay the penalty of his crime. Pat
terson arose from his chair and babe his
fellow prisoners goodbye, shaking hands
with them through the bars al their cell
doors. The heavy tramp Of armed men
could liz heard on the outside, awl the
sharp words Of command as the posse
formed in line. At this sound Patterson
WINGED little, but walked out the door
with firm tread. Al the gate he stepped
into buggy, taking a seat be-
tween couple OF the Posse
while the sheriff sat on the seat with the
driver. The posse formed IN line and
the melancholy procession then started
toward the place Of execution. On the
way the condemned man sat perfectly erect
and looked about him, noting the expires
sion Of the crowd. As the buggy entered
the enclosure, he glanced around, then his
attention was riveted ON the scafiold. The
buggy stopped at the steps, and Patterson
after a moments pause, stepped out
and walked up the steps firmly, as he did
SO bestOwing a rather scOrnful glance Of
resentment as the reporters, who were
grouped at the foot of the scaffold. The
attendants then held umbrellas over his
head. Rev. J. NJ. Pierce, then read the
goth psalm, concluding with the 18th
chapter of Corinthians, commencing at the
44th verse and reading to the end. Pat
terson stood with his hat in his
right hand and with bowed
head listened to the service to the
close, he offered the following prayer:
I'VE are here on this day, in Thy awful
presence, conscious of mans littleness and
Gods greatness. We are conscious that
We are weak, deludcd and degraded, vet
We know and rejoice in the fact that there
is One who has shed His blood interpolation
for our sins, and in whom We may have
hope that He will intercede for US. Into
Thy hands, oh, God! into
Thy hands, Oh, Christ into
Thy merciful hands We resign this
soul. In Thy presence, before Thy face, be-
fore the majesty Of the law, before this
multitude who here see the de-
pravity Of human nature We pray, oh God
that the lesson here taught our young,
men may 50 impress them that when they
go from this spot, it is with firm resolve
to shun bad company. We ask Thy
mercy upon this soul, so soon to be
ushered into Thy presence. Into
Thy hands We commend his spirit. And
Thine be the power and the glory forever.
Amen"
At the conclusion of the prayer Patter-
son was asked if he had anything to say.
He replied.