The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-16
GALLONS GALL0WS.
Execution of the Dilley Muir
derer this noon.
The Last Statement of the
Condemned Man.
A Graphic Description of the
Scene and its incidents.
Special to the ARGUS.

Special to the ARGUS.
CAMBRIDGE, Sept. f6.-To day the ex
ecution of Clement GALLON took place in
the little yard of the Henry county jail be-
fore only a small number of people. A great
many persons visited the city in hopes of
securing admission to the grounds but the
officials refused to make public display
OF the sufferings and death Of the man SEN
fenced to die by hanging, and made 1t as
private as possible under the circumstances.
The Jail yard was supplied with 10 foot
fence, preventing any one from witnessing
the execution by climbing up into the trees
or taking positions on the top OF houses in
the immediate vicinity. The fence was
temporarily constructed from the private
door of the jail, through which Gallon
was conducted when the hour for execu
ton arrived. By this plan it was not
known to those outside when the prisoner
was brought out, as the exc
cution was generally expected at an early
hour, but did not in reality occur until af-
ter dinner.
Every thing was arranged, and there was
no confusion. The Sheriff and his officers
maintained the best of order and are des
serving of great praise for the manner
in which the whole affair was carried out
The sentence was read in the JAIL after
which the prisoner was marched to the
scaffold; his arms and legs tied, the black
cap and rope adjusted, the trap sprung and
the life of Clement GALLON passed into the
realms of the unknown.
LAST SCENES.
GALLON was attended all day yesterday
by Catholic priest. Father Reardon, OF
Kewanee, having come over to this place
for that special purpose. GALLON did not
invite or ask for such attention, but treat
ed the man of God with respect and con-
sideration. He made no confession or re- |
quests that have so far been discovered, al |
though it is stated he made statement |
which was committed to writing.
GALLON slept as well as usual last night |
and awoke to-day in good spirits and fully
prepared to meet his death. During his
sleep he would start suddenly, showing
that his mind was occupied with the dread
full ordeal through which he was to pass in
the morning.
He told the sheriff last night that he
wanted that officer to do the execution as
quickly as possible after It was once star
ted He also expressed regret that the
sheriff should have been called upon to
execute so disagreeable a duty as that
entailed by his hanging. This morning he
took his meals, babe the other inmates
of the Jail goodbye" and announced him
self ready long before the hour of execu-
ton.
Last night Gallon retired at $50 o'clock
and slept well until daylight. Before
retiring he played several games OF cards
with the visitors admitted to see him. He
chaffed the newspaper men about their per
sistency. He also made several bets and ;
won all of them on tricks which he played
with the cards.
This morning he awoke and made some
ocular remark about the inclement wealth {
er. c
He also asked the sheriff if he thought c
his (Gallion's) clothes were suitable for ,
the occasion, and expressed his regret that
his clothes were not in better condition.
He had previously ordered for his break
fast fish and eggs, and when the meal was
served him, he ate heartily, apparently en- r
joying the repast EE1aa q
He was shown one Of the papers con- &
tanning q wood cut of himself. He read
the article, criticized it's inacuracy, and S
said, concerning the picture, that it was n
"a HI of a sendof to give man" He
requested that his picture be taken imme- O
diately as he wanted something left behind @
that did him half way justice. I
A photographer was sent for and Gallon 2
posed for the picture. He seemed quite 0
pleased with the negative and stated that v
ne wanted it preserved to counteract
the bad impression created by the wood 8
cut of himself, which had been shown to n
him. During the morning he did not
weaken the least bit, and was as jovial and
reckless as he has been during the whole
v
GALLON was attended on the gallows by t
Fathers Reardon, of Kewanee, Costo, of I
and Corley, Of Monmouth.
THE END.
Immediately under the scaffold was
placed the coffin which was to contain the =
emains after death. 1t was a plain pine !.