The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-01-01
LEFROY'S EXECUTION
A Business-Iiks Hanging With
MarWood's Latest ImproVeme-
mout.


took place yesterday morning inside
Lewes Jail, was carried out simply,
punctually and esectually, The
Lewes gallows is SO arranged that
when the execution takes place the
subject drops out of sight be low the
surface of the earth. The drop il
Flush" with the sides and base, OF
eleven or twelve feet in depth. Above
the drop is a cross-besm supported
by two uprights, from which is sus-
pended the rope. On moving lever,
which is connected with bolts sustain
Ing the drop, the latter parts in the
centre, either side hanging on Its
hinges, and the sight of criminal
banging lifeless in the air is thus
avoided. Shortly before the execution
took place there we're not dozen
spectators exclusive of policemen.
outside the Jail. When it was over.
and those whose duty it was to wit
ness it left the prison, they found
that small knot of gszers had lie
creased; perhaps to the number Of
fifty or sixty, but certainly not to
more than that figure. At about s:
80 the reporters to the number OF
about fifteen-Who, with the except
ion of the jail Off Gals. were the only
witnesses of the execution-Were ad-
mitted to the Jail. At S:45 the FIRST
note of the prison bell was sounded,
and its knell continued at regular in
tervsls Until everything was over. At
8:55 q warden summoned the report
or, who followed him through two
c0urt-yards, in which, as the paved
pathway indicated, the eonvicts axe
in the habit of taking their daily ex
ercise. In the third and final oue
was erected the gallows. just inside
the doorway stood MarWood with his
pinioning apparatus in his hand. He
was summoned away, and a pause of
some few moments ensued, at the end
of which the voice of the chaplain
was heard, and those standing in the
courtyard barred their heads and
turned toward further door, whence
the procession was Issuing, TIE
robed in his surpIice, came
first, prenouncing in q bud voice,
though with evident signs of emotion,
the appointed service. The central
and conspicuous object of that little
band that slowly deiled toward the
platform where he was to meet bis
fate was, OF course, LEROY himself.
He was dressed in a brown tweed
suit. He had no covering to his head
and no collar round his neck. The
gray WOODEN shirt be wore was thrown
open and turned back at the edges
in front, showing his long thick neck
His face which was pale enough dur
ing bis trial. now showed not vestige
of color. His eyes where turned up
ward toward the sun, which was shin
ing full in his face, and its glare im-
parted an unsual brillisncy to them.
at the drop, be allowed him
self quietly to De placed thereon snd
pinioned as to bis legs. Marwood
was scarcely a minute about his task,
and while the chaplain vas yet re-
peating the words of the service be
had gone to the aide, pulled q lever
and LEROY had disappeared from
sight. That death was instantaneous
there can be no doubt, for their was
no evidence OF any subsequent strug-
Cling. The drop was at least eight
feet, and in all probability the neck
Tss as once broken. The whole
business of the execution occupied
about three minutes. The coronor's
ury then viewed the body, with re-
gard to which there is nothing to be
said, but that the face wore calm
and that there was
slight abrasion OF skiD on the neck.
Lef.oy's last night was one of TIE
FASTEST be had spent during his COZ
fine nept. After the chaplain had
EFT him in the evening he engaged
himself in scanning the books which
had been supplied to him, reading
fret from one and then from
another until about 1870 O'Clock,
when, appearing to grow somewhst
weary, he turned to bis attendant and
said be thought it was time to go to
bed. He then kneit by his bedside
for some time as though in prayer,
add this be has done every night be-
fore going TO bed since his incarcer.
alton, but no audible words escaped
bis lips Having risen from this a.
tNude be uDdressed and COM posed
himself for rest. During the night
be turned two or three times from
side to eide, but his sleep did not
appear to be materially interfered
With. and i. was not until 6 O'Clock,
when the doors OF the various wards
we're unlocked. that he seemed to
realize his position. He then sud-
denly awakening, exclaimed: "Why,
it must be 6 o'clockl" Springing from
bis bed be proceeded TO attire bim
self. and again engaged iD reading
aud in preparing himself for MS
loom. After this be ate fairly COED
breakfast and awaited with com
oosure the time of executioD.-Lon,
Ion NeUs.