Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-18
A Sensational Hanging.

One of the most sensational, as well
as necessarily fatal hangings known to
che criminal history of ArkaDsaw,
occurred recently at Wittsburg. a
negro convicted Of killing his wife was
the principal actor. He bad lain in
Jail for several months, during which
time he applied himself assiduously to
religious work. alternately praying and
preaching. He confessed the crime,
and declared that be was more than
willing to die, yea, anxious to leave
this wicked world and walk on the
streets above whore gold and dia-
monds glitter in the light Of eternal
sunshine, AS the time for the execu
ton Of bis sentence drew near, when
the work Of erecting his scaffold pro-
eeeded In full view Of bis cell, he
noted the progress with evident pleas
ure, and even expressed the fear that
the ignominious piece OF Architecture
might not be finished in time for the
performance. On this point, however,
the Sheriff allayed his fears By assur
ing him that if the work were not
completed in time for the event al
advertised the hanging would take
place at the nearest tree.
The day dawned bright and beauti.
full. Birds hoped around the ali
windows and sang, and a lame horse
looked over the fence and snorted
The doomed nan assembled the plat.
form without the least show Of fear
and took his place on the trap with O
smile that blandly requested death to
Illustrate its sting and the grave t.
describe its victory. Preachers
prayed and sang with him in seeming
satisfaction at the powerful work Of
laith, while the old Sheriff, o hall
skeptic. and who entertains bis own
peculiar ideas concerning the rich
reward treasured up in another world
for the glori6cation of murders, stood
with no show Of emotion on his Official
counteDance.
Il love everybody, said the muir
derer, "and | forgive everybody. ]
torgives yer, Mr.. Sheriff, fur l knows
dat yer has ter do dis piece OBJ work.
You can use your own pleasure in
regard to me, replied the Sheriff. "It
would be an easy matter for me Ia
hire somebody to transact this piece
Of business for me, but blamed II I'd
take ten thousand dollars for the
JOB"
"Aint yer Altered OBJ dc helrs fire
what's ter Gomez" demanded the vic.
tim.
Not excessively, replied the off
Ger. Before [ was elected Sheriff
there might have been some danger OF
my finding place on the great grid.
iron, but since my election, and espe.
cially since | have hung so many
m~urderers, | think that a harp as bic
as a church door with fifteen hundred
and sixty raw hide strings is awaiting
me-"
Twill pray fur yer" exclaimed the
murderer in the broken accents Of q
premature hallelujah.
Better pray for yourself. Aud let
me give you pointer that you'd better
hurry matters as the time for the
performance is drawing on
The colored gentleman, despite the
earthly exhibitions Of the Sheriff
still showed no signs Of fear, but
asking for q chew Of tobacco and
receiving il from one Of the preach
ers, he chewed and spit AMBER
at the sinners around the gallows
The victim declared that he must die
with tobacco 10 his mouth, anC
that even though il wal considered
unhealthful 10 use the baneful weed
he would show his independence. A
his request the rope vas tied short
declaring that it was injurious TO hav,
his neck broken. When the drop fol
the feet Of the murderer we're only .
few feet belowthe platform. Although
he had welcomed death he kicked
vigorously when the trap was sprunG
and bounded upon the platform
The sheriff gently pushed him of
Again he found a footing, and again
the official launched him into the sea.
the other side Of which is eternity
But again did the persistent vile
killer try 10 mount the platform.
when the sheriff, bracing himself
exclaimed: l.swa
1--WE been yerygentle with you thus
far, but come up here again and III
! hurt you.