Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-11-11
And Die Apparently Perfectly Happy
and Entirely Satisfied.

and Entirely Satisfied.
The Job Successful One, and the Most
Perfect Order Prevails.
The Hodge brothers, Sam and Milt, col
ored, are no more for this world. Yesterday,
at the hands of the law, as faithfully
and satisfactorily executed by Sheriff Homer
Gilmore, they expiated upon the gallows
the crime of the murder, in September,
1881, of their brother -in-law, James
Mcfarland. The programme, as agreed
upon and published, was carried out fully
and completely.
AS has been published by US, both Sam
and Milt., vino have been kept confined in
a cell to themselves in the jail, have been,
for some time past, deeply concerned, ap-
parently, about their souls.
They were regularly visited and minis
tered to by some of the jealous members
of the Young Mems Christian Association.
Rev. DIR. LeVere was among the first
ministers to attend them, and for the past
two weeks they have had the daily attend
ance of these and Rev. B. 81. johnson,
Rev. G. G. Russell, and Elder Masterson.
They made profession of religion and
spent most of their time singing, praying
and shouting.
LAST NIGHT IN JAIL.
The forepart of Thursday night was spent
by them in their accustomed occupation.
Jailer Landon George visited them about IL
o'clock, and asked them if they wanted any
thing to eat; that they should have what ever
they desired. They said they were hungry,
and he procured for them five large beef
steaks, two biscuits each, two sweet
cakes each, and cup of
coffee each. They eat heartily
and with apparent relish. They then went
to bed, at 12 o'clock, midnight, and slept
sound and without interruption until about
7:3O yesterday morning. They stated to
Jailer George, when he gave them their
breakfast, at o'clock, which they ate of
heartily, taking two cups of coffee each,
and other things accordingly, that they
never felt better in their lives. They said
they had dreamed during the night that
old Satan came and tried to gain
an entrance to them, but they fought him
back. They heard, in their dreams, the
prettiest music, saw the prettiest people,
and had happy time generally.
Soon after breakfast, the wife of Sam,
who was by them, at the door of the cell,
all the day before, was admitted, and the
ministers were also allowed to visit the
doomed men. Both were dressed in new
cheap cashmere suits, Just alike, and pre-
pared for the event, as to appearance.
HANGING PREPARATION
The assembled multitudes who were in
the city began to gather in the neighbor-
hood of the jail long before the appointed
hour to start for the gallows. Sheriff Gill
moIe and his deputies had considerable
trouble to keep the crowds out of the yard
The Knoxville Rifles. twenty eight in num-
Der, under command of Capt. David New
man, marched to the Jail few minutes be-
fore II o'clock, and dispersed in the
jail yard, many of them going
in to see the prisoners in
the cell A few minutes after IL, Sheriff
Gilmore and Jailer George opened the cell
and placed the handouts on Sam and Milt
They willingly, and apparently gladly. re
ceived the cuffs. Before leaving the jail
they went around to every cell and bid an
affectionate farewell to the prisoners, ex-
horting them to meet them in heaven.
They were led out and saluted the crowd,
rejoicing, laughing and bidding farewell to
cell, jail and Knoxville, exelaiming that
they were not going to die, but were going
home. The Rifles formed and marched
out of the gate, surrounding Bells large
spring baggage wagon, which had been
driven up to the gate. The boye were
seated in the wagon, along with Sans wife,
Sheriff Gilmore, Jailer George, Constable
Coram, and the three attending ministers,
colored, @. Baker, builder of the gallows,
and the colored driver. The Rifles formed
hollow square around the wagon, and the
PROCESSION MOVED
off, preceded by DR.. A. j. Campbell, the
county and attending physician.
Deputy Sheriffs B. W. Cross
and w. G. McCammon Other
deputies and special deputies followed the
wagon, on horseback.
THE sURGING AND ORowDING MASS
pressed hard upon the procession as ii
moved towards the bridge, to cross the river.
Here the crowd became more dense, and it
was almost impossible to pass The keep
ers of the bridge had a herculean task of it,
and it was more than an hour before all
could get over.
The grim and solemn procession drew up
at the
SCENE OF THE EXECUTION,
where the gallows were erected
about three hundred yards from the south
end of the bridge, in about 15 minutes after
leaving the Jail. The gallowsx was erected