The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-05-17

W. oAAAS - AAAA~h AN~'S "a AZ LIZ
There were present, besides the two
ladies. Revs. w. D. Cherington and
A. w. Long, and a lady friend Of the
Jackson girls. While these friends
were collected in his room, the prison
er led in prayer, making powerful
appeal to the Throne of Grace. His
advice to his sisters-as well as to the
third sister, who called afterwards
was very affecting, urging them to
profit by his misfortunes, and live
better than they had been living.
The evening John spent in writing,
until ten minutes before nine o'clock,
when he retired, sleeping soundly
until shortly after five o'clock, on
Friday morning, when he arose and
dressed himself. He ate his breakfast
and passed the forenoon in writing
and talking, seeming in the best Of
spirits. The doomed man was at
dinner when, about eleven o'clock, his
spiritual advisers with small COM
pany of friends, entered the Jail. In
a short time Sheriff Cherington read
the death warrant to the prisoner, the
latter's counsel, John T. Moore, being
present. After the reading, a short
prayer meeting was held in the pris-
oner's room. There were present Rev.
w. D. Cherington and Rev. A. w.
Long, NJ E. Church, Andrew Henson,
Rev. d. 81. Whets+l, William Vaughn,
N. Downey, and Rev. Tomson of the
Christian Church. Rev. Tomson
offered prayer He was followed by
Rev. A. w. Long. The prisoner then
led in prayer, making a remarkably
powerful appeal.
These exercises lasted until near one
O'Clock, when the preparations for the
execution were all made. When the
enclosure had been thrown open, and
those having tickets were upon the
inside, the Sheriff accompanied by
Deputy T. w. Steele, went to Jack
sons room, the door of which had been
unlocked during the day. Sheriff
Cherington asked the prisoner if he
had pair of gloves The latter re-
piled that he had. 1T is about time
to put them on,' said the Sheriff
"All right replied Jackson, and
coolly put on his gloves to go to his
grave.
Just before the time for, the execu-
ton William FL. Hull, son of the
murdered man, went, by invitation, to
Jackson's room. jackson seemed
happy, generally speaking, but had
one burden. He asked Mr.. Hull if
he could not forgive him for his great
crime. "You must seek forgiveness
from a higher power" said Mr.. Hull.
But" said Jackson, "as personal
matter, between ourselves, can you
not forgive me?'' Mr.. Hull was evi-
IDENTIFY touched by this appeal of the
dying man, but his mind reverted to
that other dying man, long months
ago. and he only assured Jackson that
he had no malice toward him, none
whatever; and was willing to leave
the question Of forgiveness to high
er power.
At 1915, the Sheriff. assisted by
the mechanic, L. May, tied the rope
on the beam, then came the horrible
business of arranging the slack fol
the fall. This was done by exact
measurement. The rope was wrap
ped in 8 coils around the beam.
When all was ready to bring the
prisoner in, Sheriff Cherington ad.
dressed the crowd. admonishing them
to preserve order &c. The crowd in
the street was estimated at $500, al
quiet, orderly people.
At one o'clock Rev. Tomson, Of the
Christian Church, accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff Steele, entered the en-
closure. They were followed by Rev
W. d. Cherington and Rev. A. W
Long, Of M. E. Church. These il
turn were followed by Sheriff Cher
ington and John w. Jackson. Their
came the guards, Reed and Shotts
The latter two only came as far as tn
door. The procession marched arount
and filed up the steps Of the scaffold
They took positions around the trap
Rev. A. W. Long stood near the pris
oner. Rev. W. D. Cherington stoo,
facing the beam and rope, and whil
all in the enclosure uncovered thei
heads, the minister, in tremblin.
voice made the following prayer:
OUR FATHER: We pray that thi
event may be a sad warning in socie
ty, to restrain men from crime. w
pray for the friends Of this unfortu
nate man, that in this crushing sor
row of life, thou wilt be with ther
as their abiding Friend. But most G
all, we pray for this immortal sou
who will be so soon in eternity
Thou knowest his great dark 81
against his fellow man, against Sc
ciety, against thee. We thank the
that even within prison walls, tho
hast granted him these weeks an
months of golden opportunity to n
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