Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-05-08
Prayer Against Time.
[PhIlad.IhaTln-.I

The following brief news item sp.
peared in q local paper Of Erie Pa, on
Thursday:
"Richard Carr, an old Canadian oc-
tocenarian, who had lived on this side
OF the lake for many years, died on
Monday last, and was taken 20 Ontario
for interment He was once SEN
fenced to be hanged"
II was seen by DR.. NJ. J. Clark, of
this city, and the doctor furnished the
following account OF Carr's escape from
the gallows:
81 had no iGea that Carr was living
ON this side Of the lake, or that he
was living at all. Not having heard
anything of him for thirty years. I
supposed him long since dead. His
arrest, conviction, sentence, and escape
are events closely connected with my
family and my childhood, nv uncle,
the Rev. John Rverson, being the
clergyman who attendei Carr to the
scaffold. and who prayed against time
for the purpose of cheating the hang
man. He succeeded, and this is how
it all happened: I was child at the
time, and 1t happened at Vittorla, a
neighboring village just across the
lake, about fifty-6ve years ago. Who
did Carr kill2 No one. He was a
quiet and inoffensive young man, and
so was Smith, condemned TO die with
him. The affair formed the theme
for many atroclous ballads by villain
Gus village poets, just as the execution
of the three Thayers in Buffalo did.
l see by the papers that nowadays
cold-blooded murderer frequently es-
capes the attention of her excellent
majesty's hangman through some fine
point Of law; but in the good old days
no poor wretch. whose suffering fami-
ly prompted him to steal sheep or OK
en-, escaped. They we're swung off
promptly, If not ar ,istically.
."One day, remember well the viii
kge was thrown into great excitement
by the discovery of a crime for which
the penalty was death. The whole
village Vittoria was in an uproar.
Some one had stolen an OK. A dill
gent search resulted in the discovery
of the hide and suspicion fell upon
Carr, who was known to be poor and
in whose house the odor of cooked meat
still hung. The village Dogberry and
shallow dignltaries, that we're next to
deities in my eyes then, succeeded in
extortlng confession of guilt from
Carr and another poor fellow named
Smith. The cuiprlts were brought to
trial, and jury of twelve fellow-me
found no difficulty in consigning both
to the scaffold. after the learned Judge
had expatiated for hours upon the
enormity of the chine against God and
man
"Sentence of death was passed up
on Carr and Smith, and they would
probably have been executed the next
day. but l suppose the sheriff thought
it would be ungentlemanly and un-
friendly if he did not arrange the time
80 that his distant constituency could
get in to witness the sight. Trave
was slow in those days of no railroads
Among those who were Mortified and
shocked at the approaching execution
we're my uncle, the spiritual adviser o
the poor fellows, and DR.. John Rolf
whose memory still clings to the vii
lage. The Rev. John Ryerson was {
brother to DR.. Egerton Rverson, D
D., superintendent of education in On
tario, who died two years ago, th'
houses of parliament adiourning to at
tend the funeral.
CDR. Rolf was more excited than
anv other of Smith and Carr's sympa
thizers. and he determined to ride to
Toronto and intercede with the gov
Ssrnor, who, l think. was Sir John Col
born. Before departing on his haz-
ardous errand of mercy, DR.. Rolf was
closeted with my uncle, the Rev. John
Ryerson. The latter subsequently
told me that he had agreed to delay
the hanging all he could by making
the closing prayer as long as his
strength and power Of utterance would
permit, provided that Rolf had not re-
turned. Good DR.. Rolf calculated up
on getting back 70 v hours before the
time Sc. for the execution. He set out
ON the swiftest horse to be had in the
WALLACE, but the people had little faith
in his ability to make the journey ir
time. and less faith in the governors
inclination to interfere. The day flew
on, and the people Aocked in from the
surrounding country. Uncle John die
all he could to comfort the doomeo
men and lead them to realization O
a greater mercy than mans, but they
refused to be comforted. The fata
morn came, but without any tidings o
DR.. Rolf. The hour arrived, and th'
men were led out to die. Private
hangings had not come into fashion
then. 1t was consi Tered good and
wholesome for the common people to
witness the awful and just punishment
Of the horse, sheep, or cattle stealer
The gallows was erected out in open all
and in full view of all. 1t was none
Of your patent, latest style instru
meuts of death. No sand.bag or sci
entifc tests were made to assure
the quickest death possible. 1t was
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