The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-23
QUINN BOHANAN.
How One Feels who is Under Sentence of
Death.

Nebraska City Press
law copy of the Press bearing dat
May 4, 1884, containing an article en-
titled changing for Murder" While
reading this article thoughtit possible
that the condition of ones mind anC
the tendency of ones thoughts wher
under sentence of death might be in
teresting to some of the more curious,
and possibly useful to the more thought
full of the reading class.
l am myself under sentence of death.
After having been tried at the city OF
Lincoln in June, 1882, for murder in the
first degree, was found guilty of muir
der in the second degree and sentenced
to hopeless imprisonment. Having
nearly two years under this sentence, I
secured a new trial and fought again
City, April 21, 1884.
The next thing now to be consid-
cred is the grand mystery-death.
The sentence of death has been passed
upon me. must be coolly and delib-
erately killed on the 9Th day of Au-
gust. While sitting alone in sober con-
temptation of death, its near approach,
the horrible circumstances with which
it is attended and its solemn mysteries
combined, spread over my soul feel
ing of gravity have never feltt before.
have before me bunch of faded
flowers, still beautiful even in death.
While looking at their withered leaves
l think of the fiat of faith, call must
die," and think how soon I, too, will
be launched on the wreck covered riv-
er. Even now feel that am stand
ing on the mundane shore of the dark |
vale that death has drawn between the |
frontiers of time and eternity, peering
into the dense vista that wells the mys-
tic shore beyond. The hard battle for
life is fought, the final struggle for
life is ended and I am now standing on
the bank of the dreaded river. 1 look
into the waters. They are dark and
deep. 1 feel them. They are cold.
taste them. They are bitter indeed.
look about me. am alone. My
friends Che last to give me up), have
said farewell" and turned to continue
,he journey of life.
No enemy, however daring, pursuse
ne here, but pale and trembling they
cave me here. No sounds of nature
hat once cheered the course of life are
leard. No flowers bloom on this des-
'late coast. All the storms and tenn
'ests of life yield here to the majesty
IT silence. All the wrecks os the past
re here softened, smoothed and en- :
ombed The blood that once
oursed the veins in the vigor of life, {
ails to flow on its wonted course. The
leart that once leaped with Joy and t
excitement in manhood's early days, I
tands still. And the nerves of the
ody refuse to vibrate to the emotions.
III is hushed, and silence continues t
ere her reign in solemn majesty. Ev-
n the dark river itself continues its {
curse in profound and solemn silence. /
70 wonder he who has once passed |
bis dreary vale returns no more. But
he fiat of faith has gone forth. SIT is t
ppointed unto man once to die," from
7hich no decree, no appeal, can be r
aken, but all must bow in submission t
death; to whose majesty the rebell- e
JUS knee of the inidel must in suppH- il
nee bend, and the gainsaying tongue
the atheist confess God, who holdeth O
le keys in His hand and wieldeth the a
rerogative of death. None can es-
ape. The little child, with all the
eauty of innocence, is plucked by the p
hand of death. The middle Il
ged, in the strength and vigor of life, &
lust yield. A I'D the gray headed man, o
no has run the long, hard race to the Ii
nd, must pass here and leave their p
anne on the dark register. {
l know what life is to those who 81
ljoy its many blessings. too re- a
ember to have seen better days, and u
rank the sweet cup of love, liberty and Q
Ieasure with Indifferent gratitude. / Il
now what imprisonment is also, for l a
i've run the hard gauntlet and am d
wv rapidly nearing its tragic end. Vi
ut OF death, l cannot speak from ex- 81
,rience, but the bitterness of this cup a.
.nnot exceed its blessing of rest. ia
ere, at last, lay down the grievous to
lrden to rest, where no enemy dare al
lrsue although no friend can cheer or th
fer words of comfort.
But remembering that patriarchs, st
ophets and apostles have all passed dc
is dark barrier thrown across the Sc
tn of life, and that Christ left here ar
cross and said to all who must fol- SC
", "fear not him who hath power to er
stroy the body" I bend my steps tn
III encouragement onward. knowing Du
1t many dear to my heart have passed SC,
s way long ago, and among them a to
erishing mother, the sweet recollec- to
n of whose many virtues now sweet tn,
the bitter cup her youngest son str
lst drink. ou
Let no man forget his mother, for if asst
should chance to be wrecked on the fer
rmy course of life and forsaken by asC
other friends, memory will bear to foe
troubled spirit the soothing infu- no
'es of mothers sympathies, which me
grave and thoughtful man can de- ain
Sc in the conflict between life and DIRE
.th. And would to God that the Gin
,er cup could have been sweetened abe
b the glory of a better cause. OF
deaths possible for man to die, to be by
ged for murder is the one least ex- pro
ted. CHI
ut fate steals along with silent tread, mex
nd oftenest in the least we dread, o c
WINS in the storm with angry brow tan
in the sunshine strikes the fatal blow.o tha
y -. .0''A-'AN' Ag'
ho d, | xl