The Penn's Grove record., 1884-12-06

bolt in my bedsteadI IN the daytime
by the use Of wire, ythe chain would
appear all right, apd lat night !
could easily free mys1lf+by untwisting
the wire. i now know that l will have
to hang, but the only request ! have to
make of Sheriff Kell1 is that he will
not tie my hands ahd feet on the
scaffold. II, he will bat grant this
request 1 will shew me people what
miracles a boy can do, | propose to
make a speech upon the ~gallows."
AS o as his plans were known, he
was removed to another room and a
death watch put over him, until he was
taken to the gallows. The execution
was conducted in a private manner as
prescribed by law. 1t took place in the
temporary structure in the rear of the
clerks Office and adjoining the yard.
Since Sullivan was s~entencedto death
he has been regularly attended by,Inin-
listers of the gospel, who have endeav-
ored to teach him the better way of
life, but he seemed to be little affected
and Indifferent to his fate, and said he
would be ready when the time came.
At 1920 the death warrant was read
to him and 11.20 the procession to. the
-procossians toe hesgallows was formed.
Sullivan with not q falter mounted the
steps and stood ~unconeerned, while
Rev. Mr.. Miles prayed and commended
his spirit to God. When Constable
Buckelew fastened his hands behind
him, and pinioned bis ankles he looked
down at him ipteDtly and ,tearlessly
and said: Don't makad. too tight"
A remarkable scene ensued when
sullivan being asked if he has anything
TO say spoke without a culver as fol-
lows:
81 am standing now right with Jesus.
He. has got me wrapped in His arms.
Don't think when l fall it will be to
the earth, for it will not. l shall fall
right into the arms of Jesus. My fate
should be warning to all boys. Not
only one, but to all. But God will be
with me all the way through. My body
will be buried, but my soul saved.
Now, gentlemen, L am ready. l want
to fall right into the arms of Jesus.
This is sad for my mother. 1t is sad
for Sheriff Kelly, who has to do it; but
it is not sad for me. The bridegroom
is going to have a supper and l want
to be there and sit down at the feast.
Now, gentlemen, when You are ready
to execute the Law l am ready to be
executed. l want all you gentlemen
who have s0ns TO take heed and learn
them. If all you present will meet me
in.the Kingdom. ] want you,t to hold up
your hands. This desire was COM
piled with by all present.. Goodbye,
Sullivan then babe ex-Sheriff Coles
goodbye, and the black cap was adj
He requested that it be pulled
down over his body, and when done
he again cried ont Goodbye, ALL"
Ex-Sheriff Coles then dropped the
handkerchief at 11.29, as a signal to
tue Sheriff, who stood below, to pull
the fatal bolt. The double trap dropped
with q sharp report, AND the.body fell.
Death was instantaneous. The neck
was broken.
The body showed neither commissions
nor ~twitcling till it had hung one min
ute end ten seconds, when there was a
slight movement. At the endcf thee
minutes Drs. Sharp and Cook pro-
nounced Sullivan dead. The body was
cut down at 1904 and delivered at
once to Undertaken Turner, of Wood
stown, who conveyed 1t directly to the
Sulli van homestead. and during the
afternoon it was quietly buried in the
colored church. yard at Bushtown.
1t has been rumered that Sullivan's
body had been stolen. What gave rise
to the rumor that the grave had been
despoiled, was that the occupant of
a near house on Tuesday night saw two
carriages dri We up to the cemetery.
The several occupants aiighted inspsc-
ted the cemetery and its surroundings
and then as mysteriously disappeared
1t is thought that the party was plan
ming for another visit, when they would
resurrect the murderer's body, County
officials have been guarding the Gem
etery.