Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-03

| century, tncre were llNe crimes pun
able by death in Observation-Disclosures.
burglary. rape, highway robbery. ar
son, and murder. The last person
executed for burglary in the state was
a man named Smith, hanged in Con-
cord about eighty years ago. The
following account of the affair was OBJ
tanned by the writer from an eye-wit-
ness:
The condemned man was taken from
the Jail to the old church m Concord.
where sermon was preached from a
text he had selected. and other re-
ligious exercises took place, the prison
er occupying the front pew At the
close of the services in the church he
was conveyed in a wagon, sitting up
on his coffin, guarded by n military
company, To an open field where the
gallows had been erected. which was
surrounded by thousands of people,
men. women. and children. from the
ncighboring towns. He was placed up
on the drop. the rope adjusted and
white handkerchief placed in his hand
| to drop as IA signal should he desire 10
| be swung of before the hour expired.
the limit fixed for his execution. He
/ grasped the handkerchief with the
/ tenacity of dying man. and begged
most piteously of the sheriff not TO
/ hurry, as he felt sure a reprieye would
come. As the sheriff, rs was the
4 custom, announced as each minute eX-
I PRED the number remain ne for h IN 10
/ live, his agony became terrible TO wit
/ ness. begging for an eXtenso on OF time.
/ If only for one short minute, which was
of course impossible to grant; while
| thus entrcating for one breath more of
! life, the drop fell. and the sutierings of
the poor creature terminated. 1t l.
not surprising that not only women,
but strong men. tainted on witnessing
the horrible Sccne-a fitting term ma
ton Of a Darbarous penalty barbarous
ly inflicted
A few years later man not IS years
old was executed at Ncwburyport f.!
rape upon woman much older than
himself convicted on evidence which
to-day would hardly be deemed Sutli-
cent TO hold man charged with an
assault. This was the last execution
for the crime of rape in the state
Those among the readers of this
art Gle whose memories can run back
fifty or sixty wears may recall booN
The Wonderful Exploits of Thunder
bolt and Lightfoot, two notoriou,
English highwaymen. These two were
among the last of those "gentlcmen OF
the road who lourished during the
latter part of the last and the com
mencement of the present century.
Thunderbolt deserved that cognomen,
from the fact that he was an unusually
large and powerful man, who, in his
numerous encounters with the officers
of the law, seldom came of second
best, and who laughed at bolts and bars.
LightfOot, on the contrary. was small
CT man, exceedingly acuye and a very
fast runner. which accounted for the
name By which he was known. These
two travelled together. mounted on
fleet horses, plying their vocation with
impunty upon the highways IN the
vicinity Of London for several years.
A. they robbed only those VINO could
afford to lose what was taken from
them, and scattered their il-gottcn
gains most lavishly among the poor
and needy, they had but little to fear
from the common people. Occasional
Is one or the other of them would fall
into the hands of the law, bat the other
was ALWAYS sure to find some way,
either by stratagrm or force. to cXtri-
cate him, frequently aided by the
officials themselves. They had become
so notorious, and such efforts were be-
ing made by the authorities TO arrest
them, that they came TO the conclusion
that change Of base was necessary,
and accordingly left their country for
their country's good and came to the
Tn ted States. On arriving in this
country they separated. Thunderbolt
resumed his right name, and having
sufficient funds, purcl ased a farm in
one of the New England states. and
passed the remainder of his life in
honest toll.
Lightfoot. whose real name was
Mike Martin. could not give up his pro-
fession. although il was much more
hazardous in this than in the old coun-
try The scene of his exploits was in
the vicinity of Boston. His career was
| finally terminated IN the robbery Of
Mai. Bray. The major. accompanied
/ by his daughter. was driving in chase
over the Medford turnpike late one
| even ng. when he was stopped by Mar
tin, who was mounted upon spirited
/ horse. and arrayed in the most APP.
proved costume Of highwaymau. He
very politely requested the major TO
| hand over his watch and money. He
/ hesitatcd moment but the appearance
OF pistol which Martin drew from
/ his holsters. and the entreaties of his
/ daughter brought the military gentle
man to the wise conclusion that discre-
ton was indeed the better part OF
valor. and passed them TO him. III,
daughter also handed him her watch.
which be refused with the remark
THAT he never robbed lades. Hav-
ing secured h booty he IN sed his hat.
and. with very low bow. wishing
them good night, struck his spurs into
the horses TANKS and disappeared in
the darkness.
He was arrested within few days,
and brought to trial at Cambridge. Be
ing a splendid looking man. possessing
all the accomplishments of gentle
Nan. added to the numerous stories in
circulation in regard TO his romantic