The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-08-15

lEHOti pChNli ny ~ IL n"hiih"h'I |
small cord, the dropping Of the body
through space for a few feet, the twitch-
ing of the muscles a few times, a convul
sive shudder, and all that had been NOR
tai OF Christian Young was ~lifeless clay.
The execution was perfect in every detail,
there being not a hitch from beginning
70 end.
YoUNa's LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
When the INTELLIaENCER reporter
Joined the condemned man in his cell
Wednesday night, he found him smoking
and talking, apparently as uncOncerned
as a nan could be. He was free and easy
in his manners, and greeted the reporter
with a hearty word of cheer and a pleas
ant smile. He was smoking a cigar, and
watching the smoke eddy and whirl in the
still air. From s o'clock until II 80, when
he retired. Young smoked two cigars and
two pipefuls Of tobacco. He wrote two
letters, one to his wife and the other to
his sister-in-law, both in German. At
II 30 he removed his clothing and lay
down on his cot, and in five minutes was
sound asleep and snoring. Twice in the
night he turned over in bed, neither time
waking from his deep sleep. At a quarter
before 0 no awoke, bathed his hands and
face, donned his clothes and paced up and
down his narrow cell, smoking u cigar as
he walked. He talked as unconcernedly
as he had the evening before. AT I o'clock
breakfast was served him in the cell. II
consisted OF ham, butter, bread and coffee.
Chris said he did not feel hungry, but
would eat all he could. He ate a very
hearty breakfast. About the time the
morning meal was disposed of Father
Lilly arrived, and religious services were
held, Young joining In.
THE DEATH WARRANT.
Sheriff Mitchell went into the cell at
7:35 and read the death warrant, the con-
demned man sitting on the side of the
bed and paying close attention. He said
not a word at the conclusion of the read
ing, nor until the sheriff had retired.
Tailor Wade and the INTELLIGENCER re-
porter went with Young to the second
story OF the Jail, where he 0 hands
with all the prisoners ano told them good
bye. He had q word or two from each one
and told them he was feeling pretty we'll.
Returning to the ground hoOr the
march to the gallows was begun through
the hall of the ~jailor's residence to the
steps which led to the gallows, Young in
the lead, Tailor Wade following close
behind, Sheriff Mitchell, Father Lilly and
the I~NTELLIGENCER reporter near by. Inc
first step was reached at SOP. Young
mounted the short stairway as firmly as
any man in the party, smoking a cigar,
and smiling upon the score or more OF
men assembled about the trap. He took
his position on the trap, facing west. He
was dressed In a gray coat and vest, brown
striped pants, blue striped cotton shirt
without tie or cravat, n ordinary shoes
and stockings.
TO SAY.
Sheriff Mitchell asked Young if he had
anything to say. "Nothing," he replied,
in a clear, distinct tone of voice.
Tailor Wade and Deputy Sheriff Hale
then adjusted the leather straps which
pinioned his legs and arms, the doomed
man watching them nonchaiently. While
they were being frightened, Mr.. Wadt
asked, "Chris, are the straps hurting
your" "No; they nor nothing else viii
hurt me very long" Noticing John Cat
ron among those present, Young said to
him, "Give my regards to all the Higgins.
Sheriff Mat Aver, of Saline county, who
SISTED Sheriff Mitchell in the execution
aid to Young. "Stand up straight anC
be a man, and it won't hurt you" Young
replied, 81 have always been a man, an c
always will be-"
THE Asst OF EARTH.
At S:13 Sheriff Mitchell adjusted thu
black cap, forever shutting out the scenes
of earth for the poor man. Father Lilly
. all the time read aloud the prayers of thu
Catholic church, but Young made ,n'
response to any OF them after he ascendet
the scaffold. At SIT by County Physician
StraughnD watch Sheriff Mitchell said
"Good-bie, Chris" and cut the rOp,
which sustained the trap. Thu body sho
downward, there being II fall of six fee
two inches. There were five distinc
muscular movements of the limbs, tn,
shoulders drawing upward, the chest ex
banding, the veins on the hands standing
out plainly, but there was no sound. Fiv
physicians, Drs. j.. II. %Straughn, }. 4
Tucker and j. G. Crist, OF Lexington, AM
Drs. Il. +, Wood and j.. e.. Coleman, o
Odessa, took note of the pulsation, will
the following composite result:
8:18. Pulse 90.
S:19. Pulse 103.
S:25. Pulse A.
8:27. Pulse very feeble.
1928. Pulse AZ.
$3.50. Pulse 100.
1872. Pulse very weak.
1886. The attendant physicians pro
nounced the man dead, and nine minute
later the body was taken down and lall
upon a pine board OF the ground. Th
physicians made an examination of tn
neck, and found that IL had been broker
nv the fall. There was the mark of tn
70 " about the neck, the lips were blacI
uom the pressure OF blood, and "a smal
steam OF blood slowly trickled from tn
mouth. The features were not distorte
to any great extent, and when the hea
was raised to a proper level the lips wer
closed.
II BURIAL.
After the body had lain awhile on tn
ground it was lifted and placed in tn
plain walnut coffin which was near by
The coffin was then turned over to Under
taker Dysart, placed in a vehicle awaitin
il, and taken direct to the Catholi
church The burial occurred at 2:30 i
the aft rnOon, from the church.