Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-28
Great HOnOrs Paid to
the Remains.
FATE OF JAMES GORDON
Protest Against the Revival Of ,Capltal
&, aLasx: Punishment. y II. NO

In expectation of a movement to restore
capital punishment in Rhode Island when
the legislature meets next January, q Wig
orous opposition IS being organized and
many names are being obtained to protest
against the revival of the gsllows.
Many prominent Catholic citizens who
have been talked with on The subject say,
that while some Of the murderers who have
been convicted richly deserve the penalty
of death, the scaffold should never be set
up again in Rhode Island until justice has
been done to the memory of the last man
whom the state courteously but effectively
st-angled.
The man who dangled at the end of the
last rope used for hanging in this state was
James Gordon, who was executed 30 years
ago for the murder of Amsss Sprsgue,
father of the war governor.
The evidence was purely circumstantial.
such as no jury of the present time would
convict upon, but the clsmor for vengeance
was so great that some of the jury seemed
to think that verdict Of acquittal would
be attended with personal danger TO them
selves.
They said guilty and sentence of
death passed in thrice.
BY q great majority of the people Cor
don wa, regarded as an innocent man, and
the State was accused of judicial murder.
That his dishonored body now lies in an
honored grave in consecrated ground 10
looked upon by many as the most convinc-
iug proofs Of his innocence, for the Cath
olic church will allow no unrepentsnt mur-
derer to be buried in the soil consecrsted
to the earthly remains of those who die
Christians, reconciled to God for all their
sins.
The church opened wide it's arms and re-.
ceived with tenderness and respect the body
of Gordon when the executioner had full
filed his Office. No midnight death, no
cross roads nor stake driven through the
murderer, but a. q martyr was he received
by those who stood at the foot of the scsf-
fold until he had hune there the time then
designated by the law.
In the old burial ground of S.. Msry's,
in this city, q stone still mark. the spot
beneath which Gordons bones lis, and
there are many men living who walked
from Providence to Pawtucket in process
sion behind the hearse not one of whom
believed him guilty.
1t was the greatest funeral Of the day.
Full q mile long was the line Of men,
women and children which followed the
body. In this city the clergy received the
remains from the great escort, and with
all the solemnity Of her most impressive
rites, mother church gently laid her son to
rest, imputing no stain upon his soul.
The impression which prevailed at that
time has been engthened in many ways
since, and even members of the Sprague
family, who pressed so nercely for ven-
geance, have since admitted that Gordon
should not have been hanged.
The term "courteously" has been usedlin
appropriately. The hangmsn was an ex-
ceedingly polite person, and when called
upon to discharge his odious duty he did II
with grace, case and dignity" to use the
language of the local reporter who wit
messed the scene.
He apologized to Gordon for causing an
abrasion Of the skin while fastening the
knot tightly under his left ear, and sincerely
begged his pardon for treadiug on his toes
while adjusting him on the exact spot for
the drop. In placing the white cap over
the head be nicked the eye Of the victim
causing him to vince and the eye to water.
Reproaching himself for his swkwardness,
he twitched the cap OF, and, with q corner
Of II, he wiped Gordons eye, and not un.
til that organ was comfortable" did he
replace the cap and shut out the world
from the doomed mans sight forever. Then
he hanged him.
"Not until Rhode leland purges itself Of
its own murder will consent to the gallows
being restored" said one Of those who will
protest against the restoration Of capital
punishment. II am no sentimentalist on
the subject of hanging. I think in some
cases II acts s Q determent, but Rhode
Island wants to set herself right nrst. Let
the legislature reverse that verdict and
acknowledge that the law was in the wrong,
and will vote for their measure, but not
until then"