The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-28
AT MY OWN HANGING.

the solemn words of the judge sentencing
me to be hanged by the neck until dead,i
since the hush fell over the crowded, sitting
courtroom, and had seen the worn, de-
jected expression on the pale face of my
counsel as with bowed head he bent over
the table strcwn with the records of the evil
dence and legal authorities put forward in
my defense.
1t was evening, the dim jets were being
lit by the turnkeys, and as | paced my cell
heard a voice calling to my night watch.
He rose from his chair, leaned over the rail
ing, received the message. and, turning,
opened the cell door and beckoned me to
come out
"They are going to give you moro COM
Portable quarters" he said gently, a sad
expression In his eyes.
accompanied him down the jail corridor
to the lower floor.
Back of the jail clerks office was good
sized room. A bed stood In one corner
There were also a table and some chairs. All
looked bright and neat and clean. threw
myself, In my clothes, on the bed flung
my hands behind my head and thought
thought of my old home across the ocean.
of my schoolboy and student days, of the
ambitious spirit and wild desire for adven.
ture that had brought me to America, OF
my checkered career since then, of meeting
her for whose life / was about to pay the
penalty with my own. The hours dragged
along, My watch had urged me to take
supper, but had declined The choicest
dish / felt sure would have choked me.
A knock came to the door. My guard
opened it. He stepped over to my couch
and handed me card with the name of
well known clergyman thereon. 1 rose to
my feet and took chair beside the table.
The good man entered. Tears were in
his eyes. His hand was outstretched. Irose
and grasped it,
ALLOW me-" he said, ''to pray with you.
You have refused all spiritual consolation.
You will not be so obdurate now when you
must soon stand before him who willeth
not the death of the sinner"
waved my hand negatively as l replied:
81 appreciate your sympathy and therefore
acceded to yeur request to see me; but, as
for prayer, l will go into eternity with
nothing to fear and nothing to hope"
His countenance fell, and he looked long
and earnestly at me.
LET me at least read a chapter of Gods
word to your he asked.
II am content, 1 answered, with a weary
sigh.
He read the third chapter of ST. Johns
gospel, the story of Christ and Nicodemus.
How often had heard my father read it at
family prayer in the old countryl closed
my eyes and could fancy that saw again
my mother and brothers around the table,
listening attentively to the old familiar
lines. ..--
When he had finished, he again sought to
urge me to prayer, and it was only after l
had cordially thanked him for his kindness
and earnestly requested him to spare his
exertions that he at length departed and /
again laid me down. The night passed
drearily on, my guard DOING from time to
time in his chair. Once or twice l also fell
into troubled slumber, at one time dream
ing that was galloping over the green
fields at home with my favorite hunter
with the pack Of foxhounds in full cry.
Suddenly, as was about to clear double
ditch, the form of my darling, in her blood
stained nightrobe and with her hand up
lifted rose from behind the bank and my
horse, rising on his launches in terror, fell
over on me and l awoke. Again 1 dreamed
that stood upon the scaffold, and as the
drop was about to fall an angel with my
darling's face foated in through the win
dow with scroll on which was written the
word Innocent"
AT O'Clock rose, and my guard secured
for me the best suit Of clothing possessed.
felt easier and firmer, now that my final
hour was nigh. l was impatient for the
attendance of the prison barber, who had
not yet arrived, and at my urgent request
he was sent for an hour before his habitual
time. When he had performed his Office, l
looked at myself in the little mirror and
felt strange satisfaction at my appear
ance, like to that one feels when he is
about to start for a church or theater and
knows that he is well groomed.
sat down to wait. Then my new found
strength seemed to yield, and my hands
trembled involuntarily l ordered a hearty
breakfast, determined not to become I'M
nerved By@uental force compelled my.
self to partake of it freely and drank sew
eral cups Of tea that had purposely or
dered to be made as strong as possible. My
guard suggested that he bring some brandy,
the prison rules allowing it to men situated
as now was. l declined the offer, but nc
copied cigar.
heard heavy football In the corridor
without. My guard listened attentively
and looked ut his watch. The steps, which
were followed by shutting feet, passed my
door, and heard the key crate in the lock
of the gate entering the women's depart
ment 1t was but zone more unfortunate"
In the iron clutch of the law.
/ sat on smoking and listening. Yes, it
was coming now. / heard several people
approaching and speaking in hushed tones.
My guard opened the door. The tall form
of the sheriff stood on the threshold. His
face was colorless and more the expression
of one who gazes on the face of the dead
He did not speak. He seemed to take it
for granted that l knew his mission too
well. The head jailer and two turkeys
I a..
He bowed in return and removed his hat.
MS did the rest. Then he took from his
breast pocket paper. 1t was my death
warrant. He read 1t in trembling tones
and breathed' a sigh Of relief when it was
ended
The head Taller advanced. / noticed
white robe over his arm. As he laid the
robe on the table pair of handouts glis-
tened in his hand.
Silently and sadly he approached me.
please place your hands behind your
back, he said, with his eyes fixed on the
floor.
did so and felt the cold steel clasp my
wrists. Then the white robe was placed
around me, and he nodded to the sheriff,
who proceeded down the corridor, followed
by the head jailer and myself. two turn
keys bringing up the rear.
At the entrance to the women,s depart
ment stood the matron, her hand to her
lips, her cheeks hlanched, frightened stare
In her eyes. Without stood the Jail clerk
and his assistant. Both looked wistfully at
me and murmured, "Goodby, my poor Eel
lowl'' as passed. The turnkeys who adj
mitted our weird procession to the Jail
proper, and with many of whom, as with
the Jail clerks, Ihad become well acquant-
ed during my long imprisonment, bade me
a sad farewell.
On through the silent corridors, with
their rows Of deserted cells, from which the
prisoners had been purposely removed, we
marched silently and solemnly. All the