The Indianapolis journal., 1897-03-21

the speed of the whirlwind 10 Scott Jackson
silence prevailed when it was whispered
that the sheriff and ;he prisoners had left
the jail. Out from the cells the procession
the brick walk 10 the foot Of the gallows.
THE DEAD MARCH.
The first TO make his appearance was
Expert Hangman Tough, Sheriff Plummer
following closely behind. The sheriff and
the solemn-faced minister walked together.
Then followed Jackson supported by Dep
uty Sheriffs Moore and Trusdell. Pale as
death. yet by a great effort calm and col
lected. he walked to his death between the
two deputies.
Behind Jackson came Walling. with eyes
cast down, slightly pale. but with step firm
and strong. Deputies Hyndman and Miller
walked with him. but WalIing would hot
have their assistance. and alone lac bravely
walked to the seaffold. In the OF tic
procession were Guards Cottingha.n, Muir
ray and Sutton. With barred heads the sol-
emn company. headed by the harsnlan.
low was silent as death. and almost m
stantly Jackson and WallinE were placed
within the black lines. denoting the limits
OF the traps on the scaffOld floor. For the
nrst time the two men faced the crowd.
,Malling looked up but once. but Jackson
looked down at his more fortunate fcllow-
men below with q calm, horror-Stricken.
blank look. that must have impressed the
~
them.
Jackson stood firm on the spot he was
placed; and Walling never moved his feet
an eighth of an inch after he was stood on
MS trap. but his body swayed to and fro
He seemed dazed. while jackson stood like
man dead, looking blankly in front OF
hlmL On either OF the prisoners heads
were the black caps, rolled up ready to
pull down without any trouble. Both were
dressed in black cheviot suits. Jackson
wore black-striped outing shirt. with a
string tie. and Walling a clean. white shirt
ana lay-down collar, with cheap, black.
made-up four-in-hand tie When they had
taken their places on the traps Sheriff
RUNNER came TO the front OF the scaffold.
emnly:
LAST CHANCE TO SPEAK.
Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling. / am
| mere Tor the purpose of carrying out the
mandates OF the Governor OF this State.
expressed TO me in death warrant which
have read to you heretofore. Have you
Scott jackson, anything TO say?
jackson hesitated and looked about ap-
parently abashed. He quickly recovered
himself. however and without turning his
head, answered the sheriff in a clean, clear
voice:
Only this; am not guilty of the crime
penalty by my life
Sheriff Plummer. after satisfying himself
that Jackson had finished turned TO WAL
| nhg ana said; AlnoZo Walling, have YOU
anything to say?''
Walling made a heroic effort TO speak.
| he started out in a voice low and filled With
emotion but before he had finished he
| could scarcely be heard. He stammered:
Nothing TO say; only you are about TO take
GOD 10 be my witness"
AS il was apparent that neither man de-
| sired TO say anything further the sheriff
nodded to Rev. Lee, who stepped to the
| front of the platform and sang in bad voice
ana aS poor y, tune tune the hymn, My Soul in the
He then read selections from the Bible as
| follows:
the ends of the earth" Matthew XII. 2s.
| For God so loved the world that he gave
| his only begotten Son. that whosoever be-
lieve in Hin Him shall not perish, but have ever
The next and last, Revelation xxi. II:
And the Spirit and the Bride was given,
| and they will say our heart was good and
do whatsoever you will, even TO the taking
| of our life away"
Immediately after the reading of the bib
| lical selections Sheriff Plummer gave the
signal to his deputies and they came for
ward quickly. Deputy Truesdale strapped
Jackson's legs and hands and Deputy
| Millar doing the same thing 10 Walling.
| A haff second later Deputy Moore put the
moose about Jacl0sons neck Jackson drop
ping his neck to facilitate the operation
Deputy Hyndman placed the moose about
| Walling's neck.
A BRUTAL HANGMAN.
The action Of Deputy Sheriff Hyndman
caused much unfavorable comment among
the witnesses. The nooses were adjusted
before Rev. Lee had made his closing
prayer for the men. Hyndman jerked hard
on Walling's moose and kept pulling IL
tighter. Sheriff PIummer told him to stop,
but he gave it three or four hard jerks
again. Walling WINGED. and number Of
murmured protests were heard. Walling
stood like a statue, and both men, bound
hand and foot. with the ropes about their
necks, stood firm TO the last: Walling wad
pale and Jackson's face was red as firel
Rev. Lee then offered the following invo1
cation
"Our Father. Our Savior and Our God
heads; oh, may the sun OF Righteousness
shine on the soul of Scott Jackson and
of mercy. admit these boys into thy Iifel
into thy mercy. We ask and rely upon theI
blood of Jesus Christ to do this forever.
Amen"
Then Rev. Lee. raising his hands in sup
plication, turned to the two men on the
traps. and in voice full OF feeling and
clear and plain. said: II ask you in the
name of God. right now to engage in secret
prayer for the saving ing Of your soul upon
Then going I'D to jackson, he said:
"Good-bye,' answered Jackson. His lips
| almost refused to do his bidding, but ne
softly said, Goodbye"
Rev. Lee, going over to Walling. bade
"Good-by." faItered WaIIing in a whisper.
| and Rev. Lee staggered down the scaffoId
| stairs. and had to be led away, so severely
was he affected.
Quick as a flash the deputies stepped to
the side of the prisoners, the black caps
were drawn, and. stepping back, Sheriff
Plummer pulled the lever. With a crash
the traps fell and the bodies Of Jackson and
Walling shot downward like an arrow. IT
was 11:H o'clock.
They swung in mid-air five or six times.
Jackson drew up his legs in the death
/ struggle and Walling's arms and legs
twitched. Then they were quite still. Ev-
| cry one looked aghast. but none ap-
| preached; the life of Packson and WaIling
was not yet extinct. a few more minutes
of struggling; then they hung dead.
| Walling was pronounced dead at II .55
| o'clock. doctor stood with his hand over
the struggling mans heart until the last
pulSation had died away. Jackson was pro-
nounced dead at 1901 O'Clock. At 1903
Jackson's body was united and taken down.
Deputies Moore and TrIesdale carried the
body to a stretcher. The crowd rushed up.
but was orGSfed to stand back by Plum
| his open mouth and blue lips. not dis
figured. His neck was not broken. The
ropefmade deep furrow on the neck un-
der the chin. At 1904 Walling taken
| down and at 1906 Jackson was placed in a
coffin, his face pale in death. The physi-
clans took a last look at him and pro-
nounced him surely dead Walling's body
| was placed on the stretcher When the
black cap was removed from Walling his
tongue protruded from his lips which fell
!, and We're discolored. presenting a horrible
sight. Neither OF the necks was broken.