The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
saved At DEATHS GATE
Few Modern Instances Of Reprieves
at the Seaffold
The Recent Case in Gretnn. LA
Condemned Man Recalled to "a New
Lease of Life While Pacing the
Noose-A Tragic Comedy That Wa.
Once Enacted in the Capital city.

| Once Enacted In the Capital City.
! The recent reprieve of a negro condom-
! ned to be hanged at Gretna. La for felo-
NOUS assault. when the condemned man,
/ already pinioned. had assembled the scat
+ fold brings to mind the fact that snatch
I ing a man from the very jaws Of an isno-
minious death is something that now is
rarely heard Of These grewsome TO-
mances Of the gallows tree have frequently
/ happened in days long gone. when the
machinery OF laws. hasty trials. and sen
! fences to early death we're in vogue.
In modern times reprieves when preach
ers are giving their final consultations to
/ trembling peuitenis, when the legal exc
| cutioner, pallid himself in the presence OF
the stern duty forced upon him and ais as
sistants, holds the condemned man ready to
cover his face with the black cap that viii
/ shut out the light Of the suns brightness
from his face forevermore, are a rarity.
week before the date Of execution. twenty
four hours before the time set for the
death Of a condemned man even on the
very morning Of the day fixed for the ex-
piation Of crime reprieves that have been
/ hoped for, prayed for and in many cases
confidently expected. have reached the Jail
Ors and given many miserable wretches
fresh leases OF life; but the arrival OF an
order to stop proceedings when the Offend
I er's foot is literally on the scaii0ld. re-
prieve is hardly to be thought OF IN the
vaguest dream than can permeate the yis-
ion OF humanity.
A man who was recently the central fig
ure Of Just such a scene as this is Samuel
/ Wright a negro. who was to have been
I hanged at Gretna, La. The time set for
: his execution was between noon and 2
o'clock. On the morning OF thu day fixed for
his death priest of the Catholic Church
administered to him the last sacraments.
+ and sisters from the convent Of Perpetual
Alteration earnestly engaged iu prayer with
him. A few minutes after / o'clock Wright
was conducted up the steps Of the sSaf-
fold by two deputy sherins.
A press despatch describes the scene as
follows;
The sky was overcast BY dun. leaden
1 clouds. and there was a slight d izzie fall
ing Wright's face, almost as black as the
Prince Albert coat he wore. had in Il a
I tinge OF dirty grey, which indicated his
/ intense emotion. As he approached the
| centre Of the scaffold the hanging Moose
struck his forehead and he lifted his head
I to look az the object the sofl rain falling
on his face. His lips parted in What most
Of the spectators thought was a smile, but
which was more likely grin produced by
! muscular contraction from the frightfui sit
uation 10 which he stood His wrists we're
/ handcufed when he came on the scaTold.
and when he was led to the trap a deputy
I began TO pinion his legs with rope. The
I executioner stood in cell near the Scif-
fold, clad in a flowing black robe and
his face and head hooded His cue to
come upon the scene was to have been
tap on the window by the sheriff. But
Z this hideous figure. which always brings a
3 chill to the stoutest heart and feeling OF
nausea TO the healthisst stomach. never
! appeared on the platform.
The sheriff stood with his finger poised
to tap the window and bring on the scene
this abhorent figure. which seemed to be-
/ long to some medieval inquisition or venm.
( when deputy sheriff ran up the steps or
/ the scanold with paper 10 his
4 hands He was too breathless to
speak, and one of the deputy sher-
/ ifs, who had an idea OF his business,
mOtioned him away. Auother deputy. wb0
I seemed to have some indistinct inkling OF
/ the marshals mission pointed to the sher-
+ iff. The deputy. still unable to speak. ran
/ down the steps and handed the papers to
the sheriff
Bring the prisoner down, said the
| sheriff. after glanciug al the papers
1 " Bring him down.? asked a deputy in
surprise.
res responded the sheriff
| The deputies IoOsened the bands about
I the negro's legs and the condemned man.
for the first time since he had assembled
| the scaffold seemed TO have some idea OF
his surroundings. A long. deep breath OF
relief escaped from his open lips, which
took on less rigid curves. and the grin
/ bore much closer resemblance 20 a smile.
/ Wright was Immediately taken back 10
fail where he was a long time in what
| seemed a semi-conscious state
! This was n scene that can never be for
/ gotten bv those who were present al its
/ occurrence. The reprieve that favored the
! condemned was granted upon an appeal
for a stay OF execution hardly an hour be-
fore the time fixed for his death.
/ Cases have often happened when the APP
| Dearapce Of man with the wild gesticula-
I tiops of a maniac or a fast-Tiding horse
man in the vicinity Of jail yards has given
a pulsation Of hope to the man about &c
/ be led to his doom that interposiiion in his
favor has happened, and in many instances
have proven true.
I Rarely has the hope had true foundation
in civil executions. though in the carrying
| out Of death sentences by courts martial
| they have not been infrequent.
] with all their solemuity. sometimes
| there is a 1udicrous aspect on such occa-
/ sions Not very many years ago a man in
/ this city was sentenced to die in the old
| iaiI yard which stood partly on the site
where the Pension Office now is. Every
/ thing was in readiness for the performance
/ Of the tragedy required by the law. Those
/ entitled to be present at the hanging we're
/ in their places and as the Jail officials were
about to lead the condemned man into the
prison enclosure to meet his fate loud
rappiug was heard at the Jail yard gate and
/ a man was seen wildly waving a paper
/ over his head "A reprieve. a reprteve''
was on every mans lips. The excited man
was promptly admitted and presented his
paper to the marshai in charge Of the SOL
emn proceedings 10 was permit from
/ the Attorney Generals Office allowing the
I bearer 10 be present at the execution.
FUR-cLAD FIGHTERS.