The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
Saved At DEATHS GATE
Few Modern Instances Of Reprieves
at the Seaifold.
The Recent Case In Gretna. LA
Lease of Life While Facing the
Noose-A Tragic Comedy That Was
Once Enacted in the Capital City.

The recent reprieve of a negro condem-
ned to be hanged at Gretna, La, for felo-
NOUS assault when the condemned man,
already pinioned, had assembled the scat
fold, brings 10 mind the fact that snatch
ing a man from the very jaws of an 'gno-
minious death is something that now is
rarely heard Of These grewsome ro-
mances of the gallows tree have frequently
I happened in days long gone, when the
machinery OF laws. hasty trials, and sem
fences to early death were in vogue.
In modern times reprieves when preach
ers are giving their final consultations to
trembling penitents; when the legal exc
cutioner, pallii himself in the presence of
the stern duty forced upon him and MS as
| sistants. holds the condemned man ready to
cover his face with the black cap that will
! 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 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 lie; but the arrival of an
order to stop proceedings when the Offend
/ ers foot is literally on the scaffOld, re-
| prieye is hardly to be thought of IN the
/ vaguest dream than can permeate the is
! ion OF humanity.
A man who was recently the central fig
| ure of just such a scene as this is Samuel
! Wright, negro. who was to have been
hanged at Gretna, La The time set for
! his execution was between noon and 2
o'clock. On the morning OF the 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 In prayer with
him. a few minutes after / O'Clock Wright
was conducted up the steps of the scaf-
fold by two deputy sherifs.
A press despatch describes the scene as
follows:
THE sky was overcast BY dull Ieaden
clouds. and there was slight d. izzle fall
| ing. Wright's face, almost as black as the
| Prince Albert coat he wore. had in 1t
| 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 at the object. the soft rain falling
on his face. His lips parted in what most
of the spectators thought was smile, but
4 which was more likely q grin produced by
\ muscular contraction from the frightful sit
, uation in which he stood. His wrists we're
/ handcuffed when he came on the scaTold,
and when he was led to the trap deputy
| began to pinion his legs with rope. The
| executioner stood in a cell near the sclf-
| fold. clad in a flowing black robe, and
his face and head hooded. His cue to
| come upon the scene was to have been q
/ tap on the window by the sheriff. But
I this hideous figure. which always brings
| chill to the stoutest heart and feeling OF
! nausea to the healthiest 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 Of
/ the scanold with paper in his
hands. He was too breathless to
speak, and one of the deputy sher-
| ifs, who had an idea Of his business,
motioned him away. Another deputy. who
! seemed TO have some indistinct inkling Of
| the marshal's mission, pointed to the sher-
! if. The deputy Still ruable to speak. ran
| down the steps and handed the papers to
| the sheriff.
| Bring the prisoner down. said the
sheriff. after glancing at the papers
1 Bring him DOWN. asked deputy in
surprise.
Yes responded the sheriff
The deputies loosened the bands about
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 tc smile.
| Wright was Immediately taken back 10
jaiI where he was long time in what
seemed a semi-conscious state.
This was a scene that can never be for
gotten by those who were present at 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 ap-
| pearapce of a man with the wild gesticula-
tions of a maniac or a fast-riding horse
man in the vicinity of jail yards has given
| a pulsation of hope to the man about tc
] be led to his doom that interposition in his
favor has happened, and in many instances
have proven true.
Rarely has the hope had true foundation
in civil executions, though in the carrying
| out OF death sentences by courts-martiai
they have not been infrequent.
| With all their solemnity sometimes
there is a ludicrous aspect on such ocea-
| sions Not very many years ago man in
| this city was sentenced 10 die in the old
! Jail 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 the Jail officials were
| about to lead the condemned man into the
| prison enclosure to meet his fate loud
rapping was heard at the Jail yard gate and
a man was seen wildly waving 4 paper
over his head "A reprieve, reprieve!
was on every mans lips. The excited man
was promptly admitted and presented his
paper to the marshal in charge OF the SOL
emn proceedings. It was permit from
the Attorney Generals Office allowing the
bearer to be present at the execution
FUR-CLAD FIGHTERS.