Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-06-01
Account of Event Found By Dallas Herndon in File of
 Washington Telegraph.
LETTER IS INCLUDED
Wanted to See His Relatives Before Death But Was Prepared
 for the End.

the ArkanSaS History commission, re gently discovered a contemporary ac count of the execution of David Ower Dodd. It was probably written by Judge John R. Eakin, editor of the Washington (Ark.) Telegram. This sketch was printed in the issue of the Telegraph, which was published Janu- ary 27, 1864, just 1 9days after the execution.
 Last week while removing records from the vault in the treasury de- partment at the old statehouse, a file of the Telegraph was discovered stor- ed away there, where it was damp and rotting with lot of other valua- ble archieves. It is quite probable that this account of the tragedy has been overlooked heretofore by those seeking information on the subject. The record is significant at this time on account of the fact that the writer offers to contribute $50 toward the
 
 rate the manly courage of the hero of this unfortunate affair."
 Execution of Young DOdd.
 "The Little Rock Democrat of the 9th contains the particulars of tins affair. He was hung by a military Commission, in front of St. John S College on Friday, the S'th inst, at halfpast three o'clock. The editor at tended he says, for the purpose of 'sketching events. About five thou sand spectators were present, all Yan- kee soldiers of immigrants, no doubt. who covered the college buildings and the yard trees, presenting, the editor says, an imposing view from the front, for the purpose of gloating over the spectacle of young Southern hero, with the marks of infancy on his face, being hurled into eternity for the crime of endeavoring to render his feeble service to the rescue of his State from the polluting tread of the invader.
 David o. Dodd was a youth of 17 years. He was born in Saline County and lived at Little Rock He had been educated at St. Johns College and had frequently played in the grouids selected for his execution He had left the city some time after it's occupation by the federals but had returned one day before Christmas He obtained permit to leave again, and 20 miles out of the city was ar rested by portion of General David sons command. On his person. says the Democrat, were found contraband letters and blank book containing telegraphic charters, indicating il. part the strength and position of the garrison at Little Rock, also pass from rebel officer to go in and out at pleasure What brave, generous minded boy would have done less?
 He was tried by military con- mission, of which General Thayer was president, and condemned to be hung. The sentence was executed. The edl> tor says: He asserted his apprecia. tion of the responsibility and ack- nowledged the justice of the sentence as the only penalty attached by law to the crime That was proof of a manliness and heroism beyond his age. The writer adds that the e>u cutors of the law as we'll as the vast circle of friends, have the warmes, sympathy for the family who will soon learn of his sad fate. Who be- lieyes this? He had few friends pres ent, we think and it was anything but sympathy which filled the housetops and trees with gasping spectators.
 Steele has the character of mild and human man. Was it not strange that among so many thousand of fed erals in Little Rock not one pleaded for mercy for the boy, even commuta- tion in Imprisonment for the war? Andre committed far higher crime and hundreds of Americans pleaded for him. He was in the full maturity of manhood, and yet to this day many disapprove the stern intlexibilty of Washington. And now they talk of sympathy! Their conducts exhibits more of the malignity of Butler, who lOks upon the rebels as race of vii pers, whom it is mertrious to cruch, male and female, old and young. And then to justify themselves by the boys own admissions, when the near approach of death might be well cal culated to banish from the breast all human resentment! Let them ask the boys mother what SHE thought of it and print THAT.