The independent-reporter., 1919-10-09
EXECUTION OF JOSEPH s4GER

Continued from Page Five
ridges to each man and four balls in
separate pocket. having been ad-
dressed by their commander, Captain
william IL. Chrishom, urging them
to the exercise of courage and the
heroic performance OF whatever duty
might befall them. as the band play
ed mournful dirge the company
emerged from their quarters In single
file. the dense crowd opening suff
GENTLY to allow them to take up their
position encirclng the gallows. The
company faced the crowd with fixed
bayonets, but so great was the pres
sure that the soldiers were forced
quite beneath the galows. At about
this moment cry Of fire was heard
that threw the crowd into the widest
commotion, the great mass of people
surged and lurched like a ship at sea.
In the meantime Governor Dunlap
attended by the Executive Council
had taken a position in the Court
House, overlooking the entire scene
of the execution The mother of
Sager, impelled by the maternal in
stinct and affections which go ont
to a child, however degraded by habit
or scared by crime. was interceding
with Governor Dunlap for clemency,
but without avail As soon as the
Militia had taken its position about
the gallows. Sheriff Stanley, accom-
panied by two of his deputies entered
the cell Of the doomed man for the
purpose of preparing him for the last
act in the monrnful drama in which
he was playing so prominent part.
He was saluted by the Sheriff with
courage and fortitude. he readily as
scented to the necessary preparations,
and was led out with the fatal rope
coiled about his right arm, his step
was slow and hesitating as he as
cended the huge scaffold, he was
man of large frame and when
first incarcerated was in the most
robust health, when led to his
execution he was but mere shad
ow of his former self, his
flesh hung loose and flabily on his
massive frame and all his former
hn M il
ed by the Rev DIR. Tappan, his spirit
ual adviser, who read to the people
a rambling and incoherent statement
of the criminal, protesting his inno-
cence of the crime in which he had
been convicted, and for which he was
about to suffer the extreme penalty
Just at this moment respected
member of the Society of Friends of
of the law.
Fairfield" very venerable man, had
made his way into the presence of
the Governor. Mr.. Governor he said,
pray thee to pardon this man in the
name of God" no response was re-
ceived. the Governor being intently
engaged in watching the proceedings
upon the scaffold. the kind old Quaker
solemnly turned and walked away.
remarking, II have done my duty"
A short exhortation from DR. Tap
pan was pronounced, in which the
clergyman. in trembling accents,
warned his hearers to beware of the
habits and the wickedness of pro
higate life such as had brought this
doomed man to this melancholy con-
dition. a short and very feryent prayer
followed. Sheriff Stanley then drew
down the black cap that was to hide
the face of Joseph Sager from the
sight of his fellowmen, forever, he
adjusted the fatal rope about his I
barred neck and then taking him by
the hand he very kindly bade Sager
goodbye. the man still protested his
absolute innocence, THAT, said Sher-
in Stanley, is now a matter between
you and your God"
Descending the steps briskly, with
one sturdy blow of sharp hatchet,
the rope that held Sager to this
Earth. was severed, and he dropped
over sixteen feet, falling with dull,
heavy thud, his body spinning around
like a top, for several minutes, and
thus he passed beyond the bounds of
time and from all knowledge of man
kind there was no struggle, and death /
must have been instantaneous. After
remaining a sickening sight for some
thirty minutes, the attending physi-
clan, DR. Frederick Gage, declared
the man legally dead. The body was
then lowered upon a horsesled and
driven by his friends, with all posi-
BILE speed to Hallowell
The Militia company marched
away at the sound of the bugle and
the other officials all departed. the
vast throng dispersed; the sad trag-
, edy was at last ended Sager was
dead, and the first public execution
under the laws of the great State of