The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-11-11 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF A GUERILLA.  Champ Ferguson, a notorious guerilla, who had been convicted of several murders, has been executed at Nashville, Tennessee. The papers of that city give the following account of his conduct before and at his execution :  Ferguson's wife and daughter spent most of the time with lum from their arrival on Wednesday until the night before his execution. In that interval he received many visitors, with whom ke conversed freely concerning his fate, lie Spoke lightly of his apmmaching death, and gave particular instructions concerning his coffin He professed to believe in a future world and in a merciful God, and firmly maintained that he was justified by the laws of war in every act he had done, and for which he had been condemned. On ' Friday, at noon, the execution took place at the Penitentiary grounds. The condemned nem bore himself up bravely, evincing no emotion until the rope was placed around his neck, when his face turned very red and broke out into profuse perspiration, attended with a strong quivering of the lip. Ile stood composedly on the drop some 20 minutes, while the charges, specifications, and sentence were read by Colonel Shatter. Ile nodded recognition to several persons in the crowd, and shifted his position in an impatient manner while the sentence was being read. To some specifications he inclined his head in assent. To others he shook his head. That about Elam Huddleston caused him to say, " can tell It better than that." When the speaker read, "To all of which the prisoner pleads not guilty,' he said, "I don't know." After a prayer by his spiritual adviser he was then asked if he had anything to say before proceeding with the execution. He replied, •• Nothing to say particularly at all; no, I don't think I have." The noose was placed around his neck, and then, for the first time, he gave signs of emotion, and his face blushed to a deep scarlet. The perspiration broke forth profusely from his face, and his ups closest with a convulsive quiver. The realization of his awful situation seemed to have flashed over his Multi in all its fulness overpowering his fortitude. Colonel Shatter wiped the sweat away, and the prisoner grailually recovered his equanimity. He expressed himself as much opposed to having anything placed over his eyes when a handkerchief was called for. Then he volunteered the statement, "I don't know some things in those specifications, but I don't deny anything I ever done " For a moment or two he seemed to be repressing an impulse to make fuller remarks. After a brief pause he added, "I want to be sent to my family. I don't want to be buried on this soil." After another pause he continued • In an excited tone, "Don't give me to the doctors ; I don't want to be cut up." Here Colonel Shatter answered, " Von shan't, Mr. Ferguson." A short silence followed, when the prisoner again spoke. "I want to be put in that thing (pointing to his coffin) and taken to White county, where I can have my family around me. If! had only bad my way I wouldn't have been here. Whenever you are ready, I am done. My last request is to be sent away with my wife." His last words were, "0, Lord, have mercy on me, I pray thee." At 17 minutes to 12 o'clock the drop fell, and life was extinct in 16 minutes.