Year: 1866

Strange Narrative Ofa Resuseitated


FelOn.


Wait till you hear Il, Ten years
ago was elected sheriff of this county.
This was my first election, and have been
returned regularly ever since. My first
attempt to open court was made during an
important trial. The criminal was a de-
praVed, desperate wretch, who had been in >
dicted for an atrooious and brutal murder
The fellow was greatly hardened and seemed
tn care but little how the trial went-the
evidence was strong and against him, and,
when the case was submitted to the Jury,
they returned verdict of guilty without
leaving their seats.


Tho execution was fixed for day two
weeks after the trial. or course 1t was NV
duty TO put the rope around his neck, and
launch him into eternity. II was a distaste-
tnl duty, assure you; for, though / knew
full well the man deserved his death, did
not relish the idea of hanging him. / got
through with It however. and set him to
dancing In the air. He did not struggle
much. and thought had an easy death.
After hanging the usual time he was cut
down and his body given to his frienda for
interment. thought | had seen the last of
the man. as the wagon containing the body
drove out Of the-jai yard; but was mis-
taken.


About four months after the execution, |
happened to be passing my barn, when
saw man sitting In the doorway, with
his head resting on his hands. | did not
like his looks, 80 / approached him, and
asked him what he wanted there. He
raised his head. and looked at me In silence.
l am not given to superstition, and don't
think I'm very timid, but felt my blood
grow ley cold as recognized In the man
before me the man whose execution had
conducted. His face showed no traces OF
his violent end; and the only indication OF
It, now visible, was a light Disagreement OF
the neck. scarcely knew what to say or
think, for j had seen him hung. and heard
him pronounced dead, and had delivered
his body to his friends for burial, and yet,
after a lapse of four months. there he sat
looking at me with face as white as a
sheet. The terror that was exhibited In his
countenanee convinced me that he was no
ghost 50 asked him, with as much cool
ness as could command:


Jack Larkins, do you know me?"


You're the man that hung me-" he re-
piled doggedly, at the same time moving


"Before You go, Larklns," said I, 81
would like to hear how you cheated the
gallows."


"You won't peach on any of them folks
as helped me, will you ?" he asked.


''No;' ! replied; ~ will not get them
INTO any trouble. simply wish to know
how YOU felt while you were hanging, and
how you were resuscitated."


lie hesltated for some time, but upon
renewal OF my assurance that none of his
friends should be molested, he told me the
following story:


When put the rope around his neck,
and left him on the gallows, he felt faint
ness about the heart, caused by his realiz-
ing his fearful situation for the first time |
but before he had time to think, the trap
was sprung, and he fell through the OPEN
ing. The shock Of the fall was rather more
startling than painful, and did not produce
either insensibility or confusion. His
thoughts were remarkably clear. and he
seemed to have the power of seeing tor
above, below and all around him. Every
thing assumed bright vermilion hue, and
soft dreamy languor gradually stole over
him, until he became insensible. There
was nothing painful or unpleasant In any
thing he had Undergone. He seemed to be
sinking gently into delicious sleep, and
all his thoughts were pleasant. The next
he remembered was being wrung by the
most agonizing torture. The pains were
not confined to any particular place, but
extended through the whole body. His first |
thought was that he was In perdition, and
was suffering the penalty of his crimes.
The pains increased each moment and at
last became so intense that he started to
his feet with scream of anguish, at the
same time opening his eyes. Great was
his surprise TO find himself In his fathers
house, in the midst of his friends and rela-
tiyes. He tainted at once, and when he
recovered found himself In his own bed.
As soon as IL was thought safe to do SO, his
friends informed him that upon bringing
his body home, they had determined 10 try |
to resnscitate it. Although they feared It !
would be useless. They worked faithfully, I
and at last succeeded.


"But, sir" said the man In conclusion, |
coming to life again was much worse than |
dying"


The man promised TO leave the State, and
try TO do better. had but little confidence
In him, yet let him go. He kept his word.
however, and a short time ago heard
ne was a well-to-do farmer In one OF the
Territories.


This, gentlemen, Is the manner in which
! got my Ideas about hanging, and think
you win admit their force,


The STATE RRFoRM SoHooL.-A letter
to the Cincinnati Commercial says:


Ohio has State Reform Farm or School.
for the reformation of bOVa hpfwaan fha