Year: 1870

Private Alfred Blake to be Shot
sst Noon at the Barracks.


To-day, just as the sun is at merldl-
an, just as with solemn Sound the great
bell of the old St. Louis Cathedral tolls
forth the hour of noon, a soldier will pay
the penalty Of a crime for which militia
by justice knows but one expiation. The
United States Barracks, below the city,
has been selected as the place where the
execution is to take place, and the green
sward of the parade ground will ere ma
ny hours be stained with the crimson
life blood of the unfortunate man.


A military execution is so rare a thing
in these days of lax discipline, that there
will doubtless be very great excitement
and curiosity on the part of the entire
community, concerning the tragic event
of the day. The history of the present
case, which has somewhat did ont of
popular remembrance, is well calculated
to arouse the deepest sympathy. He
who looks upon the green earth and bright
sky this beautiful spring morning for
the last time, was member of one of
the companies Of United States troops
stationed near village in one of the in
terror parishes of Louisiana. Near the
camp of the company was the plantation
of a wealthy gentleman who had sympa-
thized with the Union cause during the
war, and who, therefore, was the object
of special attention on the part of the
officers of the command then performing
provost duty. The planter had large
family. among whom was a daughter
who possessed in a remarkable degree
that rare type of beauty for which the
women of the South are noted She
had imbibed the sentiments of her faith
or, and, therefore, took great pleasure in
entertaining the officers who frequently
visited the house.


The lst Lieutenant of the company,
Ambrose Black, at once conceived a
warm attachment for the beautiful young
creole, and endeavored in every way to
induce her to share his feelings. Strange
to say, however, the lady treated him in
a peculiarly polite but formal manner,
that proved her heart was ice towards
him. This was u great shock to his va
nifty, and he was at loss to understand
it. Finally the explanation came, when
one of his companies, playfully rallying
him upon his i'll success. stated that be
had discovered why the lady refused to
| smile upon him He had accidentally
witnessed an interview between herself
and private Alfred Blake, the soldier
who had been detailed to guard the
| house, an interview which proved conclu-
sively that the heart of the young cre-
ole was irevocably the priyate's and
not the officers.
This intelligence was too much fol
Lieut.. Black. His pride was wounded
in its most vital point. He had beea
forestalled where his heat was most en-.
listed, and by one of his own subordi
mates. Seeking Private Blake at once
he poured out the vials of his wrath up
on him, taunted him with his position
and declared he would send him where
he should have no more opportunities
for dallying with a shameless girl while
on duty. Alfred Blake had born
much, but this coarse allusion to the wo
man he loved better than life, fired heart
and brain, and with one blow he struck
his officer PROSTATE upon the gronnd il
the presence of his company ~


Then followed the trial--which was
rendered inexpressibly touching by the
presence of the woman who had dared ie
love private soldier-the sentence o
death, to be preceded by Imprisonment
at Ship Island.


| To-day the sentence is to be enforced
and the majesty of the law sustained
For the benefit of those who have never
witnessed military execution, we viii
state that the various detachments o
troops will form three sides of square
and4 the doomed man, with .bandaget
eyes, will be placed in the centre ant
made to kneel ON his rude coffin. 4
squad of ten men will then be marched
few PAGES to the front, all Of whose
muskets will be loaded save one. At tn,
word of command there will be a rattl
of musketry and then silence and death


The day selected for the execution
the LIST of April, is singular one, ant
it is certainly to be hoped that the who'll
affair may turn out to be an April foo
IN. Q. Picayune