Year: 1871

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN ARKANsAs-A FIGHT IN


THE PRISON CELL-THE DIGNITY OF LAW


DULY SUSTAINED.


Those who think that capital punishment
has no brutalizng influence society may find sasfac-
tion perhaps the following account Of an aray which
preceded the execution of two colored murderers Mt
Marion Arkansas last Friday, taken from reports in
Memphis papers:


John Roseborough and Henry Harris were hung yes
terday on the same seaold al Marion Arkansas. They
were both charged with the killing OF two white men
The town Of Marion contains population OF about 200


mostly cOlored people. The Jail whichisa small building
OF brick contains but four cells two each side leaving
a narrow corridor between The Jail has two entries


which provided with heavy iron DOORS also the roof
appears to be splendid place for safe keeping. The
building stands in the center of square which is IN
was erected within the jail yard, occupied the north


Of the same was rather fra in appearance


and of two scanns and two cypress trees as
supports, and five rough panks, which formed the plat
form stairs were Loading TO the platform ABOUT - Zee. EEL
supports while rope held the former in horizontal
another of the supports On the ground on either side
Of the seaffold was common pine eoiiin.
inside the jai yard half whom black. all armed
TO the teeth with pistols and guns The cry sudden
ly made that the prisoners attempting TO escape
Every gun cooked and pointed toward the Jail door,
and it only by the superhuman efforts OF Sheriff
cell was prevented. The alarm, which had begun the
side ana as there were at least 1000 people TO describe
the scene would be futile. Those on the inside
thought an effort was being made by friends
S and all drew their Weapons expecting every mo-
ment TO hear the shot which would be the signal for
The murderers had retreated back into their
CELL the door Of which unlocked, and RosebOrough
seiEing bar Of iron which lying the floor swOre
he would Kill the first man who would attempt 10 enter
his cell His rawlings at this period were fearful to be-
hold. He said he unustly kept in confinement
about TO be hung. and that he would die i'll his cell be-
fore he should be taken out and hung on the gaOws
Sheriff Harding endeayored TO reason with him but he
would listen to him. He at bay in his cell,
arm w q ID


Loud voices rose in the dark atmosphere within the
contracted walls OF the prison. Suddenly came
tumbng Of the jail door with blood squirting ont
az SanSSRary food Mr. Manus, the wounded man, had
said be wOuld go III there and take out those prison
ers The prisoners had sgnifed their intention 70 see
this thing through The wife OF one of Them Harris,
had an Interview with her husband that morning during
which she gave him bar of rOn 23 inches long by II
i'm diameter She had it concealed under her c9thing.
With this weapon they resolved to fight out. As the
sniien' and defiant and when told that they We're
wanted they positively refused TO come fortn' Much
reasoning and persuasion used 10 no avail. IL was
then that hero, Manus volunteered his services As
he entered for this audable purpose brekbat caught
him on the right jaw near the mouth, ana as9 near
the nose with such violence that his nose was suddenly
ierked around the other way ana the crimson nTGd 1000
spurted about the walls and over MS SHIRT bosom Ihe
negroes outside clutched their arms desperately and
made several motions which were meant TO De warke,
but which resulted in nothing but change OF positions.
The Sheriff told the prisoners tat ne nad the means OF
bringing them ont but he qua not IKE 20 use any narsn
fuss. He wished 10 dave things done decently ana IN
Srd hargs se so 1fo o & ws have got to g and nS
man in the world take out without paying FOR n
5S H TSt Want thf to Ssd So0d 'n he sd
he innocent, and he was not agwlne to be
ing him fair warning they would be sorry for H." He
said this in loud, sing-song semipious whine that
they would die before they should be taken out
And then they went to encourage each other TO he
were hound to die anyway and that they might well
die decenty fighting for their lives in there as 90 ont in
sheriff made another appeal TO them but ROsebOrOugh
made a defiant reply in low, kissing tone. Harris also
tone of Voice The door Of their cell lay open. They
held their weapons in their hands, and prepared them


Chief O'Donnei Of Memphis, who arrived outside the
yard by this time now put in NJ an appeara9ee cara he az
him who had come over from Memphis to witness the
execution, and he aud they were willing to render any
be carried out. The Sheriff thanked him. and after some
brief conversation was arranged that another attempt
be made take the out by force, without If Doss
bic, mutilating them In any way. Preparations were
accordingly made for another attempt in force Sergeant
Marie, and an Arkansas gentleman named NJ L. Wind
took 0 Od 9 bef eeEv & R e and wea n e
Chief told them to keep cool and to hurt
they got in they shut the door behind them and stood
in the dark passage for few seconds until their eyes
TWO culprtS stood at the end Of their cells garng on
the attacking party like wild beasts These Memphis
told them in very decisive language to come out.
They refused and became threatening. Then Hicks and
Frank Birmingham made dart through the cell door.
They assaed by Harris with his iron bar
He made tremendous blow which Hicks lodged by
stopping very low and "diviDg," or rather, sailing into
him. Frank Birming CHAM caught stroke the wrist,
which he did not feel in the excitement OF the moment
At the same time, Mike Gallagher and John Marie pin
ioned Rosenborough. Both men were hauled into the
passage, where there tub OF llme-watef. One or
Them stTetC he'd over Ii in his struggles. They
held down, however until their hands tied with
strap. .


All this time the suspense outside intense for the
shouts and struggles, and sounds Of strife reached
beyond the high fence There grinding OF teeth,
cufsing and loud shouting inside for few brief
minutes and when IL was over word spread that
they were all right they have them" Presently the
door OF the prison was thrown open again, and the
handcufed prisoners marched forth, perspiring and
puffing and pretty well exhausted but without any
other marks OF violence. There was little trouble In
Getting them up the stairway the platform OF the gal
lows They moved along with some hestancy. Having
fairly mounted scaOldng and got In the OF
the crowd OF 1900 people that were assembled
outside, their prayers became ieaueh. terVent ana
loud ROseborough confessed his guilt on the scaOld,
while Harris denied his TO the last There was sreech-
ing among the women OF the crowd as the trap fe the
men died quickly and ended the sickening and hor'
rible incidents OF the day.