The day arose clear and beautiful on which the sentence of the law and of outraged humanity was to be executed on the many who had so often violated their most sacred behest. The sky was blue and serene; the atmosphere genial; all nature was calm and peaceful; man a one was agitated by the various strong emotions which the execution of the fatal sentence of retributive justice on a fellow man could not be create.

The place of execution was distant from the city of August one quarter of a mile. The gallows was erected on a beautiful elevation that was surrounded by the verdure of shrubby oak and the tall, long-leaf pine. The ground was everywhere occupied by thousands of spectators, gathered from Perry and the surrounding counties, to witness the solemn scene. It was indeed one that they will long remember.

About the hour of noon, the prisoner, after being neatly clad, was led form the jail by the officers of the law, placed in the ranks of the bars formed for the occasion and the procession moved slowly toward the fatal spot.

Soon the doomed man appeared on the gallows, the death warrant was then read to him and he was informed that he had but a short time to live.

He proceeded to address the awestruck and silent multitude. He especially urged the young men present to take warning from his career and fate, and to avoid bad company. His misfortune he attributed principally to have been misled while young. When he had concluded a number of questions were asked by the immediate spectators in relation to crimes which had transpired within their knowledge; but he would give no direct answer, shrewdly eluding the inquiries.

The sheriff then asked him in hearing of many lookers on, if the details of his confession, previously made to the officer, were true, he replied that they were.

His hands were then tied and the cap pulled over his face, and he was told that he had but a few moments to live. He exclaimed, "Lord, have mercy on me" and he was praying when the drop fell, and a brief struggle ended his blood stained career.