HORRIBLE SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 8, 10 January 1867, Page 3

HORRIBLE SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD .

(From the New York Tribune.) Every execution of which we have read is disgusting, but few equal that of Allen P. Eggelston at Newport, Ky., on Friday last. This criminal shot Captain Almon P. Menter last June while attempting to escape from the house of the latter, which he had entered to rob. Fifteen thousand people witnessed his execution, which took place in the open air, "on a knoll, which," says the report, " seemed to have beeu designated by nature for just the dismal purpose it was about to serve." Eggleston, pallid and weak, unable to walk without aid from the wounds his chains had inflicted, but calm and resolute was led upon the scaffold. He looked around at the vast crowd, ' ( with an expression of weakness and resignation, a troubled look, a shade of sorrow,, not untinged with disgust," and then he fixed his eyes on the bright sky and the forest-clad hills. The death warrant was read, and Eggleston, supported by two men, rose to make his dying speech. It was the old story. Bad company, a bad life, protestation — in this case true, we think — that murder was not intended, repentance and willingness to die. 'He was not drunk, as are usually the victims of the scaffold, for no drunken man would have thus gently rebuked the crowd, ••eager for the horrible tragedy. " I feel truly sorry," he said, "to see so many people here, for I feel most of them came here through idle curiosity. I feel that they don't realise that they have got to die themselves, and that many die on the gallows, like me, just as I am about to die. I am very, very sorry to see so many here to look at this, and to see so many women and children here to-day. Eggleston's arms were now bound, and the rope placed around his neck. The white hood was drawn over his face, aud still unable to stand, strong hands supported him on the trap. As he said "God bless you " to his executioners, the drop fell, and the body flashed in the air. What followed was more horrible than death. The body fell through with great force — the knot slipped, and with, a fall of eight feet the wretched man's body struck the ground, his head bumpiDg against the woodwork with a thud that could be heard 100 feet out. The scene of horror electrified the 15,000 spectators. A horror of disgust went the length and breadth of the crowd,and they moved forward with a motion like an immense wave to see what would follow. It was five minutes after one o'clock that the horrible event occurred. The officers quietly raised the man, all stunned and bleeding from his terrible lacerated neck as he was, carried him up the steps of the death-hole again, and gave him some water. Without a word of complaint or an expression of pain, with the old look of meekness and resignation lighting up his face, and saying simply — 'Geutlemen, don't let that occur again,' he submitted to the preparation for his execution." And then he was again lifted on the gallows, and this time — it is pitiful that we should have it to say — was mercifully strangled. What became of his soul we know not, but the crowd went home to dinner.