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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1069, 4 May 1882, Page 3

Recently several gentlemen were speaking of capital punishment, when J. M. M’Neely, one of the most prosperous farmers in Pulaski County, remarked : “ Gentleman, so far as the punishment is concerned, hanging does not amount to anything. I was hung once till I was insensible, and the feeling could scarcely be called pain.” The bystanders thought he was joking. “ I am in earnest,” he continued. “ In 1865, just at the close of the war, robbers came to my house in search of money. As a precaution against such visitors I had given two watches and 600dols to a trusty colored woman to keep for me until times improved. 1 was lying in my bed, crippled. Several men entered the room, and without saying anything, put a rope around my neck and began to pull. I told them that if they were going to hang me, to wait until I could get my crutch so that I could walk to the hanging place. They took me out on the gallery, and throwing a rope over a cross beam, asked me for my money. I told them I had none. They drew me up. For a moment I experienced a slight choking sensation, and then I became insensible. When I became conscious after being taken down I was sitting on the steps. The sensations when regaining consciousness were very much like those experienced during a nightmare.