father: Curtis Hodges
Warsaw, Illinois, July 27, 1845.
From the Burlington Hawkeye
THE EXECUTION,
The brothers, William and Stephen Hodges were hung in this town on Tuesday last. From dawn until the time appointed for he execution the principal avenues to town were crowded with people The Steamer Mermaid brought down a large number from Bloomington -- the Stockoquon, after bringing an immense load from the place whose name she bears, proceeded to Oquawka, from whence she landed at our wharf a crown from Illinois. In the meantime one of the Steam ferry boats from Fort Madison -- the Caroline -- came loaded to the guards with passengers -- the "New Purchase," with a large multitude from Nauvoo, and places adjacent, arrived too late for the passengers to witness the execution. - Long before the time appointed our streets were literally filled with men, women, and children.
At 12 o'clock, the guard, composed of three or four companies of riflemen under the command of Col. Geo. Temple arrived at the Jail, and soon after the prisoners were placed in a wagon, which contained the coffins, under the care of deputy Sheriff Smith M'Kenny, with his assistants. After all the necessary arrangements were made under the judicious direction of the Sheriff, John H. M'Kenney, Esq., the procession took up its line of march to the gallows. The Band and Martial Music played appropriately solemn tunes during the progress of the march. The procession crossed the square from the jail and down Court to Third street, through Third to Jefferson street, through Jefferson to the place of execution.
Stephen Hodges came forward to address the crowd. He was very much agitated. His address was so different from anything we anticipated from a dying man -- so much bitterness and maliciousness was exhibited in all he said - his manner became so maniacal, that although prepared and in a good situation to take down all that was uttered, we were obliged at times, in utter astonishment, to drop our pencil and look at the man. We cannot therefore give more than an outline. He said:
Gentlemen and Fellow citizens, I stand before you a dying man about to be launched into eternity. I have not much to say and shall not detain you long. - there never was a trial where men were convicted under such slight evidence as was brought against us: We have not been tried as white men ought to have been tried. There was no evidence to convict us. Can the Jury look on and see two innocent young men executed as we shall be in a few moments and feel right about it'? Can the Jury after giving such a verdict, in condemning two innocent young men as we are, one twenty-two an the other twenty-five years old, go home to their wives and children and sleep quietly? He then alluded to the evidence and in a sort of special pleading, lawyer like style attempted to show that it was inadequate to convict them. He asked why the jury did not believe the witnesses who swore that hey were at Nauvoo at the time of the murder, and answered that it was because they were Mormons. He then said there have been many murders committed here, why were they not found guilty and executed? They were not Mormons, that was the reason. It must have been so. Our Counsel told us and the Jury, that the evidence was not sufficient to convict us. Examine our conduct from our youth up and see if you can prove any thing against us. That roll of flannel, oh, yes, you say that we must have been guilty of stealing that, and yet there was no proof of our stealing it
Judge Mason came to us and tried to make us confess -- and he told us that the evidence was not sufficient to condemn us, ant that if we would confess he would get us reprieved. He then referred to the manner in which they taken in Lee county, said that every body wanted to hang them up without Judge or Jury. Alluded to the activity of the Sheriff of Lee county -- of the willingness of all to bring timber to erect the gallows, still repeating that there was no evidence to convict them and that it was because they were Mormons they were convicted. To corroborate this they said the Prosecuting Attorneys declared they ought to be hung for an example, if not nothing else. Here he became almost frantic and came near, we thought, of bursting asunder the ropes that bound his arms. The froth issued from his mouth and he gave other signs of extreme rage and madness. He seemed now inclined to include all the spectators in his anathemas and said the curses of God would rest upon them. He then broke out in a rapsody [sic]of benevolence and declared that he felt for the bystanders, not for himself - he would die a thousand deaths if he could bring them back to virtue. He asked how could any citizen go home and tell his wife what he had seen - two men hung without evidence -- and sleep quietly. -- He then said he was prepared to go, and stated that the Rev. Mr. White and Coleman had been with him several days, and he thanked them. He said he had been well treated while in prison. If he had been a border at Mr. Painter's the jailer, he could not have had better fare. He acknowledged that he had received the most tender treatment from Sheriff McKenny and then with the utmost coolness, thanked the audience for their attention, and retired.
It was our intention -- and we believe that thousands felt as we did, -- to have left the ground or to have turned our back upon the dreadful tragedy, as soon as the preliminary exercises were over: but the speech and conduct of Stephen dissipated those tender sympathies in their behalf which we had all along felt. This change was wrought in us by having been in possession of admissions made by both prisoners to different individuals entirely opposite to the statements they made on the gallows. Those admissions clearly prove their guilt. Soon after Stephen took his seat.
William Hodges came forward and said, Friends and fellow citizens, I am on the step that is soon to place me in eternity. I am innocent of shedding man's blood. He then in a much more subdued spirit than Stephen, reviewed the evidence adduced at his trial, complained of its insufficiency -- and declared that it was not strong enough to convict a man in a common case of assault and battery. He became quite animated and addressed the crowd at one time, as "Gentlemen of the Jury." They both seemed to have impressed upon their minds the arguments of their Counsel as they were uttered on the trial, and it was these arguments, in some instances clothed in the very language of their counsel, that they urged as a proof of their innocence on the scaffold. He urged all to repent of their sins. He then said I am prepared to go: -- and when I drop I expect to go right straight into Heaven. I bid you all farewell. I am going home to glory. I die in peace and hope to meet you all in that better world of glory. He claimed the forgiveness of all and said he forgave all and again bid the audience farewell.
Mr. White then said there was still time for religious exercises, and as the prisoners requested the time might be so filled up, they proceeded to sing a few hymns in which all could join. After which Bishop Loras read the story of the penitent thief, and made some very appropriate remarks, admonishing all to serve and fear God and never sin against him and thus avoid the doom that awaited the young men so soon to be executed. Mr. White gave a recital of the manner in which he became acquainted with prisoners and made some appropriate remarks.
Warsaw, Illinois, July 27, 1845.
From the Burlington Hawkeye
THE EXECUTION,
The brothers, William and Stephen Hodges were hung in this town on Tuesday last. From dawn until the time appointed for he execution the principal avenues to town were crowded with people The Steamer Mermaid brought down a large number from Bloomington -- the Stockoquon, after bringing an immense load from the place whose name she bears, proceeded to Oquawka, from whence she landed at our wharf a crown from Illinois. In the meantime one of the Steam ferry boats from Fort Madison -- the Caroline -- came loaded to the guards with passengers -- the "New Purchase," with a large multitude from Nauvoo, and places adjacent, arrived too late for the passengers to witness the execution. - Long before the time appointed our streets were literally filled with men, women, and children.
At 12 o'clock, the guard, composed of three or four companies of riflemen under the command of Col. Geo. Temple arrived at the Jail, and soon after the prisoners were placed in a wagon, which contained the coffins, under the care of deputy Sheriff Smith M'Kenny, with his assistants. After all the necessary arrangements were made under the judicious direction of the Sheriff, John H. M'Kenney, Esq., the procession took up its line of march to the gallows. The Band and Martial Music played appropriately solemn tunes during the progress of the march. The procession crossed the square from the jail and down Court to Third street, through Third to Jefferson street, through Jefferson to the place of execution.
Stephen Hodges came forward to address the crowd. He was very much agitated. His address was so different from anything we anticipated from a dying man -- so much bitterness and maliciousness was exhibited in all he said - his manner became so maniacal, that although prepared and in a good situation to take down all that was uttered, we were obliged at times, in utter astonishment, to drop our pencil and look at the man. We cannot therefore give more than an outline. He said:
Gentlemen and Fellow citizens, I stand before you a dying man about to be launched into eternity. I have not much to say and shall not detain you long. - there never was a trial where men were convicted under such slight evidence as was brought against us: We have not been tried as white men ought to have been tried. There was no evidence to convict us. Can the Jury look on and see two innocent young men executed as we shall be in a few moments and feel right about it'? Can the Jury after giving such a verdict, in condemning two innocent young men as we are, one twenty-two an the other twenty-five years old, go home to their wives and children and sleep quietly? He then alluded to the evidence and in a sort of special pleading, lawyer like style attempted to show that it was inadequate to convict them. He asked why the jury did not believe the witnesses who swore that hey were at Nauvoo at the time of the murder, and answered that it was because they were Mormons. He then said there have been many murders committed here, why were they not found guilty and executed? They were not Mormons, that was the reason. It must have been so. Our Counsel told us and the Jury, that the evidence was not sufficient to convict us. Examine our conduct from our youth up and see if you can prove any thing against us. That roll of flannel, oh, yes, you say that we must have been guilty of stealing that, and yet there was no proof of our stealing it
Judge Mason came to us and tried to make us confess -- and he told us that the evidence was not sufficient to condemn us, ant that if we would confess he would get us reprieved. He then referred to the manner in which they taken in Lee county, said that every body wanted to hang them up without Judge or Jury. Alluded to the activity of the Sheriff of Lee county -- of the willingness of all to bring timber to erect the gallows, still repeating that there was no evidence to convict them and that it was because they were Mormons they were convicted. To corroborate this they said the Prosecuting Attorneys declared they ought to be hung for an example, if not nothing else. Here he became almost frantic and came near, we thought, of bursting asunder the ropes that bound his arms. The froth issued from his mouth and he gave other signs of extreme rage and madness. He seemed now inclined to include all the spectators in his anathemas and said the curses of God would rest upon them. He then broke out in a rapsody [sic]of benevolence and declared that he felt for the bystanders, not for himself - he would die a thousand deaths if he could bring them back to virtue. He asked how could any citizen go home and tell his wife what he had seen - two men hung without evidence -- and sleep quietly. -- He then said he was prepared to go, and stated that the Rev. Mr. White and Coleman had been with him several days, and he thanked them. He said he had been well treated while in prison. If he had been a border at Mr. Painter's the jailer, he could not have had better fare. He acknowledged that he had received the most tender treatment from Sheriff McKenny and then with the utmost coolness, thanked the audience for their attention, and retired.
It was our intention -- and we believe that thousands felt as we did, -- to have left the ground or to have turned our back upon the dreadful tragedy, as soon as the preliminary exercises were over: but the speech and conduct of Stephen dissipated those tender sympathies in their behalf which we had all along felt. This change was wrought in us by having been in possession of admissions made by both prisoners to different individuals entirely opposite to the statements they made on the gallows. Those admissions clearly prove their guilt. Soon after Stephen took his seat.
William Hodges came forward and said, Friends and fellow citizens, I am on the step that is soon to place me in eternity. I am innocent of shedding man's blood. He then in a much more subdued spirit than Stephen, reviewed the evidence adduced at his trial, complained of its insufficiency -- and declared that it was not strong enough to convict a man in a common case of assault and battery. He became quite animated and addressed the crowd at one time, as "Gentlemen of the Jury." They both seemed to have impressed upon their minds the arguments of their Counsel as they were uttered on the trial, and it was these arguments, in some instances clothed in the very language of their counsel, that they urged as a proof of their innocence on the scaffold. He urged all to repent of their sins. He then said I am prepared to go: -- and when I drop I expect to go right straight into Heaven. I bid you all farewell. I am going home to glory. I die in peace and hope to meet you all in that better world of glory. He claimed the forgiveness of all and said he forgave all and again bid the audience farewell.
Mr. White then said there was still time for religious exercises, and as the prisoners requested the time might be so filled up, they proceeded to sing a few hymns in which all could join. After which Bishop Loras read the story of the penitent thief, and made some very appropriate remarks, admonishing all to serve and fear God and never sin against him and thus avoid the doom that awaited the young men so soon to be executed. Mr. White gave a recital of the manner in which he became acquainted with prisoners and made some appropriate remarks.
father: Curtis Hodges
Warsaw, Illinois, July 27, 1845.
From the Burlington Hawkeye
THE EXECUTION,
The brothers, William and Stephen Hodges were hung in this town on Tuesday last. From dawn until the time appointed for he execution the principal avenues to town were crowded with people The Steamer Mermaid brought down a large number from Bloomington -- the Stockoquon, after bringing an immense load from the place whose name she bears, proceeded to Oquawka, from whence she landed at our wharf a crown from Illinois. In the meantime one of the Steam ferry boats from Fort Madison -- the Caroline -- came loaded to the guards with passengers -- the "New Purchase," with a large multitude from Nauvoo, and places adjacent, arrived too late for the passengers to witness the execution. - Long before the time appointed our streets were literally filled with men, women, and children.
At 12 o'clock, the guard, composed of three or four companies of riflemen under the command of Col. Geo. Temple arrived at the Jail, and soon after the prisoners were placed in a wagon, which contained the coffins, under the care of deputy Sheriff Smith M'Kenny, with his assistants. After all the necessary arrangements were made under the judicious direction of the Sheriff, John H. M'Kenney, Esq., the procession took up its line of march to the gallows. The Band and Martial Music played appropriately solemn tunes during the progress of the march. The procession crossed the square from the jail and down Court to Third street, through Third to Jefferson street, through Jefferson to the place of execution.
Stephen Hodges came forward to address the crowd. He was very much agitated. His address was so different from anything we anticipated from a dying man -- so much bitterness and maliciousness was exhibited in all he said - his manner became so maniacal, that although prepared and in a good situation to take down all that was uttered, we were obliged at times, in utter astonishment, to drop our pencil and look at the man. We cannot therefore give more than an outline. He said:
Gentlemen and Fellow citizens, I stand before you a dying man about to be launched into eternity. I have not much to say and shall not detain you long. - there never was a trial where men were convicted under such slight evidence as was brought against us: We have not been tried as white men ought to have been tried. There was no evidence to convict us. Can the Jury look on and see two innocent young men executed as we shall be in a few moments and feel right about it'? Can the Jury after giving such a verdict, in condemning two innocent young men as we are, one twenty-two an the other twenty-five years old, go home to their wives and children and sleep quietly? He then alluded to the evidence and in a sort of special pleading, lawyer like style attempted to show that it was inadequate to convict them. He asked why the jury did not believe the witnesses who swore that hey were at Nauvoo at the time of the murder, and answered that it was because they were Mormons. He then said there have been many murders committed here, why were they not found guilty and executed? They were not Mormons, that was the reason. It must have been so. Our Counsel told us and the Jury, that the evidence was not sufficient to convict us. Examine our conduct from our youth up and see if you can prove any thing against us. That roll of flannel, oh, yes, you say that we must have been guilty of stealing that, and yet there was no proof of our stealing it
Judge Mason came to us and tried to make us confess -- and he told us that the evidence was not sufficient to condemn us, ant that if we would confess he would get us reprieved. He then referred to the manner in which they taken in Lee county, said that every body wanted to hang them up without Judge or Jury. Alluded to the activity of the Sheriff of Lee county -- of the willingness of all to bring timber to erect the gallows, still repeating that there was no evidence to convict them and that it was because they were Mormons they were convicted. To corroborate this they said the Prosecuting Attorneys declared they ought to be hung for an example, if not nothing else. Here he became almost frantic and came near, we thought, of bursting asunder the ropes that bound his arms. The froth issued from his mouth and he gave other signs of extreme rage and madness. He seemed now inclined to include all the spectators in his anathemas and said the curses of God would rest upon them. He then broke out in a rapsody [sic]of benevolence and declared that he felt for the bystanders, not for himself - he would die a thousand deaths if he could bring them back to virtue. He asked how could any citizen go home and tell his wife what he had seen - two men hung without evidence -- and sleep quietly. -- He then said he was prepared to go, and stated that the Rev. Mr. White and Coleman had been with him several days, and he thanked them. He said he had been well treated while in prison. If he had been a border at Mr. Painter's the jailer, he could not have had better fare. He acknowledged that he had received the most tender treatment from Sheriff McKenny and then with the utmost coolness, thanked the audience for their attention, and retired.
It was our intention -- and we believe that thousands felt as we did, -- to have left the ground or to have turned our back upon the dreadful tragedy, as soon as the preliminary exercises were over: but the speech and conduct of Stephen dissipated those tender sympathies in their behalf which we had all along felt. This change was wrought in us by having been in possession of admissions made by both prisoners to different individuals entirely opposite to the statements they made on the gallows. Those admissions clearly prove their guilt. Soon after Stephen took his seat.
William Hodges came forward and said, Friends and fellow citizens, I am on the step that is soon to place me in eternity. I am innocent of shedding man's blood. He then in a much more subdued spirit than Stephen, reviewed the evidence adduced at his trial, complained of its insufficiency -- and declared that it was not strong enough to convict a man in a common case of assault and battery. He became quite animated and addressed the crowd at one time, as "Gentlemen of the Jury." They both seemed to have impressed upon their minds the arguments of their Counsel as they were uttered on the trial, and it was these arguments, in some instances clothed in the very language of their counsel, that they urged as a proof of their innocence on the scaffold. He urged all to repent of their sins. He then said I am prepared to go: -- and when I drop I expect to go right straight into Heaven. I bid you all farewell. I am going home to glory. I die in peace and hope to meet you all in that better world of glory. He claimed the forgiveness of all and said he forgave all and again bid the audience farewell.
Mr. White then said there was still time for religious exercises, and as the prisoners requested the time might be so filled up, they proceeded to sing a few hymns in which all could join. After which Bishop Loras read the story of the penitent thief, and made some very appropriate remarks, admonishing all to serve and fear God and never sin against him and thus avoid the doom that awaited the young men so soon to be executed. Mr. White gave a recital of the manner in which he became acquainted with prisoners and made some appropriate remarks.
Warsaw, Illinois, July 27, 1845.
From the Burlington Hawkeye
THE EXECUTION,
The brothers, William and Stephen Hodges were hung in this town on Tuesday last. From dawn until the time appointed for he execution the principal avenues to town were crowded with people The Steamer Mermaid brought down a large number from Bloomington -- the Stockoquon, after bringing an immense load from the place whose name she bears, proceeded to Oquawka, from whence she landed at our wharf a crown from Illinois. In the meantime one of the Steam ferry boats from Fort Madison -- the Caroline -- came loaded to the guards with passengers -- the "New Purchase," with a large multitude from Nauvoo, and places adjacent, arrived too late for the passengers to witness the execution. - Long before the time appointed our streets were literally filled with men, women, and children.
At 12 o'clock, the guard, composed of three or four companies of riflemen under the command of Col. Geo. Temple arrived at the Jail, and soon after the prisoners were placed in a wagon, which contained the coffins, under the care of deputy Sheriff Smith M'Kenny, with his assistants. After all the necessary arrangements were made under the judicious direction of the Sheriff, John H. M'Kenney, Esq., the procession took up its line of march to the gallows. The Band and Martial Music played appropriately solemn tunes during the progress of the march. The procession crossed the square from the jail and down Court to Third street, through Third to Jefferson street, through Jefferson to the place of execution.
Stephen Hodges came forward to address the crowd. He was very much agitated. His address was so different from anything we anticipated from a dying man -- so much bitterness and maliciousness was exhibited in all he said - his manner became so maniacal, that although prepared and in a good situation to take down all that was uttered, we were obliged at times, in utter astonishment, to drop our pencil and look at the man. We cannot therefore give more than an outline. He said:
Gentlemen and Fellow citizens, I stand before you a dying man about to be launched into eternity. I have not much to say and shall not detain you long. - there never was a trial where men were convicted under such slight evidence as was brought against us: We have not been tried as white men ought to have been tried. There was no evidence to convict us. Can the Jury look on and see two innocent young men executed as we shall be in a few moments and feel right about it'? Can the Jury after giving such a verdict, in condemning two innocent young men as we are, one twenty-two an the other twenty-five years old, go home to their wives and children and sleep quietly? He then alluded to the evidence and in a sort of special pleading, lawyer like style attempted to show that it was inadequate to convict them. He asked why the jury did not believe the witnesses who swore that hey were at Nauvoo at the time of the murder, and answered that it was because they were Mormons. He then said there have been many murders committed here, why were they not found guilty and executed? They were not Mormons, that was the reason. It must have been so. Our Counsel told us and the Jury, that the evidence was not sufficient to convict us. Examine our conduct from our youth up and see if you can prove any thing against us. That roll of flannel, oh, yes, you say that we must have been guilty of stealing that, and yet there was no proof of our stealing it
Judge Mason came to us and tried to make us confess -- and he told us that the evidence was not sufficient to condemn us, ant that if we would confess he would get us reprieved. He then referred to the manner in which they taken in Lee county, said that every body wanted to hang them up without Judge or Jury. Alluded to the activity of the Sheriff of Lee county -- of the willingness of all to bring timber to erect the gallows, still repeating that there was no evidence to convict them and that it was because they were Mormons they were convicted. To corroborate this they said the Prosecuting Attorneys declared they ought to be hung for an example, if not nothing else. Here he became almost frantic and came near, we thought, of bursting asunder the ropes that bound his arms. The froth issued from his mouth and he gave other signs of extreme rage and madness. He seemed now inclined to include all the spectators in his anathemas and said the curses of God would rest upon them. He then broke out in a rapsody [sic]of benevolence and declared that he felt for the bystanders, not for himself - he would die a thousand deaths if he could bring them back to virtue. He asked how could any citizen go home and tell his wife what he had seen - two men hung without evidence -- and sleep quietly. -- He then said he was prepared to go, and stated that the Rev. Mr. White and Coleman had been with him several days, and he thanked them. He said he had been well treated while in prison. If he had been a border at Mr. Painter's the jailer, he could not have had better fare. He acknowledged that he had received the most tender treatment from Sheriff McKenny and then with the utmost coolness, thanked the audience for their attention, and retired.
It was our intention -- and we believe that thousands felt as we did, -- to have left the ground or to have turned our back upon the dreadful tragedy, as soon as the preliminary exercises were over: but the speech and conduct of Stephen dissipated those tender sympathies in their behalf which we had all along felt. This change was wrought in us by having been in possession of admissions made by both prisoners to different individuals entirely opposite to the statements they made on the gallows. Those admissions clearly prove their guilt. Soon after Stephen took his seat.
William Hodges came forward and said, Friends and fellow citizens, I am on the step that is soon to place me in eternity. I am innocent of shedding man's blood. He then in a much more subdued spirit than Stephen, reviewed the evidence adduced at his trial, complained of its insufficiency -- and declared that it was not strong enough to convict a man in a common case of assault and battery. He became quite animated and addressed the crowd at one time, as "Gentlemen of the Jury." They both seemed to have impressed upon their minds the arguments of their Counsel as they were uttered on the trial, and it was these arguments, in some instances clothed in the very language of their counsel, that they urged as a proof of their innocence on the scaffold. He urged all to repent of their sins. He then said I am prepared to go: -- and when I drop I expect to go right straight into Heaven. I bid you all farewell. I am going home to glory. I die in peace and hope to meet you all in that better world of glory. He claimed the forgiveness of all and said he forgave all and again bid the audience farewell.
Mr. White then said there was still time for religious exercises, and as the prisoners requested the time might be so filled up, they proceeded to sing a few hymns in which all could join. After which Bishop Loras read the story of the penitent thief, and made some very appropriate remarks, admonishing all to serve and fear God and never sin against him and thus avoid the doom that awaited the young men so soon to be executed. Mr. White gave a recital of the manner in which he became acquainted with prisoners and made some appropriate remarks.
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