The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 380
641 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
The prisoner listened to the sentence attentively, without seem-
ing to fully appreciate or comprehend its meaning in all its
terrible reality. Though evincing much concern at the strange and
peculiar surroundings he appeared not to realize his situation, and
the full import of the fatal words addressed to him. This strange
indifference may reasonably be attributed to the novelty of the
proceedings, and a still bouyant hope that some fortuitous circum-
stance would intervene in his favor, and screen him from the
gallows.
Being the first one tried, he was not aware of the determined
and resolute character of the tribunal which had condemned him
to death. He probably cherished the delusive hope of rescue or
deliverance until brought to the place of execution.
EXECUTION OF DR. HENRY CHILDS
Full preparations having been made previously, he was taken in
an open carriage surrounded by the guards to a large widespread-
ing elm tree, about one half mile East of the town of Gainesville,
which then formed the centre of a large concourse of citizens
resting upon a file of soldiers forming a hollow square. In sad and
gloomy silence the cortege moved slowly through the rushing,
crowding throngs of people, the carriage finally halting imme-
diately under a large strong limb branching out at right angles
from the trunk of the giant elm. To this limb a rope was attached
and the pendent end adjusted around the neck of the condemned
man. In the meantime he began to realize his situation and to feel
the force of the address of the president of the Court. The mock-
eries of this world began to fade from before his view and the dim
outline of the new and unknown to peer above the horizon of
Times' limited boundaries. The prospect of so sudden a change
shook his strong frame with fear; while pale and trembling he
listened to the last earthly voice, a death knell, sounding the
Warrant of Execution
THE PEOPLE CONSPIRACY &
AGAINST INSURRECTION
HENRY & EPHRAIM CHILDS380
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/406/?rotate=270: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.