214 HISTORY OF the day preceeding that fixed for the execution^ so that before night every house in and around the village was filled^ while hundreds could get no lodgings at all. A considerable number passed the night in Meredith and that vicinity. More or less kept arriving during the nighty and even up to the hour for execution. Probably such a number of people had never be- fore been collected together in the county. The gallows had been erected at some distance in a north-easterly direction from the jail — the place was well chosen to give spectators a chance to witness the execution.* The hills rose on every side somewhat steep, and in a circular form, presenting an amphitheatre of considerable extent, in the centre of which the gallows wes erected. The people commenced occupying the ground some hours before the time fixed for the execution, and a dense mass of human beings seated themselves on the hill-side, covering several acres of ground. A battalion of militia had been called out to protect the sheriff in the dis- charge of his duty. They paraded near the jail, and when the time arrived for the procession to move, the military marched to the ground, followed by the sheriff, Robert Leal, and the prisoner, arm in arm, together with the clergy, judges, and other of&cers. The militia formed a hollow square around the gallows, while the sheriff, clergy, and others occupied the plat- form with the condemned man, who walked with a firm step. Prayer was offered, when G-raham addressed a few words to the people, declaring that ^ he never murdered or stole.' The rope was then adjusted and all things made ready, when leave was taken of the prisoner, and the sheriff and clergy descended from the platform ; the sheriff mounted his horse and took his station, telling Graham from time to time, the number of minutes he had to live — and at last that he could live no
- See map of Delaware County for the exact location, in the plan of
Delhi village.
