announce it till officially
divulged. Still, feeling so anxious for the criminal, I went as far as
the circumstances would allow, and said to him, "From what I hear, your
case is finally decided, but not in your favor. And I am perfectly
satisfied that my information is reliable." But it was not official, and
the very fact of its being withheld inspired him with hope that I was
mistaken.

The rulers, no doubt, did as they thought best in the matter, but it
would seem that there was an error on their part in not communicating
their finality to the criminal as soon as made. It was a grave matter to
him, and the last few days he reflected no little upon the course.

In our labors with the doomed man, we had two prominent points before
us, one to fit his mind for going upon the gallows with the needed
fortitude, the other to lead him to a due preparation for appearing
before his God. During the last week, by his desire, clergymen from the
city visited him. A few of the singers from the city, also, by the
warden's invitation, occasionally called and spent a short time with
him, singing some of those devotional pieces so well fitted to his case,
which were followed by prayer and then all retired. His cell was now in
the hall. This occurred when the other prisoners were in the shop at
work, for at no other time were visitors allowed at his cell. Two or
three of his last days were spent in the hospital, which then had no
sick occupant. The strictest care and watchfulness were observed by the
officers, so that, whether in his cell or in the hospital, he could not
possibly escape if he attempted it.

The day appointed for the execution was Tuesday. Monday the criminal
frankly admitted to his adviser, that he knew what he was doing that
terrible night, and was fully responsible for the deed, which
acknowledgment he signed in writing. He also dictated a letter to his
youngest brother, faithfully warning him against following his own ways
of wildness and drinking, also a note containing good advice to two
young men who had been officers in the prison, and finally an address to
be read on the scaffold. Brothers and other relatives took leave of him
Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

The fatal hour was fixed at eleven, A. M. Pike was up in due season,
took a slight morning repast, dressed for the day, had devotional
exercises, and finished parting with friends at nine, that he might have
opportunity for becoming duly rested an