NY Times November 15, 1863, Page 6

From the St. Louis Union.

The notorious bushwhacker and rebel spy, JOHN NICHOLS, was executed at Jefferson City on Friday last, in pursuance of a sentence of a Court-martial. From a letter received by Capt. HAMILTON, of the Police, from United States Police Officer HENRY B. KERON, we obtain the following particulars of the execution: JOHN NICHOLS was taken from the guardhouse at the hour designated, and placed in a wagon upon his coffin, seated between his spiritual adviser and the executioner -- a soldier detailed for the purpose. He was clad in a white shroud, and his arms were pinioned behind him. The condemned man was escorted to the place of execution by four companies of Wisconsin infantry, and one of cavalry. The gallows was erected in a ravine, one mile from the city, and, before the arrival of the solemn cortege, was surrounded by a crowd of spectators assembled to witness the execution. Arriving at the gallows, the prisoner was assisted out of the wagon, he being crippled by a gunshot wound received some two months since from the guard while attempting to make his escape. On alighting from the wagon an affecting incident occurred. The doomed man met his sister, and throwing his arms around her neck, kissed her, and bid her an affectionate and final farewell.

He was then assisted in mounting the scaffold by the executioner, and, on reaching the top of the scaffold, he voluntarily took the rope and placed the noose about his neck. Then, turning to the bystanders, he said, with a considerable degree of self-possession, "Gentlemen, I want to show you how a Confederate soldier dies" The priest turned toward him and said, "John, John, hush!" NICHOLS, as if irritated by the remark of his spiritual adviser, replied, "Go away, I mean what I say." The Provost-Marshal, amid profound silence, read the death-warrant. The prisoner then engaged in a private conversation with the priest for a few minutes. He began to appear uneasy, as if the line wore heavily. The priest finished the private conference by saying aloud: "JOHN, you should forgive all for the wrongs done you, as you would expect them to forgive you." JOHN then said: "Yes; I have threatened people, and people have threatened me." These were his last words. A little before 3 o'clock the drop fell, and the unhappy man was launched into eternity. After hanging twenty minutes, the surgeon in attendance pronounced life extinct, and the body was cut down, and placed in the coffin. Thus terminated the life of the first bushwhacker hung in Missouri by sentence of the military authorities.