This doesn't seem like what we saw on TV or in the movies. San Diego Herald December 18, 1851 The Hanging of Bill Marshall and Juan Verdugo The trial of these men was concluded on Friday evening inst, and on Saturday morning, it was annouced on the Plaza that they would be executed at 3 o'clock the same day. The Fitzgerald Volunteer word ordered to be on duty a thtat time to conduct the prisoners to the scaffold, which had been erected a short distance out of town, near the Catholic burying ground. The graves were dug and all the preparations made, during the forenoon, for carryong out the sentence of the Court Martial. At about two o'clock, the Volunteers were under arms and the people began to gather in considerable numbers about the Plaza and Court H-----. A Priest was with the prisoners most of the forenoon, and accompanied them to the galloway, where they received final absolution. They wept when informed that a short time would be allowed them, if they wished to may any remarks. Marshall was the first to speak. He said that he was prepared to die and he hoped that his friends and the people around him would forgive him, that he trusted in God's mercy and hoped to be pardoned for his many transgressions. He still insisted that he was innocent of the crime for which he was about to die. This was about the substance of his remarks, as near as we could learn from those who stood near the scaffold. Verdugo spoke in Spanish. He ackowledged his guild and admitted the justices of the sentence placed upon him; said he was ready and willing to yield up his life as a forgeit for his crimes and wickedness. The ropes were then adjusted -- the priest approached them for the last time -- said some consoling words to them -- repeated a final prayer -- extended the crucifix, which each kissed ------ times, when he descended from the wagon which immediately moved out, leaving the poor unfortunate wrteches suspended about five feet from the ground. The fall could not have been more than a foot, at the most, for their necks were not dislocated. Marshall struggled considerably, but the Sonorian scarcely moved a muscle. Both of them were in their shir sleeves, and neither of them hood-winked. Marshall was quite a small sized man, with regular and rather agreeable features, and a head indicating, phre---- greatly, great determination. The other was much stouter, with a frame apparently of great power. He was a shade darker than the average of Californian, and had a most brutish countenance. Theri arms were pinioned behind. They vibrated slightly when the cart was driven from under them, but after that not a convulsive movement could be seen, although the physician said that they were not deat for some three quarters of an hour later. Every thins was conducted with the utmost order and quietness. There was no halting or hesitation on the part of those whose painful dity it was to take the law into their own hands for the protection of the lives and property of the whole community. The minds of the large assemblage and especially of the friendly Indians, seemed to be impressed with booming awe. It was an awful and melancholy night to see those bodies swinging about there in the wind, now exhibiting ther countenances direcly fronting you, and again averting them -- with the crows and --------- hovering overhead, as if ready to pounce down upon and devour their meal of sudden death, and one which, we trust in Got, we may never be called upon to witness again. After being suspended about an hour and a half, the bodies were cut down and interred in the Catholic burying ground.