Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-16


Copy eta letter from tie high ISAe,46' Of Kings
Co7mty.
Kingston, June 26h, 1915.
.5Iy Dear Sir,
Having heard nothing from you since the
late Jail Delivery at Kings County, beg leave
briefly to state to you some circuinstanc es oStbe
conduct ofthe criminal Henry More Smith. since
his trial and sentence. After securing him with
strong chains TO his neck aud legs, and with
handouts in jail, he continued beating the hoor
with his chains following day and night with
little misunderstanding different sounds =
sometimes with linking his chains, and some
times without, apparently in different parts ofthe
jail, nsomuch that the jaer frequently sent for
me, supposing he must be loose from lis CHAINS.
which conceived and frequently observed was
impossible, being far beyond the power of human
strength or invention III his situatiOn--un.il The
9th OF May, when gong into the Jail early in The
morning CATER having examined his chains nj 2
o'clock the day before) found three links of his
heaviest cham separated, and lying on the floor
beng part OF the chain without theStape Ii-coa-
tnued in the same way until the Cd Of June, when
we found the largest chain parted about the mid
die, and tied with a string, which clearly proves
that irons and chains are no security for hm /
then put on him q Light chain, with which lie has
been ever since. never discovered him at work
at any thing, but he frequently produced efiC G.,
Oriikenesses, very striking, repre- sentnr his wife
lie now produced an elFgy Of g man 80 perfect
shape, with his features painted, and joints to all
his limbs, and dressed him IN clothes that he had
made in good shape and fashion, out ofthe clothes
that he had torn of himself (being now naketl)
which was admired for its ingenuity.
This he would put sometimes in one position
and sometimes in another, and seemed 10 amuse
himself with IL, without taking the least notice
ofany thing else continuing in his old way hol
lowing, without any alteration, until the 18Th
when the Tailor informed me that he refused TO
eat and no doubt was sick--f went 10 see him
every day, found lie did not eat--all the bread
and other provisions conveyed 70 him I've ga, c TO
his eflipv, strung on q string and put mo his
hands be lay perfectly still day and night, and
took no notice Ofany thng-woult drink tea or
milk, which gave him twice q day for davs ;
he then refused 70 drink any thing for two DAYS
which made days he bad catnothing. In that
time ic began TO spcal--would ask questions
bat would hold no conversation. Bat the most
e1.r0orduniy, the most zgonderfm and myeferions
of ail is that 10 this time De bad prepared. uyifis.
corect and at once eakibifed tic most striking
picture of gcuius, art, taste and invention That
ever was, and presume eferwll be produced by
my human person placed in his situation, In q
dark room, chained and handcHiicd under sen.
tcnce Of death, without so much as a rail or any
Kind Of thing TO work with but bis hands aud
Hated The exhibition is far beyond my pen 60
describe. To give you some FAINT idea, permit
me TO saw that IL consists often characters mon
women and children-au made and painted In
the most expressive manner, with all the limbs
and Joints Of the human frame--each performing
different parts their features shape and for1n, al
express their different offices and situation, in
which theyPerform their dress Is Of different