Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-08-17
PIuLADELPHIA, Aug. II.
THE EXECUTION.

On Saturday morning about nine Clock, crowd be-
pan assemble IN vriuy OF the Philadelphia Prison
RICHARD SMI III bro, forth 10 he taken. pur,u-
the place of Execution, TO suffer death.
FOR tire murder Of Capt JOHN CARSoN.in the month ~
January The crowd continued ncres,c only in
the neirhood of the prison. but in the Streets through
which i wa, known he was TO parnti IS minutes after
O'clock when the rates prison Sixth Street
thrown and the procession BEGAN tomoTe Forward
The public officers Of the City and County, and many
pec,ahl Citizens ON horselscs and foot preceded
followed the Cart. The High Sheriff oftse County, from
extreme itposition was unable TO ride yet high
otdu'y inpeng him be PRESENT. he MAS seated III Sgg
The impre,or made mo, the crowd when the gates we're
thrown cen the appeared. of clara- of
melancholy easily 10 be described CURIOSITY itself
ed hshed NOT sound was heard solemn silence persa-
DID the whole assembly he running tier and titier Of
boys the pushing rf and ciowdng together OF women,
was all oyc. and mother, messed their little their
bosoms with mothers nN'ousness The Cart
driven by the executonsr. black man lust behind INN.
and with his hack toward the horse, low pia.
eed the nnhappy smi,hhy hin, ,a the Rev. Mr.. Huriev.
the officiating minister Of the gospel who had attended m
since his conviction In the rear OF tire Cart sat grn'es
who humaneiy volunteered hold umbrella the
heads of the Clergyman and the Prisoner. TO shelter them
from the rays of blazing The prisoner wa, gn''y
dressed dark blue irock Coat. and dark udefciothes
The Priest with his bead and body incnng To te PR;
soner whe similar position in rsla'ia to me priest
and tas, devoutly upon the solemn religious e>erci
they were reading procession passed through the
multitude II moved with more than ordinary rany Tor
notwiilsta n'ng the interruptions incident &c crowded
streets and that the distance a mile & half reached
the place of execution in 80 minutes from the time had
The Cart being under he gaows the priest continued in
prayer with the prisoner for Is minutes, when enquiry be-
affirmative berg reuret preparations Tor s t SAD act
appeared be making. and the eyes OF the thousands OF
directed with than heretofore anxiety
he Of sorrow The priest frsm his
friends of the prisoner pressed around the Cart and grasp
ed him by the hand loo the last time When Smith himself
stood up, murinur ofpity was heard fron every mouth
How cuna b. otherwise Astrplng about5 ieet 10 M
che high, of interesting aspect, deeply impressed with
his awful ,tuatona youth but the morning of his days,
stood before temn the full of health and yet but n
moment and he would violently thrust from the of
human life consigned to the grave. In his deport-
nit there a.bny Of fortiiude, but there was a
manly resignation his tate, and he seemed rather III
tent ON the world TO come, than the world he was ahort to
Ills crime wholly forgotten remembered but TO be
wep and forgiven. The trembling agitation OF the al
most exhausted Priest e,ent all that Christian love,
and than ministerial duty enioined had been done
Hope wssvvi for Faith its f,ess, yet h.man ma
ture could hardly sustain the conflict of its feelings x II
woSd have sunk under the trial hd friendly
INTERVIEWED until the spirits rallied back 20 the heart and
hiessIng with streaming eyes npor,d last forgiveness
ana Streaming the unhappy young TO his bosom, he re
otirsensihity into the OF friends Who bore him away
fsueh, and than give adequate idea
Of were the feelings ofthe reverend gentleman vino aten
ded on tins melancholy oecaon what have been the
Sratons OF the poor devoted being Who stood upon the
briHk of eternity. No pen coud describe, pencil paint
tiein They we're dmiy througha mist of tears by
thousands whose hearts acled the sight When all The
fatal arrangements made and he launched into
triy, there general and Involuntary shrek Of horror
soils and groans heard every side and ferven
prayers were Offered np-fnay they have acende TO IA,
Throne OF iiesver-anh mry MS sRs been forgiven
him.
There of thousands of spectators there
all ages and conditions 10 behold this ,yu warming
all ba. with the perfect decorr,i The respect
fui aention-aii We're olemnly inpresssdal
ted the unhappy oung man.
RicJ.ard Smith is no more He is dead and buried H
crime has been expiaed by his blood. He repen him oil
ms oiiensesEheio rgave his rnenes-wh eontrite hear
he BUNDLED himself before the footstool of his Godhe
ell in the promises that have made, he died
hoping u lie forgiven through the recenng blood of the
fullness Of time clothed with Righteousness as garment
may he rise TO life and immortality. Dem, Pres