Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-08-08

executing tIat sentence VAS performed
by Apollos Cooper, Esq. sheriff of this
county. With mingled dignity and feeling.
The prisoner was taken from the gaol
I'm Nhiiesboro' dressed in white, and con
veyed in a cart 10 the place near the vii
lage of Utica, designed Tor the execution.
The sheriff WAS accompanied by his de-
puties and "a troop of cavalry commanded
by Captain Camp. The procession was
formed at Whitesborough, and including
the spectators, was very long.-Near the
line of Utica, il was joined by u company
of infantry under the orders of Captain
Smith, aud proceeded slowly through u
tica, attended by band of music, play
ing a dead march, to the gillows. After
very appropriate prayer by the Revd.
MIR. Coe, oi''New- Hartford, and at about
half after l o'clock, the execution was
performed. The body hung something
more than half an hour, and was then cut
down and delivered tOsome oiihe friends
ofihe deceased, TO be carried 10 Brother
town for interment.
Oftlie mind o the prisoner tits difficult
to give any satisfactory account, reports
il are sOvarious and inconsIs-
tent. After his condemnation he was III
some measure, attentive TO his situation,
though Tic SSttilS W lave CHCliSuCu thS
hope that he should be reprleved. The
Sheriff informed him, as soonas the fact
was ascertaincd, that there was no hope
of it, and that he must expect TO suffer the
punishment awarded the crime ofwhich
he had been found guilty. After receiv-
ing that information he seemed more attic
ted and more concerned about his future
welfare. He had many visits from clergy
men and other religious persons. which
we're improved TO give him instructi-
on relative TO the doctrines OF the gospel
and the necessity of repentance. What
effects these friendly efforts had upon
him, and with what temper he left the
world. it is impossible TO ny. For some
time after his condemnation, he manifes-
ted a malignant and reyengeful DISPOSE
ton towards those who testified against
him. For some OF the last days of his lie.
his feelings towards them appeared 10 be
different He seemed not To harbor amy
hatred or desire OF revCnge. Aiterhe was Ia
ken from The prison 81 dressed Tor eXecuii-
on, lie requested PERMISSION To see ms tel
low prisoners, and took very Affection
ale aud interesting leave of them. lie was
very deeply affected, and manifested the
most keen and poignant feelings. a clergy
man and some of his friends rode IN the
cart with him, and the opportunity was
improved for religious cow trsaiIon. lie
said very little, became more tranquil as
he approached the scene OF execution,
and assembled the ladder with steadiness,
lie was iudulsed by the SheriilwItlia CHAIR
during the religious services, after which
he rose and stood with consi cradle firm
ness and composure. The slierlff inform
I'd him that he might still live I'LL near
two O'Clock if he desired it, anda hIm
if lie felt really. He replied that lie was
probably as ready as he should be and
did not wish the execution deferred. lie
never denied that he killed lis brother, but
said that some things stated III the testl-
mony on his trial were not exactly true.
The last words lie uttered Except an
swers 10 iewquesilons) were To Impiore
the Lord Z" to have mercy OH his soul.'
Aware Of the existence ofan excessive
desire 10 witness the scene, the sheriff
had judiciously selected the spacious, o.
pen ground back of the village OF Utica
for the execution. There was 10 attempt
to prevent the enforcement 0f the law, nor
TO do any thing but merely TO see The
prisoner and witness the executions; yet
the military force had repeatedly TO make
very vigorous eXertlons to prevent the
roads from being tiironged as the process
sion passed, and 10 keep the people from
crowding upon the gailows. A large
proportion of lie multitude were females,
many of whom were al the place OF exc
cution by eight or nine O'Clock, remote
from any building, without shelter or any
thing 10 defend them from the excessive
heat, and there remained, scorchiRg III
the sun for six hours, rather than rein-
quish the design, or be deprived of the
opportunity (shall we say pleasure and
gritifcatioD) of seeing a wretched male
factor sent with violence and ignoialny
to eternity.
Some estimate may be formed of the
number that attended the execution, from
the fact, that i'll returning six hundred
| and fifteen Wagons and other carriages,
all full, passed one road from Utica 10
Whilesborough, before six O'clock, and
also, that III three hours, between -four
ANA seyn) there passed through New
| Hartford, five thousand and fOrty-iOuI
persons. All the other roads appeared io
| be equally crowded, though no attempt
| that we lave heard of, was made TO count
those who passed. Taking these fact:
as data, the whole number could not have
| been less than fifteen thousand, and those
| who formed their opinions from a view o
| the multitude on the ground, believed
the number to have exceeded this est
| nation.
SAVANNAH, July 20.
| r. ~ TpCt