Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-05-02

speak Tor itself it needs 40 comment OF
our own it may be said TO speak from
the grave, which already opens for its
personally become acquainted with, from
the lips OF this unfortunate and guilty
, man, we have no doubt Of its sincerity:
Dear Fathes-I am daily and impa-
/ tiently expecting a letter from you, and
y hope you have before this time received
my last. On Wednesday received my
awful sentence, but dear father, ac-
knowIedged to the court then, as did
before to you, the strict justice Of it. Yes.
| know that my hands are polluted with
blood, and my conscience--oh it is bur-
tiened with tine crime into which have
been drawn Little did expect, when 1
left our happy home and an atfectionate
father, that before could see you again,
L should have incurred such guilt, and be
tenant Of this dolefnl cell. Would to
God had rejected the first proposal,
which was that we should go on to get a
sum OF money, which Hutton assured tic
he knew he could get with ease and GER
tainty. The plan was not fully explained
to me until we got TO Wilmington. OF
the murder | knew nothing until we were
returning from. the place the first night,
and when my terror prevented the exc
cutionof the plan. Then Hutton told me,
that although he had not mentionedit to me,
he meant to have put the man out Of the
way, lest his evidence should lead TO our
conviction. Oh, if God had taken my
life the next day, and never allowed me
to so out a second time. But then /
should have died as -though
rash aud unpri0cipIed; and now, though |
have brought disgrace and anguish upon
you, yet my guilty soul may be saved,
because Jesus Christ died for sinners, and
he has given me time and hope to repent.
Whenthe poor man begged for his life,
:oid him we would, and meant it. III
deed plead for him, but Hutton insisted
we would be known, and told me it was
no time for pleading, and at last told me
either to shoot him or the driver, and then
--oh my God forgive me.
Dear Father, do not write you this to
excuse my guiIt--Ho, this is too, too bad !!
| have not denied it before God or man,
but it is TO show you, that dreadfuliy as
had abused your care, your tears and
prayers were not altogether thrown away
II mas not quite abandoned. Oh my
God preserve my brother from bad COM
pany, and enable him to sootb heart
which my wickedness had SO much tor
tured. The poor woman too-froai her
have assisted to tear away her husband,
and made her children orphaDs.--If |
could only work for them but God will
take care of them. Dear father, this is a
time of shame and sorrow with me, but
may God SO help me to repent and be
converted, that all my sins may be for
given me, aud bIotted out from his holy
books. / read the Bible the greater part
of nv time / have several other books
and tracts, but the Bible is now worth to
me all that you used TO say it was worth.
/ learn there that God is gracious, long
suffering aud merciful, and forgiving sin to
the penitent, aud takes delight ia broken
spirit; for he says in the Scripture, a
broken and contrite heart he will not des-
pise : be is able to forgive the worst OF
sinners, and we read, though your sins
be as scarlet they shall be as white as
snow; though they be as crimson, he can
make them white as wool'--how often, my
dear father, you have told me Of these
things, and yet, worse than child, or
brute, have resisted and not profited by
your advice, and preferred the guilty ad.
vice Of bad friends know that am
ineycnsahte by nay earthly father and
can my God, my heavenly father, ever
forgive me j? Oh, if it was not for Jesus
Christ, where, where should | 60 but
hope that he will support me under the
dreadful punishment which l have shortly
to suffer---how my soul sinks under it i;
but if he will only give me hope in my
death, aud the least, the lowest part in his
kingdom, die contented.
One thing more.--What will you think
of me, who am SO undeserving wretch,
asking any favor Of you But. my dear
), father, Mrs. Heaps, the woman whose hus-
band we murdered, is poor and depen-
dent, and her children--it was your son
who helped to make them orphans Will
YOU not then, notwithstanding your large
family, do something for them--give them
salary, or any thing that you see best. or
can afford; aud they, and God, aud your
son, will bless you.-This would sweeten
my death, to know that it was done at my
request. Remember ME, unfortunate as
am, to my mother. - Thank God that my
own mother is spared your sufferings.
Remember me, also, to brother, and sis
tiers aud may my awfu! situation be a
warning to them and all my acquaintance.
God comfort you in this your time OF af-