The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-21
IN the Washington, P. Reporter. Feb Pa
; .o5nm,rIrTION OF WM. CRAWFORD.

s $40 we're generally fuhl. Near 10 o'clock
NJ the street opposite the court house,
"A the sher07s office was literally packed
~ III = sn,ctators--at half after Il O'Clock,
l.p ms of military formed hollow square
,,,nosite the door OF tie sherlii : oilice.--
- ,he square thus formed, was brought
.l.d. drawn by span OF hofses--lnto
a. hox of The sled was then placed cof-
e'' :, a few minutes, Vim. Craw ford, The
a,,Ief,ctor, made his appearance, covered
al white muslin STROUD, white cap and
LACK hat, supported by man under each
h., was seated in his sled, alongside
Lis coffin, supported by Mr.. John Wolfe,
' y. had made the collin. The attending
eIrrrymen and physicians took post imme-
'l;,teiy behind the sled-then the coroner,
ur Johnson, aud the deputy sheriff, Mr..
pahsrt M'Cleland next the constables
''.,h their long slaves. sherlit's officer on
'a,s.hack in front of the military. Ia this
order the procession moved down mann
.,reet to the lower end, and up the south
,,e.t side of Gallows Hill to the head Of IA
t.llny. forming a kind of ampilbeatre,
,,i,.re the rallows was erected, on the right
of tine old Brownsville road, about half "A
mil. from the prison. and IN full view of the
.,,,th side Of the main street, and the
whole south side of the boroush-around
th, gallows the sheriff had previously for
n.d guard, leaving an open area Of about
100 feet square--in this the procession hal
ted On the Nay from the prison 10 the
Mace OF execution, the culprit appeared TO
sc entirely unconcerned, eat Il part of an
annie. and surveyed the attending crowd
with keen scintillating eye. He remark
ed to Mr.. Wolfe that he had acquired "a
fortune of $4,000 which they had tried to
rob him of, and now wanted his te-they
were welcome to it---he was as ready To
die as they were to hang him-his life was
all they could get. The day was clear,
and the sun shone out pleasant and warm,
which he appeared to enjoy, and occasion
from the windows his counteuance was
unmovcd, bold, and bespeakng a heart
unchangeable-his complexion was fine
and norid, although he had, we are told,
not taken more than one small portion of
spirits that morning, and eat no breakfast
On hating under the scaffold the malefac-
for viewed the erection with as much con-
stancy, Indifference or emotion, as philo-
sopber ofthe sect of Xeno could have done
The Rev. Henry Furlong gave out hymn
commencing with the following words,
which was sung:
"When rising from the bed of death"
The Rev. Thomas Hoge read the 5sst
Psalm, and the Rev. Charles Wheeler clo-
scd the services, with prayerto the throne
Of the most high God, in very fervcnt and
supplicatiag manner, for tie poor human
beng who was then about to be put tn
death. Crawford remained unmored or
affected. On heing asked if he wished his
time prolonged to the last minute, he an
swered, no Said he " would rather die
in one minute, than live ten hours longer !;
] wish to have il oycr--I dc not want To
Keep Tony Robeson here, waiting with
his Wagon, waft to be taken home this
night to my own house, where my neigh
Lors can call in and see me once more
have had no peace of mind for 48 Years,
aud wish to leave this wicked world. II
was worth El00,000, bet a guinea my
children would have robbed me of il, and
then brought me tothis isnomnious death.
Ii | was to be shot, would think nothing
off ; but to be murdered upon that gal
bows, Casting his eyes upon IL IS what |
hate; il is more than | expected or de-
serve, aud what the name OF Crawford ne
yer brought to, or any of the race
The sheriff then told him, Mr.. Crawford, if
You wish the longest time allowed in the
warrant, you shall have it. He sterniy re-
piled no 90 do not wish to be detained"
and drank glass of beer. When taken up
Oh a scailold, aud seated upon stood, cas-
ting bis eyes around over the multitude,
be said, - it appears they are determined to
1aug me--tbey may do i'll am ready to
lie at any moment" The sheriff then read
the warrant uuder which he acted, and in
which the word murder was cited, Craw-
ford again spoke and said, I" am no muir
derer if had got fair trial, would not
be here to suffer an ignominious death--it
Is what none Of my name or Kindred were
brought To before. The witnesses against
me were bribed to perlure Themselves. and
fhe' jury we a weak, misied, ignorant men,
aud did not do me .FIsice, or J. would now
be at home /; but, hope soon to appear
before IA more just judge than any I, have
ever been before in Washington county"
The Rev. Charles Wheeler, in anild and
gentle tone of voice, pat the following
question TO him, Nr. Crawford are you
willing to forgive your enemies, particular
lyyour own family" To this Crawford
replied, turning his face round to the left,
:" yoa are no father cotfessor, mind your
own business, and let mine alone, God
may forgive them, / wont die with lie in
my mouth am no hypocrite, nor will |
make blowing horn of myself" The
clergy then took their leave of him, and left
The scailold. Sheriff officer, assisted by his
deputy, Mr.. M'Cielland, placed him for
ward under the arm Of the gallows, in his
proper position he toek the skerIil's hand
and bid hm farewell, blessed him and
thanked him fnr his Kind affpDfinn At