Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-09

ne execution OF JOHNSON, the murderer OF Muir
roy took place yesterday, agrcoably to his
From the hour of eight O'Clock till half past twclye
when the procession moved towards the gallows,
every situation III the vicinity Of the Brdcwe
whence view might be obtained of the prisoner
he cvcrgcd ia his Wagon from the yard of the pri
SON, was taken possession of; while thousands
thrnngcd the Park, crowded around the Brdewcl
doors, and lined Broadway, far eye could
reach, to catch glimpse of the wretched homicide
as he passed. Such was the obstruction in Broad
way TO the movements of the procession, stoned
by the great assembagc of persons carriages carts
Wagons AMI horses, that the cavalry compelled
every few minutes to halt, and open passage for
the vehicles iii which the prisoner, his coia and the
ccrgymcn rode, escorted by detachmcnts Of infantry
from the the tl;ira and eleventh Regiments. The
infantry formed three hollow squares, in the first of
which were the sheriff and attendants; ia the Sc
cond was the wagon with the coffin, followed by
another in which was the convict, with white cap
and white dress, trimmed with black, his arms pini-
oned, and the halter around his neck In tho third
hollow square was number of gentlemen and po-
nee oihcers. Johnson was executed little before
two O'clock i'll Stuy adows this side of the
Pententiary.
We have not heard of any accidents that occur
ed during the day and, with the exception of an
occasional rush TO gain elevated positions,
porary view oil the murderer, we witnessed nothing
that tended 10 interrupt the peace. AS to have
neen expected, there were among the crowd, many
whose vicious propensites could not for mement
be awed by the solemn of death. and who, du-
ring the most violent PRESSURE when Johnson first APP
pearcd from the prison, scrupled not indulge in
the failing that induced the murder of Murray by
that wretch-thc baneful vicc of covetousness. Sc
veral persons were robbed of handkerchiefs and
other articles but among the multitude it next
to an impossbility to discover the thiefs.
The number of women, (evcn with children on
their breasts and small boys and girls that mingled
With the thronS, really astonishing, many of the
women tainted, and but for their unccaSuS cries
many child might have been suifocated.
In the Commercial Advertiser of Yesterday many
particulars relative Johnson are furnished; from
which we select the folowing.-.N. y. Nat. .4dro.
After getting out from the Wagon, Johnson sat
down at the steps of the galows, when the appro-
pirate service was read by the Rev. Mr. Ondcrdonk,
and an cxtemporaneons prayer offered by the Rev.
MIR. Osilvic. lie then assembled the steps accompa-
MED by the Sheriff and Mr. Lowndes, with whom he
spoke minutes. After the adjustment of the
rope, he kissed both their hands through his cap ;
when the drop fell, and at quarter before two
o'clock, he was launched into eternity, and died with
scarcely Il struggle. When asked by clergyman
If he was the murderer of Murray, he declared that
he not; but that The was accessory to the MUIR
der, having stood at the door while the deed was
done, to see that the watchncn were not near
lie did not name the person who struck the blow.
After the prayers, Johnson was Immediately asked,
whether he had deceived us in what Inc had told us
lie said he had told the truth; that his Ministers
knew his whole life On being further inte ted
at the gallows, he declared that he never committed
any other murder.
Johnson was perfectly steelcd against every feel
ing of penience contrition to tho last. He was
very ignorant, and should think rather stupid
man. His language has been strangely unfeelins
and contradictory. To some he has confessad the
murder over and over again to others for the last
NV weeks and even up to the time of his DEATH he
has maintained that he only accessory to the
crime and that the deed was pcrpetrated by Jerry,
while to others still, nc has grasped the Bible, and
solemnly attested that he not guilty of the muir
der. But there arc many. many circumstances to
show that he was not alone in guiltand ;hatit was
not Jerry, but another, who assisted him, nd whom
he was determined to screen. When DR.. Stanford
went In to sec him last cvening-Johnson looked up
with total un, oncern, and said" Well Old Dad
don't you think stand it very well?" To the She
Tiff he said this morning" MIR. Wendovcr, hone
you won't have this job to do again-you arc
too feeling man. We note these expressions as
specimens of his general department, and evin-
eng the callousness of his feelings. Indeed, his
trinity seems 10 be much like him. We saw let
ter from his wife and daughter, received from New
burgh on Tuesday, which of a piece with his
whole conduct. In this letter they both talked with
busincsS-lke nucorccru, about their farming ops-
fations.
fhe following is the substance OF the letter, as
nearly as can recollect from single perusa,
bnt it is materially incorrect excepting that we
have mended the photography.
nave written you one or more letters, but have
not received any from you. Ifyou CAM wish you
to write to me or get some person write for YOU,
Tor Want to receive letter from you before YOU
die. The children well and so is the CATTLE
We have dra eyed the stones from the field near Mr.
I've have sowcd the field with clover and tim
othy, and we have made the fence ourselves.-I
have bought the plough as wrote you for S7-the
barn will be up Monday next--Iny dear hus-
band, love you as well as ever did, want to
see you before you die, but it is so far that do not
feel able to come pray night and morning, and
eUery day, that God will have mercy on your poor
soul. Farcwell-Amcn--Amen. (Thcn the da ugh
fer writes in her own name) Mother is almost sick
with crying. Mr. A. 3. C.. sc. talk of going down
TO you. hope you won't let them see you-
They say here you going to make a speech
You don't know what folks says about you, when
they here. hope you will not make any
dying speeches. to be printed in books when YOU are
dead, for there is enough printed in the papers
10 take halt Il day to read. hope you will keep
Close mouth--you have said too much--.J. p. and d.
IN children, al send their love to you and pray for
yea night and morning"
us letter signed by the daughter--the let
Ter continues i'll the hand writing, as from the
mother, which goes on to request him to pray TO
God, and to die innocent, as believe you are-and
keep your lips shut
The last paragraph by way of a P. s. refers 10
their la wing built the fence round the barn and be-
fare the door.
Johnsons body was afterwards put into the baud;
~ni the Surgeons, who performed upon it several
Galvanic experiments. Although life had been ex-
1inct upwards of hour, the muscles of the BODY
were put into violent motion through the means of
Inc astonishing POWERS Of the galvanic battery
Fhe Whole was violently convulsed and it Appeared
as if the vital principle actually present in it.
Is even the lips and eyelids put il motion.
". I. Gaz.