Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-04
From the BrookmHs, Indiana, Enquirer.

"
fenced by the court to be executed.
On Friday last, Garth May,) the She
riff of this county, pursuant to the sem
tence of the court, at about IL O'Clock,
opened the prison door and exhibited to
public view, one Of the most awful
spectacles the human eye could have
beheld; it was Fields. He was lifted by
four or FIVE men upon platform erect
ed on wagon, and seated in recum-
bent chair which was considered neces-
sary on account of his bodily debilita-
ton. A procession was formed and
the WAGNER drove towards the place
prepared for his execution-he was
clad IN white, the usual habiliment.-
The old man, with snow white locks,
and countenance that had lost It's ex-
preston in wrinkles, whose manly
frame had been visited by eighty-six
winters, and whose candle Of life was
lust Pickering out, was conducted thro'
a sympathetic throng of thousands to
the gallows; here he was halted in the
midst of three or four thousand people,
who assembled TO witness the solemn
Gene!
The Rev. Augustus Jocelyn, rose and
delivered an eloquent and appropriate
sermon, and then stated that he had
frequently conversed with the old man
during his confinement, and that he had
always found him truly penitent.-
Some we'll adapted remarks, were made
by the Rev. Mr. and Divine service
was then concluded. The Sheriff told
the prisoner, Che had but twenty three
minutes TO live" at this time all was in
readiness to suspend the old man, the
rope round his neck and made fast to
the gallows. Every eye was rlvetted
Oh the unfortunate object in breathless
expectation. At this crisis, noble
feeling pervaded the whole assembly
the impulses of humanity were visibly
depicted in almost every face.
Even at this moment, the numerous
multitude beheld in Fields, all that was
characteristic of a brave, patriotic and
active officer of the revolution, and a
man who had fought and bled in sup
port of our institutions, and had wasted
the flower of youth in conqucring and
dispelling the enemies Of our common
country, and who for the first time, in
so long life, had been charged with
crime forced by human authorityto ex-
pect nothing but to meet his God!
No pardonlng power was known to
be present, willing to interpose between
the veteran and the grave.
At this critical uncture, Just as the
Sheriff was about to perform his duty,
His excellency James B. Ray, acting
Governor Of the state of Indiana, APP
peared and addressed the prisoner in
words to the following purport-
SAMUEL FIELDS! You have been
convicted of the crime Of murder by a
Jury of your country, and sentenced by
the court to be executed OH this day.
Your last houris just expiring. You
have petitioned the only human author
ity on earth, that has power to save
you,-to permit you to live. Your pc
titions have been received, weighed
and Investigated. Your whole case
has been examined and matured. In
making this appeal, you have imposed
upon me the performance of the most
responsible and important duty OF my
life. If, in coming to conclusion on
this subject, | had attempted to consult
popular feelings, l must have been lost
in the variety of opinion. Duty with
me is above all other considerations,
and my conscience must be my guide.
Though you stand convicted, MAORI
ty of the officers of the court that tried
YOU, and about eight hundred Of your
fellow citizens have petitioned in your
behalf, including the clergy OF your
country, men well known for their at
tachment to good government and to
law-men who would never indemnity
themselves with your case, if they
thought you a wilful and malicious
murderer. Your own and these petit
| tons have had weight Win me, Out lel
me assure you that you have had still
more powerful advocate. The blood
YOU freely parted with in our struggles
for independence, and your inhrmltles
and scars speak for you!-Those SOL
diers who fought with you for our
common country, who now stand "a
round, are powerful orators and sue
cessful advocates for you; and | almost
fancy that l hear the voices OF Wash
ington and Warren, calling for mercy
in your behalf.
Take this, sir, (handing him a PAR
DOM and remember, that by exercis-
ing this high constitutional power, am
responsible to my country for your fu-
ture good behaviour. Tho view you
as child in intellect * as a dying man,
yet should you ever, by the favor OF hea-
ven be restored to health, remember that
am YOUR security for your conduct.