Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-28
Isom BE FrnnkGri inns.


uniform were seen mingiug among tue citizens. As
tie day advanced, people pouring in from the
country in every direction filling up the while
incieaslDg multitude observed surrounding the
gai!ows which erected the hill the junction of
the Lexington and Versailles roads. About half past
eleven O'clock general movement was observed among
the crowds in the streets, towards the Jail, the drums
heat arms. ana spread that 5eauetianp and
his wife had both stabbed themselves
About the hour nj ten O'clock, Beauchanp had drawn
the table to the bed and written side of
half sheet of paper, which he folded up and placed
DER his head. TWAS there found after he was taken
out, and delivered to his father. II stated, that the
laudanum had failed produce the desired effect, HIM
self and wife had Come 10 the determination of killing
themselves by stabbing and throw themselves the
mercy of their God.
About this time, the TAILOR, who was in frequently
That morning, again entered, and sat down beside the
bed. Mrs. BGauchamp extended her hand towards him
- Il DESTROYS to shake hands. lie gave her his and
sine SAID, nly dear friend you have been kind to me,n
gave hun close grasp, shook his hand strongly
raj times, and then turned over This she did III
ner which Indicated TO The iaor that she did wish
her husband 10 perceive what he supposcs was
tCuded as last farewell 10 him.
The laiior vent out aud person was left with them
but Mr. Edriagton, the guard. The dungeon was al
rrost dark The little light OF day which usually PEN
rtrated into IT. shut out by blanket hang against
the CRATE. feeble candle gave Tie only light which
shonc IN this fearful abode The only entrance was
through trap door above, in which stood adder.-
Hlrs. Sear2hamp commenced talking with the guard
on the subject Of suicide She asked him whether he
thought any person would be forgiven for the commits
SION OF That crime. He told her he Thought not that
- was of those crimes which did rot leave time for
repentance and could not be forgiven He begged her
10 dismiss all such thoughts and told her she lad long
enough been gsief TO her mother without bringing
down her grey hairs with sorrow to the gra,c.
Bcauchamp and his wife frequently convelsed in a
Whisper. AZ length, she requested MIR Darlington TO
step out for minute, alleging that shS wished get
lie assembled the ladder and shut the trap door
frtiy Gown but kept in position where he could
bat was going on below. There was no movement
and tie was in the act of returning when Mrs. Beau
champ said, Don't come YETI yes down. said
beauchamp lie then SAID, his wife too veal. to
get UP, and expressed wish that she should leave the
rali: and tie guard urged the thing. She said.
she would not leave her husband until he taken
tor execution She again spoke OF suicide, aud deCa
red that she would not survive her husband. About
half 1T eleven, the guard observed them whispering
together Tor sometime. ~ length, Beauchamp SAID
aloud, Ay dear, mol strong enough TO get up
es ann" said she, throwing her up, how
strong am" Size requested her husband give her
more OF the toddy; he told her she would drink too
much, bnt she said she would He then gave il to
her and she drank She then uosei the guard %
step out Immediately, pretending great urgency. lie
again up the ladder, the trap door partly
down. and was stepping around into position where
h could observe them when he heard deep sgh and
h'a1champ called him, He went down and found
Hpalo inrnP laying on his back apparently in great
alarm, an in loud and earnest prayer. Mrs. Beau
clamp was laying partly her LEFT side, with her head
on Aer husbands breast, and her rig thrown over
tn The guard supposed, that in attempting 70 rise,
r7 i,ad, from weakness fa!!eu linn Not sugPec
down resting his head The table, until Beauchamp
had finished his prayer The miserable man continued
Tor sometime calculating so tion God OF Justice, have
mercy upon us; O thou God of Justice have mercy
upon u.s." and the guard thinks that two or three times
lie cried, 90 thou God of mercy have ,nercy upon usn
IS he had closed his PRAYER he 20 be en-
tireiy composed, and observed the guard "te my ia
Tier that my wife and myself going straight TO
Heaven-wear dying" The guard replied ''no
reckon not" Beauchamp said, Eyes il so-,ve have
KILLED ourseyesn The guard spranm up, suspeciing
finVi a. hut hos.
be bed saw something in Mrs Beauchamp's right hand
lie raised her and found il 10 De a knife. Itwasa
common case knife sharPcnad al the point and bloody
*"out hall way up lie asked, where they got tlat
knHe' Both answered, that they had long kept II con.
ccaiei for that occasion On discovering the bloody
knife the guard looked upon the bed and discovered
That Mrs Deaucbamp had stab little to the right of
the centre Of the abdomen, which had been laid bare
for that purpose. She did not sigh, groan nor shev
any symptom Of pain. He asked Beaucbamp whether
he stabbed He replied YES and raised NJ bis
hT which had been drawn out of his drawers and roll
Ted up his body to leave bare but had fallen back
over the wound He stabbed about the centre of
the body just below the pit of the stomacb but his
wound was not SO vide as that of his wife lie said he
had taken the knife and struck first and that bis wife
had parryed his arm, wresed the knife from him and
plunged it in herself. He said, lie feared his wound
was not mortal and begged the guard to get some au
danHm for bin.
IS as he discovered they were stabbed. the
guard called for assistance and the laier with others
Immediately came in. Beauchamp begged that tley
wou9l take his wife out and attempt to save her With
ont any opposition from her, she Immediately reno
we'd into one OF the roorps of the iaer's house To
INC enquiries OF those VITO surrounded her. she replied
81 struck the fatal blow ny self, end am diving for nv
ucaT husband" she now suffered great pain and was
evidently 10 the agonies of death Her screams reach
ed the ears OF Bcauchamp IL his dungeon. and he ask
Cd, els that my dear wife, DO bring me word, what
SIG says"
The physicians, Roberts, Malo, and Wilkinson had
examined her wound and pronounced It mortal, cspoci
ally in her present dcbitaled state. (
il was Dow determined 10 take him 10 the yalows as
soon possible. Jie taken out into lie prison
yard The sheriff, MIR. Walker, approached to put the
Tofe around bis neck Not yeti SAID he. The sheriff
told him it was his duty, and lie acquiesced They
were carrying him through the passage of the jaer's
house, when lie begged to bis wife. The physicians
told him, she not badly huit and would soon ret
il; and some objection las made 10 sopninr lie