The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-07-17

YIN filndy inst, asftc'"'y ~ s'hi'h''f
VIM. T. Hone, young man Of about 81
years, suffered the punishment of de+th.
near the court house Of Faiffax county,
| Va. for The murder of Wn. Simpson, in
| that county on the night Of ihe tth March
| 1896. The spectators al the execution
did No. amonui to niue than between one
thousand AID dil.en hundi I'd.
| 1t had h.rn uroposed 10 the criminal
early in the morning. that he should come
/ into the court house In hear n public SER
mon but be declined it. The Sermon
WAS accordingly preached by Mr.. Burch,
of Leesbnrg, Of the Methodist per3nasion,
at quarter after IL O'Clock. before the
window of the room u hclI be Wa con-
/ fined. A the cfmclasion of the sermon,
/ the prisoner was brought from the gaol.
His face was entirely concealed by ii long
loose cap which extended down - his bo-
som he was dressed IN very white
shroud wore White gloves and nad on
| ha'f-worn black fur hal, under winch was
his cap. Ills arms were plnonrd II the
elbow the noose'0f the rope Mas already
around his neck, and the balance of the
rope wranprd around his body until he ar
rived under the gallnYs. He moved With
slow aud cautious, but firm aud appd-
rcntly unconcerncd step TO the cart, up in-
to " hich he was conducted with the as
sistancr Of chair, by the clelgymen. lie
continued 10 the head of the colin, and de-
Iberately seated himself in the chair
This scene was one that none seemed pre-
pared for.--Hls apparent resignation TO
his fate, and the willingness with which
he advanced TO and took his seat, were
unexpected, and extorted Involuntary and
simultaneous expressions "poor fellow"
" Good God be merclful," &c. from every
quarter. Upon his arrival at the galIows,
after the usual preparations, the cart
drove slowly from under the criminal he
necessarily leant forward as he was drag
grd from it--aud in an instant was launch
ed into eternity without struggle. Thus
WAS the vengeance of the laws of God aud
of man justly inflicted upon the misguided
and unfortunate VIM. r. Hooe--a youth
of the most numerous and highly respect
able connexions in the state oil Virg mia.
The criminal wrote confession of his
crime, and history Of his life for sUpe
time past
CONFESSION OF HOOE.
VIM. +. Hooe, whose execution ne re-
cord to-day, wrote, during his confinement,
a history of his life for the last five years,
IN which he makes full confession Of the
murder of Slrnpson-and that he peCpe-
trated ii alone.
lie states that he was instgated TO the
de-, from the want of money 10 adjust
gambling Transaction in Letsburg. In the
I'll, ia a til bar
states, il is common for gambling parties
To pass their notes for whatever they may
lose at cards bul that 1t is considered
violation of honor III the holder of such |
notes ~ transfer them to second person.
He had sold one Of these notes, which was
afterwards won back and demaudtd of
hIm nv the drawer. Hr evadrd the de-
mand, by stating that the note was not about
him, but IN his trunk, aud that he would |
get ii and return il. lie called upon the
prrson II v huIn he had sold the note, and |
requested that it might mol be presented
FIR pay ment for a few days as he WAS go
ug to Prince William county for money,
winch would enable him to redeem ii ON
his return. Ii appears that he really did |
believe money Was due TO him from hi, !
uHtlt, JONI t1bb'', il'liS III llitl county J.. |
But, he SAY =, he felt his honor at stake, III
having sold the note, and was, III, rrlore,
determined to have mooey for its re4emp
ton al all hazards.
Having falsely told Simpson that his
uncle Dade Hooe had tamil, of negroes
for sale, he profier.d his service to { n
duct him Ia his uncle's plantation and
says that while on their way thilhtr he
asked Simpson huw much monty he had,
as it would take Thousand doilais to pur-
chase the family. Simpson dlsmounted
from his horse aud seated himself upon
log at the side Of the road; took out his
pocket book and counted its contents in
his presence, and aald he had niue hun
drrd dollars. After renewing their Jour
ney, he says he made three different ef
forts To shoot Simpson, but that the check
ings Of his conscience whenever he touch
Fed the pistol for that purpose were so pow
erful as to overcome HIM. At the third
attempt, he says, he was determined to
despatch his victim, and had drawn his
pistol as much as half way from his pocket.
when his energy again completely forsook
him. The danger in crossing the run,
which had risen above its usual level, was
urged as a reason for not crossing it,
though Simpson VAS willing to make the
attempt.-They returned thence to the
tavern AT Uentreyille.
When about leaving the tavern at Cen
treville, on the night ofthr murder, Hooe
say. hcad,istd Simpson that he had bet
ter leave his money behind as they were
going to house of i'll fame, where it
might be lost. Simpson accordingly took
ont his pocket book with his mooey,
which was put into iloue's valice, (hey
then sleeping in the same room) They
next departed for a house of the kind re-
ferred to, and which Hooe told Simpson
he knew about-though none such was in
the direction they pursued. Hooe says