Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-31

| ain the evening the Governor ordered out
| the two independent companies 10 guard inc
| Jail on Thursday night, and the drums began
n heat about six o'clock. Beauchamp asked
VIVA, that meant, and was answered that the
| Governor had ordered out the military to guard
| The ;aiI He seemed somewhat surprized and
aoi,aed. as if he had not, until then, fully real
| ;,ed the situation in which he stood.
sin conversation this day, he expressed much
anger at the precautions taken to prevent his
killing himself He called the Tailor and guards
fools for wishing to prevent his taking his own
life, that they might hang him up as specta-
Gle for fools TO gaze at. However, he became
reconcled 10 ,he'jajlor; and calling Tor pen, INK
and paper, wrote an article thanking him Tor
his kind treatment, and generating him from
any improper conduct in relation TO him In any
way
"The military under the command oil Capt.
Longborough, surrounded the Jail, and'a guard
was kept in the dungeon during the night
Beaucha mp and his wife slept very quietly. In
the morning they seemed quite composed; and
Bcauchamp told the guard his vile had, in the
night, taken another dose of laudanum, and
she produced TWO empty phials, which she
said, she had brough, from home and kept con-
cealed for Ibis crisis But from the irrita,ed
state Of her stomach, caused by The previous
dose and entire abstinence the day before, she
could not retain it and threw it up without lis
producing any effect. She thought she could
eat little Clipped beef and drink some tea
They were brought, and she and her husband
both ate moderately and drank little tea. AT
their request they were furnished with little
tocldy, of which they drank freely.
"rhe Rev. Porter Clay, S. NJ. Noel, William
Hickman, ST. George Waller and perhaps other
preachers, called in the morning; but Beau
champ declined to admit them, alleging his
wifc's indsposition. Some of them talked with
him through the CRATE, and he expressed the
greatest adherence for the crime of suicide
which he had attempted to commit, and de-
clared that he regretted it more than any other
act Of his life He declared his entire conf
dence that his sins were forgiven, and that he
should be happy beyond the grave. He said,
he. bad been on his knees for hours after taking
his laudanum, and in that humble condition
had received the forgiveness Of his sins and
was rcconcied to die in the way which God and
his country had assigned TO him. No devoted
Christian, said one Of the above named preach
ers, ever talked with more perfect resignation
and reliance on Heavens mercy, than did this
unfortunate and dcluded man. He requested
the ministers Of the gospel who called on him.
10 call precisely at II o'clock, and accompany
him to the gallows. One Of the preachers wrote
him the following note:
"DEAR SIR:--I came to the prison this morn.
ing to pay you the last visit But my feelings
are such that IcoIld not come in. | want you
TO know you have my prayers and good wishes.
In few hours you will be in eternity, and that
you may find peace and pardon in the Lord Je-
sus Christ, VINO came to save sinners. Fare
well, again farewell-from your friend and well
wisher, &c"
"He returned the note with the following,
written on the back with bis own hand:-"My
sins are forgiven," 81. o. BEAUCHAMP"
"In his conversation the day before, he had
expressed an entire reconciliation with, and for
gveness Of every man who had had any con-
Germ with him or his case, except his uncle,
Jeroboam Beauchamp. The Tailor asked him
what his uncle had done to merit this exception.
He said he had held out hopes to him which
were delusive. The jailor told him he wronged
his uncle; for the only hope, SO far as he had
heard, that he had held oul 10 him, was that Of
a respite, but had uniformly told him that he
believed the Governor would not pardon him.
This morning he sent for his father and uncle 10
come and see him. The young man fully ac-
quilted his uncle of all improper motives; but
said that all his well meant efforts in his favor,
had turned out for the worst.
"He begged his uncle for the dirk he had
given him; observing that himself and wife had
determined on taking their own lives, and with
that dirk, which was very sharp, they could die
easy. His uncle refused to let him have it,
and said, that in giving it to him he should feel
himself an ;.ccomplice in their crime
"At an early hour, the drums were heard
beating, the report Of musket was occasional
ly heard, and men in uniform were seen ming.
ling among the citizens AS the day advanced,
people came pouring in from the country in
every direction, filling up the streets, while an
increasing multitude was observed surrounding
the gaows which was erected on the hill at
the junction Of the Lexington and Versailles
roads About half past eleven O'Clock, gene
raj movement was observed among the crowds
in the streets, towards the Jail, the drums beat
TO arms, and a rumor spread that Beauchamp
and his wife had both stabbed themselves.
"About the hour of ten o'clock, Beauchamp,
had drawn the table up to the bed, and written
over one side of a half sheet Of paper. which he
folded up and placed under his head. II was
there found after be was taken out, and deliver
ed to his father. 1t stated, that as the lauda-
mum had failed to produce the desired effect,
himself and wife had come to the determine
,iop ofkilIng themselves by stabbing, and throw
,bep,Selres on the mercy of their God.