Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-31
From the Baltimore american,
BEAUCHAMP, THE MURDERER.


The Kentucky Argus contains long ana ae-
tailed account Of the circumstances a'enc'"s
the traeical end of Beauchamp and his wife
The ;nc;den,s connected with this affair are
c,rtainly of the most extraordinary character.
T, apnesrs by the account inserted in the Argus,
that, until very few days previous TO his exc
culion. Beauchamp entertained some hopes OF
respite. Shortly after being sentenced, he adj
dressed letter to Governor Desha stating that
he was about to appeal to his country Tor mi
tiration Of his sentence; and praying that has
execution might be delayed until he couh have
an opportunity Of ascertaining whether the pub
lie voice was for or against his being permitted
TO live, and go into exile No immediate re-
DIV being given TO this letter, the culprt caus-
eS an application to be made TO the Governor,
on the 4ih Of this month, for respite Of thirty
DAYS, which likewise remained unnoliced. On
The following day, the prisoners uncle, who
had always evinced the utmost interest IN his
fate, asked the opinion ofan eminent, lawyer in
Frankfort upon the question, whether the law
for the punishment Of murder was not repeal
ed, with the Wow Of influencing the mind Of the
Governor The answer was, that the statute
was clearly repealed, but that this repeal in no
way affected the common law prescribing the
punishment Of murder; and that, from the me-
rits Of the case, the executive ought not 10 In
terfere At a late hour in the evening Of that
day, the criminal made 4 last effort 10 induce
The Governor 10 grant him respite of thirty
days, for the sole purpose Of completing the
publication which he had nearly completed,
giving full and minute account OF all the caus-
es which led TO- and circumstances which attend
ed, the assassination Of Col. Sharp; and for the
purpose Of better preparing his soul to meet
the forgiveness of Almighty God" 10 this
application decided negative was given.
Every hope Of respite being thus entirely
cut off, and the hour for carrying into effect he
awful sentence Of the law being at hand, the
miserable pair proceeded TO the execution OF
their ultimate design in the following manner:
"Mrs. Beauchamp had long told MIR. Min
tosh, the TAILOR, and others that conversed with
her. that she would not survive her husband
Sometimes she said that she would live 10 close
his eyes aud see him decentiy inferred; at others
that she would die with him and be inferred
in the same coffin; bul she always said that she
would not survive him three days. On We'd
nesday July s. she requested the jailor to gel
a shroud for her, and coffin big enough to
hold her and her husband. The jailor had ne
yer believed her sincere il her threats against
her own life; and tod her ne was DESTROYS OF
gratifying all her wishes, but was afraid; that
were he to procure these articles Tor her, he
should be viewed Us an accomPlice in her crime.
She, however, urged ii; when he observed, 20
cularly, that if he were to go 10 all this trouble
and exnense, and then she did not kill herself,
he would knock her in The head. She laughed
and told him 10 get them, and see whether she
was not ready as soon as he was.
"On Thursday morning Mrs. Beauchamp APP
neaed 10 be extremely i'll, and the suspicion
arose that they had taken poison. The Jailor
charged them with it, but he denied it. Every
thing in the dungeon, papers, bedding and clo-
thing, were found packed up and directed to the
persons for whom they were intended. These
facts created so strong an impression that an
attempt to commit suicide had actually been
made, that guard was placed in the dungeon
10 prevent its repetition.
aThe Governor having been informed by the
uncle of the prisoner, that bis nephew and his
wife were determined on taking their lives, urg-
ed the TAILOR to remove her from the jill, and
keep strict guard over him. This he deter
mined TO do; but on mentioning il to Mrs.
Beauchamp, she declared she would not leave
her husband unless she were dragged from him
by force; and the difficulty and apparent cruel
~ of doing it, under such circumstances, indu-
ced the jailor to let her remain.
SIN the course of the day, Beauchamp &C
knowledged that himsslfand wife had, the night
before, on their knees, taken ar ounce Of lau-
danum between them; that as God would have
il. il had no effect on him but to keep him "a
wake; that il had made his wife very sick, but
was not likely to effect the OBJECT. He said his
wife had brought it from home with her, and
kept it concealed under her clothes. He ex-
pressed great regret ard repentance Tor the act;
and when the jailor again expressed his deter
mination to separate them, they both pledged
their word and honor TO him, that if he would
letthem remain together, no further effort to take
their own lives should be made. AS there was
now a guard placed in the room, and as 1t was
believed they had no further means OF accom-
plishing their dreadful purpose, the Jailor cid
not think proper TO use the harshness and Vlo-
lence which seemed necessary to separate them.
"Mrs. Beauchamp remained quite feeble du-
ring the day, and Beauchamp himself was con-
.iderably debilitated with the effects ofthe lau-
dsnum: he refused to admit any of the minis
ters OF the gospel who visited the Jail that day,
....o,ot ,f his yife's indisposition. bur fixed