Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-01-10
Flem Tie .l!ba,lu irr,ls.


DredJfui fec dent On Friday laSt
an accident occurred al Cooperstawn.
at the execution of Levi Kelly. for IT,
murder of Adm Spafafd, which has NC
parallel in the history OF accidents on
such occasions
A very great conconrse of persons
had assembled to witness the execution.
and platform had been erected by Nr
G'liiin. keeper of he hotel, for the
accommodation of spectators The plat
TORN, which was sot; Of anphItbe atre,
was buili near the sraffold, upon %
right posts placed in the ground. Il
was of considerable length aud width,
and was crowded with people. Il is es-
'lmafed that 1000 persons were upon il.
Owing to the inciemency Of the weather,
nearly an equal number had assemble d
under it. When Keii, was taken from
prison, and, surrounded by the sheriff
and the guard, was approaching the
scatold. the crowd upon the platform
instinctly leaned forward to see the pri
sonei and The ceremony; when ,he.en
tire mass moved forward and fell to the
ground. carrying with it all It's occu
pants, and crushing such beneath it as
could aot escape. Fortunately its course
was horizontal; bad ii been direct han
dreds would have been imme diately Kill
ed. As il was, report state. yariously
the death OF from five to ten persons
Mr. Tracy, the engrayer, was instaatl,
killed. Mr. Williams died the same eve
ming. A woman and child were also
killed More than this, we have no
knowledge OF, except by report Man,
were wounded; aud several so severe
y, that it was not believed they would
survive.
In the midst of the confusion caused
by this disaster, Kelley was executed
lie met bis fate with a sulen isditfer
ence.
Fer these particulars, we are indebt
ed to a gentleman, who, passing in the
stage at the time, gathered the facts
from credible persons.
Since the above was in type. we have
received the Cooperstown paper. from
which we copy the following particu
lars.
The Erecutien sentence of the
law was carried into effect upon the per.
son of Lew Kelly, tor the murder. of
abraham Spaifard, on Friday last. al
about Q O'Clock p nj The weather.
during the preceding day and night, had
been tempestuous, and on the morning
OF Frida, the rain fell in torrents. vet
our village was thronged with men.
women. and children, before 10 o'clock
NJ, at about which time the military.
composed of Capt Clark's company of
cavalry. Capt. Bourne's corps Of artIl
Iery, Capt Dixen's company of infan.
try, and two companies of militia. ware
formed into hollow square, under the
direction OF Captain Comstock and Or
Master Sabin, as Marshals. and marched
TO the Goal, from which the convict was
taken by sheriff Hisler, apparently ia a
very feeble state of health, and placed
upon bed in sleigh drawn by his own
horses.
He was dressed in bis usual apparel
The sleigh With two others in which
were the Rev Mr.. Smith and the Rev.
MIR. Potter, entered the hollow square,
and the whole mass moved to the
ground 6xed upon for the place of exc
cution, situate south OF the Court House
and not lar from the Methodist Chapel.
Do arriving at the gsllows a scene ensu-
ed which beggars all description. A
staging of 100 feet in length. and - in
depth, the front being elevated and
the rear 8 feet from the ground, erected