Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-18

recovered. had been hanged for robbery but six
months before, aud expressed bis regfe' stsui-
fering before Governor Wall, 'for,' said he, Il
know he will come to the gallows al last
The question turned upon the point oil law,
whether the fact, for that was admitted, was 10
be considered as an execution, or as murder.
His attempt 10 prove that mutiny actually ex'
listed, failed, and the jury pronounced MIN
guilty. For this he was utterly unprePeieo;
and, when he heard the verdict, clasped his
hands in establishment and agony. As the case
was singular, the court, after passing sentence,
respi,ed him that the circumstances might be
fully considered. fIe was well connected, and
had powerful friends; it is said also that, as the
case turned upon question Of dciPline, some
persons high in the military department, exert
ed themselves warmly in his favour. lhe
length of,in,e which had elapsed was no PailIa'
ton; but his self surrender, il was urged, e'i-
IDENTITY implied that he believed himself Jnsfihed
in what he lad done. On the other hand the
popular indignation had never before been so
excited; the advertisements oil the printers, VINO
wished 10 sell their editions OF the trial, had
been stuck upon the walls, with Cut his liver
OUT (somewhat akin to blow ten balls through
the damned rascal' written in large letters. On
the days appointed for his execution (for ne
was repeatedly respited) all the streets leading
| 10 the Prison were crowded with soldiers ana
sailors, every one Of whom felt it as his own
personal cause and as the execution OF the mu
tineers in the feet was recent, in which so little
mercy had been shown, feeling very generally
prev allied among the lower classes, that this
| case was 10 decide whether there was law Tor
the rich as well a. for the poor. The delloer-
| atons Of the privy council continued tor SO ma
ny days that il is evident great efforts were
made 10 save his life; but there can be little
doabt that had their efforts succeeded, either a
riot would have ensurd, or more DANCE rous
and deeply founded. spirit Of disafectlon would
have gone through the people.
Wall meantime, was lying in his condemned
hold, led on bread and water. |, may be doubt
| ed whether he felt compunciion; we easily de-
ceive ourselves; form only wanting TO have rem
dered thai legal punishment watch was now
called murder, and he may have regarded him
self as diciplinarian not as a criminal but as
his hopes Of pardon failed him he used to sit
up IT, his bed, the greater part OF the night,
SIM inp psalms. Hi, offrnce va, indeed hea-
w but neaer did human being suffer more.
The dread Of death, tie sense Of popular hatred,
for il was feared that the mob might prevent
his execution, and pull him in pieces, and The
lornenting IT Election that his own vain comb
drnee alone had placed him in this DIRE adfnl
situation, these furnished punishment sufii>
Gent, even if remorse were not superadded.
On the morning Of mis- execution, the mob, as
usual, assembled in prodigious numbers filling
the whole space 5elure the prison, and all the
wide avenues from whence the spot could be
seen. Having repeatedly been disappointed Of
their revenge, they were still apprehensive of
another respite, and their Joy at seeing him up
on the sc affo'd was so great that they set up
three huzz S, an instance Of ferocity unparal
| lelrd ill then. When he was turned of they
began their huzZas again, but instead Of pro-
ceediug 10 three distinct shouts, as usual, they
stopped at the first. The revrps rfuI Joy which
animated them, unchristian as that passion is,
was surely founded upon humanity, and the
feeling which at one momrnt struck so many
thousands, ana awed them into profound ST.
lence when they saw the object Of their hatred
IN the agony Of death, is surely as honorable
TO the popular character as any trait recorded
of any people in any age.
While The body was suspended during an
hour, the Irish basket women, who sold fruit
under the galows, were blinking his damna-
| ton in gin and birthstone. His halter was cut
into The smallest pieces possible, and those
sold 10 the mob at shilling each. His body
was oDened, according TO form. and then given
to his relations, for which they gave one huns
dred pounds sterling to ore of the public hos
pi,a:s, and thus saved him from dissection.
have given you much Narration that my
| remarks must be brief ] have already stated
the immense difference between the gang OF
thieves commanded by the wrelched Wall, and
the repul able men under your command. The
crime Of Wallis victim was repeated disobedi,
ence, and that personal end aggravated by in
g, ti,ude The Grim, If Young Woods was
one single instance Of disob dence 10 man
said to have no commission, and that instance
Of tlisobedeuce was sanctioned by duly, which
would have condemned sim death had he
given up his gun. For ,'i' you roared TO he
guard TO " low ten buI~,s thr ugh the damned
rascal" Where was tn. difference between
his and Walls "cut his liver oat"? For his
disobrdienceyou abused he officer on guard,to
whom YOU are behold n for escaping an igno-
minious death; for had vour OF ders been oheyed,
they wouiu have placed YOU, precisely, in Wallis
siiualion,an Of course have stretched YOU on
q IlowS had the same impartial Justice seen