Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-09-08
FROM RLAcKwooD's EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.
THE MURDERER,S LAST NIGHT.

THE MURDERER'S LAST NIGHT.
! 1t was about the hour of ten, on gusty
and somewhat raw evening of September,
that was locked up alone with the Murder
er. 1t was the evening of the Sabbath.
Some rain had fallen, and the sun had not
been long set without doors: but for the
last hour and half the dungeon had been
dark, and illuminated only by single taper.
The clergyman Of the prison, and some of
my religious friends, had sat with us until
the hour of locking up, when, at the sug-
gestion of the jaor they departed. must
confess their ''good night" and the sound
of the heavy door, which the jailor locked
after him, when he went to accompany
them to the outer-gate of the gaol, sounded
heavily on my heart. felt sudden shrink
within me, as their steps quickly ceased to
be heard upon the stone stairs-and when
the distant prison door was finally closed, I
watched the last echo. / had for moment
forgotten my companion. When | turned
round, he was sitting on the side of his low
pallet, towards the head of it, supporting his
head by his elbow against the wall, appar-
emily in state of half stupor. He was mo-
tionless, excepting sort ofconvusve move
ment, between sprawling & clutching of the
fingers of the right hand, which was extend
! ed on his knee. His shrunk cheeks exhib-
tied deadly ashen paleness, with a slight
tinge of yellow. the effect, of confinement.
His eyes were glossy and sunken, and seem
ed in part to have lost the power of gazing.
They were turned with an unmeaning and
vacant stare upon the window, where the
last red streak of day was family visible,
which they seemed vainly endeavouring to
watch. The sense of my own situation now
Iecoiled strongly upon me ;-and the sight
of the wretch sitting stiffened in quiet ago.
ny, (for it was no better affected me with
| a faint sickness. felt that an effort was
necessary, and, with some difficulty, asi-
! dressed a few cheering and consolatory
! phrases to the miserable creature had I'M
iertaken to support. My words might not
but fear my tone was too much in unison
with his feelings, such as they were. His
answer was few inarticulate mutterngs,
between which, the spasmodick twitching of
I his fingers became more apparent than be-
fore. A noise at the door seemed decidedly
to rouse him: and as he turned his head
with asudden effort, felt relieved to see
the TAILOR enter. He was used to such
scenes and with all air Of commiseration,
| but in tone which lacked none of the firm
ness with which he habitually spoke, he
asked the unhappy man some question of
his welfare, and seemed satisfied with the
head-shake and inarticulately muttered re-
plies of the again dropping wretch, as if
they were expected, and of course. Hav-
| tb 20, Y,Ia
and slight refreshments on the table, and to
trim the light, he told me in whisper, that
my friends would be at the prison, with the
clergyman, at the hour of six and bidding
the miserable convict and myself, after a
cheering word or two good night" he de-
parted-the door was closed-and the Muir
derer and were finally left together.
1t was now past the hour of ten o'clock /;
and it became my solemn duty to take heed,
that the last few hours of the dying sinner
passed not, without such comfort TO his
struggling soul as human help might hold
out. After reading TO him some passages of
the gospel, the most opposite to his trying
state, and desultory and unconnected con-
versatlon,-fo the poor creature at times
seemed to be unable, under his load of hor-
rour, to keep his ideas connected further
than as they dwet upon his own nearing
and unavoidable execution,-l prevailed up
on HIM to join in prayer. He at this time
appeared to be either so much exhausted, or
labouring under so much lassitude from fear
and want of rest that found it necessary
to take his arm and turn him upon his knees
bv the pallet-side The hour was an avn
! full one. No sound was heard save an occa-
sonal ejaculation between sigh and a
smoothered groan from the wretched felon.
The candle burned dimly and as turned
saw, though scarcely noticed it at the mo-
ment. dim insect of the moth species, fut-
tering hurriedy round it, the sound ofwhose
wings mournfnlly filled up the pauses ofmy
self and nv companion. When the nerves
are strained tc their uttermost, by such tri-
fling circumstances are we affected. Here,
(thonghtI |, J there has been no light, at such
an hour, for mary years and-yet here is
one whose office it seems to be to watch it
NV spirit felt the necessity of some exer-
ton and with an energy, for which few
minutes before / had hardly dared to hope,
poured out my soul in prayer. besought
mercy upon the blood-stained creature who
was grovellng beside mel asked that re-
pentance and peace might be vouchsafed
him-I begged, for our Redeemer's sake,
that his last moments might know that un-
tasted rapture of sin forgiven, and cleansed
soul, which faith alone can bring to fallen
mani coninred him to help and aid me to