Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-09-01

ing from his knees, be stood up, un-
supported, and addressed the crowd.
in . clear tone, remarking that his case
ought te be an example 10 all young
men against the evils Of dissipation aud
gambling. d,sobedience Of parents, and
disregard Of friendly advice. ~Look
at me-" said he, here under the gal.
lows. brought TO IL by associating with
obates. Instead of taking the AL.
vice Of my parents and friends, lis
tened to persuasisns Ut others.--Wheh
YOU are tcnpted Ia sin, place your
hands on your hearts, aud think oi
Goblet MY fate be = warning to you
ALL"
Would TO Heaven that this warning
voice, raised at the portals Of another
world. might be etfectuai in recalling
the wandering footsteps Of the gijdy
multitude.
After this, he paused. cast his eyes
earnestly. for about two minutes, upon
the spectators, turning round and view
ing the whole mass, in search ct those
HON he had accused. Not seeing
them. he remarked to the sheriff, that
he could not find sRy Of his pretend
eel friends" He requested his coffin
to be placed upon the scaffold, and
knclt over il with Mr.. GILDrA. recit.
ing most aHec ting ard beautiful prayer
concluding with the - Lifdny for oh.
fai,g a good death"
Now came the crisis Of his fate
The coffin was removed, --wben he
significd has readiness, shook hands
with the sheriffs, and the rope was
placed upon the hook of the beam |.
This was at o. minutes past I O'Clock.
lie stood in fcrvent aud unremitting
prayer for five minutes. At this criti-
cal moment, many expected 10 see him
faint; but he rallied himself, raised
his arm as high as the cord with which
he was pinioned would let him. and
threw white handk erchief ,as the signal
to let the drop fall. In an instant the
rope was cut which held the platform.
and he was launched into eternity. The
only symptoms of bodily suffering hich
we noticed, were during the first FIVE
90 six minutes. in which period he gave
as many slightly convulsive shrugs OF
his shoulders. and once drew up his
feet little, but did not move finger.
His neck was not broken; and in
half an hour his body was taken down.
and the burial service read. Ii " A.
! then conveyed about a mile out Of
town. and delivered to his friends, for
! interment in l.oudoun.
: Thus persisted youth. who, but for
the besetting sins Of intemperance and
gambling. the result of an intercourse
With vicious companions, might have
been pride and comfort to his friends.
lie certainly had some redeeming quail
tiles Of bsart-something Of heroism.
and an unusual degree Of physical. il
not moral hrmness. That ne died peni-
tent. is the firm belief Of the pious men
who endeavored to soothe his last mo-
ments Of anguish.
] The number Of spectators has bee
variously estimateJ--at from four 10
ten thousand. 1t is but justice to say.
that we never have witnessed greater
decorum than was exhibited ON the
field. Exceptions will always be found
for the yawDing grave itself can
scarcely soften ar subdue the rebel
bpuN EhooWb5 W HOihC ntU. w naI-
ever disorders occurred--in profanity
and intemperance. before and after the
evebt-may be considered but as the
common result of large and promiscu-
aus collections of people
I Cox has lett q Confession. In his
own handwriting. Of the circumstan-
ces leading TO and connected with the
murder. On Tuesday morning pre-.
cediDg his death, he sent for two ma
gistrates Of the county, and delivered
it into their hands, solemnly asserting
! IL 60 contain the truth, the whole truth.
and nothing but the truth. On the
morning OF execution. in the preseBce
oftwo magistrates, Of the acting depu-
~ sberifis, (Messrs. Ransom and Will
lis.) and Of several ether persons, lie a.
gain declared il To be true.
: His confession commences with the
following emphatic words -
81 declare, in the presence Of Con.
that never thought Of killing MIR.
Dunn. nor had made any threats TO
take his life. till it was proposed to
me by Msfi1"
After detailing the circumstances in
nearly the same manner he did al
the Examining Court, he concludes
with this forcibie declaration:
"What have written, - not wri,
ten through malice or III will, but viii,
the desire Of doing justice. owe IL
Z" my God, my country, aud myself.
know must appear before my God
to be Judged, and would be sorry 10
have the blood Of seven others upon
me by accusing them falsely. God
knows What I have said Is ne truth.
md nothing bat The frI.ih. IsAyit in
7 his nrescnce kno,vio.. ,f., -. 49,.