Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-09-01
EXECUTION OF JOHN NJ. JONES.
LYNcHBunc. fvA.l AtC. I,

LfSCHBuRG. VA AUG. ~.
On Monday morning last, (thc 10th
INST. a hurried rush Of men, women
and children, might have been seen in
the different avenues leading into town,
all hasteniDg, with rapid steps and anx-
ious countenances, to the .'feast Of
DEATH" At very early hour in the
morning, the crowd began TO assemble
in the neighborhood Of the Jail. which
Is situated ut considerable distance
from the business part Of town; and by
10 O'Clock, they presented to the ey e
dense and compact mass, made up Of
all colors, sexes and ages, some on foot,
others on horseback, and others eleya-
ted on the SUBMITS Of the several en-.
closures IN front, and at the wings Of
the prison. There they remained. un i.
sheltered from the burning rays Of an
almost vertical Sun, and apparently
unconscious, certainly regardless of its
intensity, until about half past twelve.
straining their eyes TO their utmost ten.
sion to catch a glimpse Of the unfortu.
nate victim Of the law. rs he should
emerge from the gloomy cell in which.
Tor the last rs months. he has been in.
carcerated-and during all which time,
we are assured by the Tailor, he has
conducted himself with great propriety.
At length, the "tiptoe curiosity, al
tfr- immense multitude was graiified.
Preceded by the officers Of Justice. and
followed bv the ministers OF our HOLY
Religion, the prisoner came forth, hand.
someiy dressed in a suit Of blue broad
cloth. His counienance betrayed no
symptom of fear or anxiety; bot wa,
a. calm and unrufilcd as though he had
been released from his dungeon only TO
be reunited to his friends aud To socie.
~. HIS step. too, was firm and elias.
uc-and his movements were free and
unconstrained. Having assembled the
cart and taken his seat, the procession.
preceded by Capt. NoryelI's company
OF Artillery and Capt. Ayrcs' com pany
OF Rife Grays. moved forward to the
place oi execution, situated about half
a mile from the Jail, in a rayine sur.
rounded by slight cminenees. Here.
also. vast crowd had collected, and
u was With some difficulty that the
wedged mass could be broken, so a. "a
open a passage 60 thc gaIlows. The
prisoner was accompanied in the cart
by the Rev Charles Galloway, u tie
Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev
William !. hoIcombe, Of the Associa.
,ed Meihodists, and the Rev. r.. l..
Russel Of the Second Presbyiefians.
About half after o'clock. the Rev.
Mr. Galloway commenced the religious
services usual on such occasions. hy
singing aud praying; and afterwards.
10 compliance with special request Of
the prisoner, lac preached an animated.
feeling. anil appropriate sermon. IT,
was followed by DR.. Il0icombe, ~
pathetic exh"TiAtion. which drew tear
from many eyes. ''albcit unused to tie
melting moefl." His exhartalion was
followed BY singing hymn. and by an
earnest prayer 10 the Throne oft5face.
~ behalf, not only 81 him who stood or
the ureshhoid ~ rtefnfy. about 90
launch his bark on that vast and untri
ed ocean, ''unsecn by mortal eyc,~t
bot also of che crowd of spec tators Who I
stood arosDd. gazing. some With indif I
ference. Others With a keaTllcgs le,ifv. I