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

bot the great majority with evident in
terest. on the drilling scene before
them.
The religious services concluded.
the prisoner shook hands with the Rev.
Clergy. and With many OF his old &C I
Who pressed around The
car, for the purpose 81 bidding him
last farewell. and then, taking his seat,
appeared TO he deeply absorbed for
few mcment-, in PRAYER Ia the Father
of Spirits. About 3 o'clock, he signi-
fed TO the Town Sergeant his readi- ,
ness for the last act VI the affecting trA-j
gedy. Ills hands and feet we're theo,
as is customary, tied together, the for
mer behind him. aud the rope adjusted
TO the transverse beam of the caliows;
when, with a caimness sB,l indiffer-
ence, e9uallcd only by his firmpess, he
pulled of his shoes, stripped on his
coat, partially unbuttoncd his vest. and
unfastened the collar Of his shirt-and
then. with an mistaken step. mounted
the scafiold. While the cap was being
prepared, tn conceal his face when the
agony Of death should convulse his fca.
lures, he Was engaged. with uplifted
eyes. and with great earuestness. in
audible prayer, which continued until
his yisage was almost entirely hidden
from view. As an instance Of his calm.
heroic forti'ude. we may relate a cir
cumstancc which now took place. The
Sergeant had turned of. for the pvr-
pose Of letting the drop fall. when Jones
called tn him, anil with a manner and
tone which one would have used un-
der the most indifferent circumstances.
asked him TO draw the cap lower, So ~.
to conceal his mouth more efiectuaIly !,
Every thing being now ready, the drop
fell, and the rope broke! On ,he in
slant, a rush was mad0 by the specta-
tors towards the spot where the poor
fellow lay, but they were soon check
ed and, after few moments, Jones
was again raised on his feet. A chair
was handed to him. in which he sat
down. drew the cap from his face. mot
a muscle of which, nor even its color
was changed and asked for drink
OF water. which, having drank. the rope
was again adjusted and although his
feet and hands were tied, he rcascend-
ed the scaHo'd with very little assis
lance. n minnie more elapsed-the
drop again feIl-and Jones ceased to
exist! lilo struggled scarcely an in
slant. The only evidences Of mortal
agony which we 5eheld. land we were
within a very few feet Of him, were
exhibited from two to seven minute
after he bad been suspended, in the
twitchings and contractions Of his chest
and legs, and the quiveripg Of his feet.
We learn that his neck was not bro.
Ken. and he was therefore permitted
10 hang within a few minutes Of an
hour. When his body was cut down.
III was delivered into the hands Of his
friends, who had carried to the spot the
habiiiments OF the gave. coffin aud
hearse. and they moved of immediate.
iy With the body. We presume to the
residence of his father. 90 or so miles
from this place.
We know not that we can better
conclude this notice Of the execution.
(already too long. and probably too
minute. than by quoting the following
extract from the description given in
late French paper, Of the execution
OF soldier III that king,lom:-- Thus
terminated the career Of a man endow
ca with the most unqoestioDabIe hero
ISM, with a good understanding. and
his Trends say, Notwithstanding his
crime, with feeling heart. That he
committed that, crime while laboring
under partial insanity, Of some species
or other, We have not much doubt. -
Ills end offered remarkable contrast
to those OF most persons who are exc
cuted. IL displayed. along With the
utmost indifference for death, the tru
est plety and resignation, -qualities,
which oblIierated. for the moment, all
recollec ton Of his crime"
We again express our decided cou-
.Ie'ion. that the penalty of dsnfh. tho
denounced upon traDseressors by the
Jewish law, ought not TO be iniiie ted 10
this enlightened age. among civilized
and mercifui people, any more than
that other Hebrew canon. ian eve for
an eve, and q tooth for a TOOTH Az
pttnfshmtm 81 the criminal, il carries
less terror With il than imprisonment
Tor life; while. as ,cGyning 10 ofhfrs.
u Is worse than worthless. But, "
blood must be she'd Tor blood. lie, IL D.,
done IN the solitude Of the prison
Collect 40 such crowds together. "A
we saw here ON Monday last. aud az
are seen wherever there ~ 20 be an ex-
ecn'i"n; the certain consequence Of
winch -, the preparation of a hundred
Told more vice aud efimc than is expi
ated by the death Of the malrGact tor.
which they assemble to behold. The
number oi persons at the gallows has
been NafinuslN animated III. -