Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-08-23
From the I.ynchburs virs,.isu. Angus, 10.


Execution Of John ~. Jones.-On Monday morn
ing last hurried rush of men. women ana children
might fsve been seen in the different avenues lee
ing into tovD. all fastening. with rapid stems and
anxious countenauces, to the .feas. ofdeatb A. /.
very early hour in the morning. the crowd bepan IN
assemble in the neighborhood of the sil which is
ated at q considerable distance from the business
part OF town; and by 10 o'clock they presented to
ht eye dense and compact mass, made up Of all CO.
lots sexes and ages. some foot, Others on horse
oac aid others elevated on the SUBMITS Of the seye-
raj enclosures in front, and az tho wings of the pr-
sou There they remained, unsheltered from the
burning rays of an almost vertical Sun. and appar-
rntiy unconscious, certainly regardless of its inten
SHY, until sboat half pass ~, strann their ewes TO
the'r utnos' tension to catch glimpse OF the unor
tuna'e victim of the law. as he should EMERGE from,
the gloomy cell which for the last &c moaths he
has been ncarcera, ed-snd during oil which time VIC
are assured by the Jaor, he has conducted himself
with great psoprie.y
AT length, the "tp,oe curiosity of the immense
multitude was gratfed. Preceded bv the officers
OF Justice and followed by The ministers of our HOLY
Religion, tie prisoner care forth, Handsomely
dressedi SUIT Of hl- ..U-,s..::5,il. fis counte.
nance betrayed no symptom of fear or anxiety: bpt
was as calm and unrufi"i n ,hough he had been
released from HIS dungeon only be reunited to his
friends and TO society HIS step, TOO was firm and
e!ts'Ie-enG his movements were FREQ and uncon-
strsired. Having assembled the cart and taken his
S~st, the procession (preceded BY Cast N,rvels com
7i1F 81 artillery snd Cap; Ayress company of Rife
Grrgs-) EHuTed fnrvsriro the place of execution.
siS,tc tosni bali re from the jail in rarine sur
-au-seS ~ s--hI eun;lsrces Here also syus, crowd
St5 saGlrciel tzi ]; as with some diScnbv ,h.t
Shs vr'eC-3 mass co-25 b. Sroksa 50 ssto omen
pRsstnts ID 1hs rslavs TbH --ssa7S- s.s .c>S-,...
u'rn n Ii,s nEr1 ny he S.sE. Cbrs EK. E.r .; H.
hlatiIunst tiDsrnnH CSiIU-cn. The S-r W.
tintEnmha, oi ,tiIc -Ass"CIG1ru Etthnalcr ma "a.
Lev i. l. BUasB nj Ehe Rac1ut Pr..5irr-s-7a-ss
snniIt lIaii atEar q ctucE. me Ret Ny gIJp--rr
Enn1nircau the TniIsIDus usi rr apri -
ras'n,ss ny singing ant DruyiHs nut rfts-wu-ds II
,Ip
IsacItnu m annIu ftsiTnn HnG IuTrnJ-u-. ss--
nIrI.- tie T'as Imiinwsn by llr Bntunmnn, II 4 ut
hEsitc ctnurtattn from muuY .-,s
-Iea't uisSN 10 'Iis' n ttlIis mu0G hte s.uuyl h.
i:cG-UIs followed ~ Singing hvmr und nv mn s4-r
IS praysr To tile lruns NJ Craze, iIl T. nut pnIr
81 nin VINO sinnu te LiTTeHiIuiu uf ale-u1rr
aDi1 l" launch iiH pu- nn that ant uIgt-lt..
Gr.iI nIissen ny mn-tu eye NJ liz. crowd
o. sD":tntOTs VIM sLuDo uruGlnG- rnziip s2ros z-,
lnnisr-nrs, others witt hsu-tIsns IeT3iT but the
FsEt II 1oritF WITH evident interest, q tie ta.iog
seens before t.leaa.
EBe religious services concgIed, The prisoue,
s4oc< bsGds nth ne Rev Clergy and win man.
of his Old scqnansncss Who prosfcd around the carl
Tor tic purpose Of bidding him last fareweIl and
them taking his seat appeared to be deeply absorbed
Tor few moments 10 prayer TO the Father Of Spirs
About J O'Clock, he s:Gnifed to the Town Serge
hiss readiness for The last of the affecting tragedy
His hands and feet were then. is customary tied
togeher the former behind him, and the rope adius
TED 10 IN" Transverse beam of the gaows; when with
camncss and indifference, euuaIled ONLY bv il,
hrmness, he pulled of HIS shoes, stripped of his coat
partially unbu' toned his vest. and unfastoped the
collar OF his shrt-and then, with mistaken STEP
mounted tho scafsld While the cap was Icing prc
pared, to conceal his face when the agony of death
should conVulse his features, he was engaged with
uplftsd eyes and wit great earnest ness in audible
pfayer, which continued until his visaae was almost
entirely hidden from As aa instance of his
calm, heroic forttudc, we NAV rela a circumstances
winch now ook place. The Sergeant had turned aft.
for the purpose of letting the drop fall when Jones
called u nm and with manner and tone which
on would have used under the most Ind ff,r.nt CIR
Gums, ancrs, asked him draw the cap lower so a.
10 conceal his mouth more efectually!-Eyerv thing
being now ready, the drop FELL and II. yonc broLrT
oh 70, instant, rush was made by the Spectators
towards the spot where the puor fellow Inv br, d.
were soon checked; and after few rooman,s Ionoys
was again raised on his feet a chair was handed ~
him, IN which lie sat down. drew the can frcrn L;s
face not muscle IF which, even It's color yya.
changed and asked for a drink Of water which Ia
wing drank, the rope was again adjusted and nItho,
ms feet and hands lied, he reascende1 no scsE
fold with very little assistance. A m mute moro ella n
sed the lrop again fe and Jones ased tn eErst
lie struggled scarcely an ins ont The only evidence
OF mortal agony which we behed, land We were with
IN very feV feet of birn,) were exhibited from Two
10 seven minutes after he had been suspended IN tho
t"rcnlng ana contfactons of his legs, and the auy
erIng Of his feet We learn TINT his neck Uae ~,
broken and he was therefore permitted To hang
within few minutes Of an hour. When he
BODY was cut down, it was delivered into the
hands oi his friends, who had carried to the spo,
'Se hsOIim"nls OF the grave, coffin and hcarse g.
u y moved of Immediately with the body VIC pre-.
sum" to The residence Of his father 20 or 30 miles
from this place.
We know not that we can better conclude this
pouce OF the execution, (aircady too long and pro
onoiy TOO minuteO than by quoting the following
extfact rom the description given in late French
paper OF the execution Of soldier in that kingdom:
ihus terminated The career Of man endowed
WI 'ne most unqgestonabe herosm, with a good
wnnstanding his crime, with aS,eling heart That
ne COMMITTED that crime while aboTing under par
uui INSANITY OF some species or other, VIC have not
much doubt. His end offered a remarkable contrast
20 those OF most persons who are executed II dis
played, along with the utmost Indifference for death
the truest piety and resignation which oh
heTsted Tor the moment all recollection of his crime
we sgain express our decided conviction that the
penalty OF DEATH though denounced upoo trnnsores.
sore by the jewish law, ought not TO be inflicted in
TINS enlightened oge, among civilized and nlor~if-l