Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-07-14
DOMESTIC.
rl,E EXECUTION.
Prom the philadelphia SATURDAY B,,,ir.i,.

mail robber. the president having seen
fit 20 commute the sentence Of Wilson
to imprisonment for twenty years.
The gallows was erected on an open
lot Of about thirty acres, Immediately
adjoining Bush Hill. and as carly rs
FIVE o'clock in the morning, crowds Of
people were observed to be stationed
in the vicinity Of il, waiting for the
hour Of execution. As the morning
advanced, the crowd increased, and by
9 o'clock as many rs fifteen thousand
individuals had assembled on the
ground. They continued to arrive in
large numbers until about ten O'clock,
when a dense mass Of human beings
half covered the field. amounting, We
should suppose. with what afterwards
assembled. to forty thousand specta-
tors, Of which not less than two thou
sand were women, some Of whom had
infants in their arms.
After standing for several hours in
burning sun. it was announced that
Porter Was approaching. On looking
towards the city, a cavalcade that fill
ell up every avenue 10 the gallows,
was seen drawing near, envelopcd in
a cloud Of dust, which. rs it partially
blew aside, only served to make the
crowd appear more dense. They came
on at slow pace. attended by throng
Of officers and guards. Porter was
seated in a cart, upon his coffin, and
looked around upon the immense mass
of people without any uncommon con-
Germ. He wore shabby black hat,
the remainder Of his dress being cover
ed beneath large white linen gown.
The halter was round his neck, and
his arms were slightly tied together at
the elbows, behind him. The hang
man rode in the same cart, disguised
in ragged suit Of prison regimentals,
and an old straw hat; hi. face was
covered with thick green veil.
The cart was preceded and followed
BY the marshal, his officers, the whole
Of the city police, with troop Of cav
airy in citizens dress, and a body OF
marines from the navy yard joined the
procession at the gallows. At ten o.
clock precisely. the culprit reached
the Rsllows, and in few minutes as.
cended the platform, accompanied by
the Rev. Mr.. kemper. Of the Episc o
pal church, who had attended him
since his conviction, and several other
clesgymeu.
| The religious services of the oeca
sion. were then begun by the whole OF
the group kneeliDg to pray. which oe
cupied about twenty minutes. In
these exercises the culprit joined with
great apparent sincerity. and when he
rose, stood with firm and manly front.
looking round upon the concourse
Which filed the view on every side.
He looked subdued in spirit. aud ap-
Peared to be fully aware Of the horrors
Of his situation. though in passing own
the prison steps 10 enter the cart lac
walked with cheerfuIness bordering
on hiIarity.
The attending clergy having con
cluded their duties, they each shook
hands with bin aud descended. The
marshal and the hangman then appear.
ed upon the platform. The hands OF
the culprit were tied together by the
latter at the wrists, the cap drawn over
his face, and the cord adjusted to the
beam above. Every thing being thu
lar ready, the death. warrant was read
by the marshal from the scaiiold, hay-
ing finished which. he left the prison
er alone upon the drop, he having no
wish TO address the spectators. lie
stood IN this position perhaps minute.
when the drop fell, and the wretched
man ceased 10 live.
lie died almost instantly. there DO.
ing but slight perceptible struggle.
The moment the drop fell, a tremen-
dous rush took place among the crowd, ,
from rumor that the rope had broke.
ana great confusion was the conse :
quenee. Women and young girls
were Knocked down, trampled upon.
stripped OF their shawls and bonnets.
and some of them, without doubt. Sc
verely injured. Several panics of thi,
KIND occurred in succession otter The
drop, and the rapidity with which the
alarm extended itself vas astonishing
The whole mass Of people were appris.
ell OF runner that Porter's friends in.
tended To rescue him, and to this cause
may DC principally attributed the vide.
dangerous, but wholly groundless a.
larm which existed. So great aud ir.
resistible was the rush, that the Won.
der - no lives were lost IN the onfus,oD.
The eulprit dropped At exactly half
after ten O'Clock, and the body was not
cut down until after eleven. lie fell
not less than four feet. nearly out Of
sight OF the crowd, and within two or
three ieet ct the ground. The spine
must have been efiectuslly broken. and
has sUlfernss only momentsry.
II must not be conc called that great
ana violent dissatisfaction not only