Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-09-03
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER s, 1880.
From the Hiil,amsport Banner.
OF EBEtSEZER CUA.

EN-
We are indebted to the politeness OF gentle
nan of this place who was present yesterday the
9Th instant at the execution Ut Cox. at Charles
TOWN, Va. for the murder OfCOl. Dunn, late Su-
perintendent of the Armory at Harpers-Ferry,)
kr some notes from which We are enabled to pre-
sent to our readers an account, necessarily lm-
,erfect, Of the awful scene.
At half past l2 O'Clock Captain Hunters
Troop of Horse with Capt. Stewards company
Of infantry received the Prisoner at the jail. lie
walked short distance. and vas then placed IN
a barouche in company with two Reverend gen
tlcmen of the Catholic Church; hearse Contain
int his coffin being in the train. The procession
moved 10 the place ofexecution, which was an
amen lot situated at the east end of the town, be-
tween the Harper's-Ferry & Shepherds-town
roads. When arrived at the gallows, the Mill
tary formed a square around it, and the Prisoner.
accompanied by the Clergy. and the Sheriff,
IA les l.. Ransom, Esq. assembled the platform.
After religious exercises were performed, the
Clergy descended and left the sheriff alone with
the Prisoner Cox, with much hrmness, but
with tears of contrtion and sorrow, stood up and
addressed the Multitude. amounting to between
three and four thousand persons. He warned
Young men 10 guard against cards. drunkenness
and bad company; 10 observe and pursue the
salutary advice Of their parents. He said that a
total disregard of parental counsel Nd the ooser-
vance of i'll advice. had brought him to the awful
ulace on which he stood.
After the address, which lasted several min
utes, the Sheriff adjusted the fatal cord, and
having taken an afiectionate and feeling adleu he
descended from the platform. There standing
on the threshold Of eternity. Cox directed his
News Heaycnward Raising his pnioned hands
4. l. 10 al
time; and then he threw his handkerchief, be-
dewed With many bitter tear, from his hand as
l signal to the officer that all was ready. The
drop descendcd; the arms of the suspended crim-
inaI fell along either side of his body; conyul-
sive motion Of the chest was observed, and the
forfeiture of life for life was paid.
After the expiration of twenty minutes, the
cnrpse was lowered into its coffin, and delivered
10 his friends, whose purpose was to remove it to
loudcu county for interment.
On the night preceding the execution Cox took
no rest. Tne ministers Of God were with him,
and he received from their hands the holy sacra-
ment. both on Thursday evening and Friday
morning. He left written confession, which
he said he would be willing to seal with his
blood in which he implicated seven other men
as advisers to the deed for which it was his lot
TO suffer. 1t is said that those persons have ab
seused themselves. In his address from the
scaifdld he made illusions to these evil advisers
as being the cause Il his dreadful fate. A fort
night before his execution he addressed a letter
10 the widow of the lamented Dunn, (which how
ever was never shewn To herr in which he ex-
pressed the most heartfelt sorrow for his crime,
ayerrng that if he had millions, and their sacri-
flee could effect it. he would give all for the res
toration of her husbands life; and that ifhe pos
.essed millions, he would give all to her and her
offspring. if indeed they could in any degree re-
pair their loss.
The conduct of this unfortunate being presents
varied& instructive reviewer OF frail human nature
Seven months AGO, instigated by the most fendish
passions, IN the open dav, and within hearing OF
wife and child, he entered the apartment OF an
estimabie man, and not only without provocatlon.
but without moments warning, made HIM
corpse upon the spot. The hardness of heart,
the blasphemy, the coid-blooded Indifference,
which he manifested on the occasion of his ap-
prehenson, procured for him the deserved cpl
tibet Of Il monster perfectly abandoned without
hope or desire of mercy, A few weeks ago, af
ter many months confinement in dreary prison,
with his horrd deed constantly ia view. We
heard of him in the hall of Justice, with deter
mined though pensive countenance, and very lit
i've tones of his Judge when upon pronouncing him
the sentence Of the law, did however move him.
and in secret he manifested the favorable effects
which were produced. And, in his last act, the
closing scene, we beheld him, who ever scorned
advice, giving counsel to his fellow creatures.
shedding pf peuitence and grief on count
Of his situati0n. and for his foles and his crimes
and imploring the mercies Of Heaven upon him
self and all men. Violated law demanded the
forfeiture of his life, and it was Justly paid
Christian charity has pleaded for him before that
August Tribunal to which he has been fastened
to give an account Of all the deeds done in the
body.
-&a9G6a>
8. The Little Red" is the nickname which
the Jackson papers have conferred upon Mr.. Sc
nator Barton. of Missouri. Little Red" has
now made his opponents look a lille BLUE.
W Y. Commercial
Five States have renounced their Jacksonism
II 4 l., No. -