Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-07-07

his attending oiliocrs, was conducted
from the JAIN TO the place Of execution,
escorted by company ef cavalry.
commanded by Capt. w. S. McPher-
son /; company Of artillery, under the
command Of Capt. 8. Carmack; and
a company of infantry. under the
command Of Maj. J. NJ. Shelman.
/ The Rev. ID. f. Schelier seized the
&c aston to address the crowd on the
danger OF induls,pg in the vices 81
gaming, drunkenness and dcbaucbery.
lie described in plain, emphatic aud
glowing language, the career of the
unhappy man. whose doom the specta-
tors had come 10 witness how b..
had been led from the path Of rectituJe
into the haunts Of immortality aud vice:
how he had advanced step by step
IN the road to ruin, which led him.
finally, TO the fatal scai1old, on which
he was exposed. an object Of horror
and pity To his fellow creatures. 10
short, he drew such picture Of sin and
ITS consequences, A. we'll in this world
rs IN the wofld to come, as was calcu-
lated to make deep and abiding i'm.
A
against serious reflections. After MIR.
Schctfer had finished his sermon, the
Rev. Mr.. Winder addressed the throne
of Grace, in a solemn aud impressive
prayer. The prisoner was then con
Quoted from the seat he occupied on
the soafloid, TO the platform under the
gibbet. where the rope was adjusted
about his neck and the cap drawn over
his face. His spiritual attendants and
the officers then took leave Of him, BY
shaking hands, after which the drop
fell and hewas launched into eternity.
Mark!ey persisted To tho last in pro
testing his innocence Of the crime oI
which he was convicted. He was over
and over warned, by his spiritual advi-
ser, Of the propriety of making a full
confession OF his crimes, whatever they
may have been, as we'll to demonstrate
his compunction, humility and repe n
lance, as to guard his fellow creatures
against the indulgence Of the malig-
nant passions which are believed to
have been his ruin. But to the very
last moment Of his existence, he So
lemnly averrcd he was not guilty.
Whatever momentary Impression
may be made upon the mind by this
conduct Of the sufierer-whateyer
doubt Of his guilt may arise, no one
can entertain n rational doubt Of his
guilt, who recurs TO the testimony uu-
der which he was convicted. Ii was
! a strong, connected, conclusive series
: Of circumstances, which the under.
| standing could not resist.
| From the time of his conviction to
the day Of his execution, Markley re-
tanned perfectly healthy state Of BODY
and mind, and 70 the evening preceding
the day Of his execution. ate his meals
with hearty appetite. His body was
strong. athletic aud healthy; and it 10
the opinion of those who had opportu-
mites Of Judging, that he was cndued
with vigorous mental faculties. His
dcmeanor was uniformly civil, mild
and frank. He protested to have been
early instructed in the doctrines Of
Christianity, and to entertain a belief
: therein.
! IL is believed that Matkley enter
tanned hope Of being rescued from the
hands OF justice, and hence is Inferred
the general compOsure of his mind.
I Circumstances conspire to lead to such
belief The night previous 10 his
exec ution, lac desired to he left alone.
instead Of desiring, as would seem la.
iaral, 10 have the society of his spiritu
al guide, to whom he appeared " be
much attached.
After tie body had been inferred.
she physicians tsok il op for dissection,
.sAd We understand the head will be
applied to testing the science Of phre.
nolosy.
To The Public Relative TO John .Nark1ey.
We, the undersigned, being called.
IN the providence Of God, to attend
JOHN Markiey, during his imprison.
ment. from the day Of his being sen.
fenced to die 10 the day Of his execu.
ton, do certify to the public at large,
that the said criminal. though repeated
~ and faithfully urged to do so, never
made any confession or disclosure
whatever, relative TO the bloody deed
for which he suffered the penalty Of
the law. Even a moment before he
was launched into eternity, MIR. Scbnf.
fcr solemnly Intercepted him OF the
subject, adding the former warnings
against the fatal consequences offalse
" denying the charge, but without
effect. IL is true that he has left A
history Of his life, nearly in his own
langusge,in the hands Of Mr.. SehnIfer,
who detected him in a variety oG con
Trajectory stories. but without admit
ting. his knowledge Of, or participation
IN, the murder of John Nswey and FAM.
] W.
This history has not been Given a.