Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-02
EXECUTION OF cLouGH

EXECUTION OF CLOUGH
Not aPPscalng the qualification generally experienced
the exhibition Of fellow beings dying agonies. did
not compose unit OF the twelve thousand who stood
around the eallows Of poor Clough We therefore, sent
srePorter TO furnish the particulars His Of tho
affair, however, Is not equal to the following admirable
sketch Tor which we are Indebted the Pennsy
| Philadelphia MteUigencer.
JOEL CLoUoH-THE Elk &c uTIoN.-Y Yesterday alter
noon. at half past two O'clock the Of the law
executed upon this unhappy young man. The spot
eesd was an open space, two miles this side o6 Mount
IRONY mo gaiiows was erected by the road side,
ciseiy where the woman, whose death witnessed by
Ciough was executed last July.
Upwards ottwelve thousand persons present. Al
an early hour tho roads leading the ground filled
with tho curious Fastening forward foot aud in veh
ces OF description About third Of the specta
tors and children. The neishboiiny woods
and the road side were lined with booths, &c. where the
usual exhibitions of drinking, gambling, &c. were pre-.
seDed to the eye in profusion.
AT twenty ininutee before o'clock, hollow square
was formed around the scaJd by battalion of infantry
consisting Of four FIVE hundred men, aud at half past
one the miserable criminal appeared. He seated
oe''oofh' ana accompanied by the Sheriff, Bishop
Doanc, the Reverend Messrs Wilmer, Moorchouse, Ash
ton Budd, Shepherd, and other gentlemen. the whole u.
der escort oil troop of cavalry.
C!ough asccnded the scafod with "A irm step arm i'm
arm with tho Bishop, and OF the gesomen
lie was dressed neatly in white; tho fatal rope coicd
around his shoulders His coun,enance haggard, his
eyes suhken and his whole appearance
mental anguish He cast his eyes hastily upon the as.
scrubbed multitude, and then seated himself in chair
handed by the Sheriff The religious services were open
ed by singing hymn. prayer and portion OF the
Episcopaiian service was then read by the Bishop. the
crlmidai and the clcrgymeh kneeng CIough made the
responses with great iervor but during The prayer
was dreaduliy agitated. He grasped the chair convul.
vey, and tho rapid change of his countc nance show
the severity OF his inward struggles Alter the prayer,
another hymn was sung during which Ciough leaned as
II utterly exhausted upon the shoulders of the Bishop
! lie re-seated himself and at his request, Mr. Dosne
read aloud his confession, Of which much has been said
1t is well written production. The facts rected were
principally as stated on the uia with the following ex-
cepuons He asserts that at time, he at least consi.
dered himself "a engaged to Mrs. Hamilton that she re-
ceTed valuable presents from him; accompanied him TO
the city and esc where freely admitted his attentions
and gave him full encourag ement. His whole soul was
devoted TO her; and he had every believe the
passion reciprocal.
Finally, hewever she became COOL cast him off, aud TO
use his language, sought admiration from others This
madened him. and he resolved upon her and
his own thinking that the wreck of his happiness entitled
him to sweep the cause of it from the world His love
says the confession, became vindicve hatred when she
was absent but III her presence his affection revived and
he was unable TO effect his deadly purpose To this
continued struggle he went New York plunged into
dissipation and vices and after losing all his money
turned yet desperate than ever He again irnpore1
MIS- Hamilton 10 marry him, and she refused. His po-
verify had increased the barrier But when she under
stood his situation, her kindness unlimited excepting
ony her positive refusal TO listen his addresses She Of
tered him whatever money she could command, her watch
and trnkes and behaved in way that proved The good
ness her heart and the sstery regard she had for him.
Upon her merits the confession is enthusiastic
All this had no effect upon his gloomy despair He
became sl more desperate in his feelings. On the fatal
DAY OF the murder, he was in his chamber lying down.
absorbed in bitter reflection, when Mrs Hamilton came
in TO cheer and advise him, surprising him physically ILL.,
lie ie that she was safe, and requested her to leave
in she ana so; but unhappily returned. He had risen
from the bed, and was sitting in chair overcome with
aintness. Mrs. Hamilton recommended TO him n lc
down again. he put his left over her shoulder for
support, walked towards the bed, and then lie saws con.
seriousness deserted him. He found that he had stabbed
her once; but with his about him. though Under
an uncomfortable impulse, he repeated the blow "aoain
again, and again!" He did call her into the room az
stated Afterthe murder, he took laudanum "whch had
no important effect"
The confession was rather long, and touched upon ma
ny subjects; his desire to lead moral thou gh not re
gous e his false notions Of honor and revenge: his
religious impressions and education eced by contact
with the pleasures and cares of the world secIaian de-
nunciation, theatres, dissipation, SC.
His farewell letter his bereft and aged mother was
then read and produced pow erul sensation The aw full
scene, and the melting pathos of the epse combined
brought tears into the eyes of many an occurrence not
frequent oil the execution ground.
Religious exercises continued Clough's reuue
who ascertained that still lew minutes were left him
The clergy then shook hands with him, embraced him.
and reTed The parting painfully protracted When
they were gone, and the Sheriff came forward Cloupb
rallied; he was perfectly calm and collected; of
win his arm the length Of fall which he desred examn
ed the astenings and had them altered arranged the
moose; and, in fact, directed the whole business Hi,
hands we're lied at the wrist, he directed The fatal
cap was placed his head, and he launched into
eternity. The fall so tremendous that he died with
OIL, struggled slight SILVER was all that marked the
termination.
Thus ended the of Joel Clough by a sentence
the justice of which he repeatedly acknowledged i'm his
confession His YOUTH graceful department., the cause
ms crime, and personal advantages created strong
ing in his fvo but that lac deserved his fate no one
deny
We learn, that he baptsed few days since after
his ecspture by Bishop Doane aad truly assiduous
IN ms religious exercises until the last He con-
essed that before his evasion he had neither prayed
realised his condition.