Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-08
EXECUTION OF CLoUGH.

the execution Of Joel Clough for the
murder of Mrs. Mary Hamilton. The
extraordinary atrocity of the act, and
the circumstances attending the trial,
and the recent escape of the murderer,
had given more than common interest
to the execution; and at an early hour
in the morning of Friday, the streets
Of Mount Holly were crowded with per-
sons who had come to witness the end
of the unfortunate man.
The Rev. Mr.. Wilmer, and one or
two eligiouslaymen, were with Clough
all the night previous to his death. He
attended to their instructions until about
midnight, and then lay down and slept
composedly for about three hours
About 20 minutes past moon, the She
riff brought the culprit from the prison.
He was attended by the Ri. Rev. BIZ
shop Doane, Rev. Mr.. Wilmer, and
several other clergymen. He was
placed in an open dearborn, in which
were the sheriff and the clergymen,
and conveyed to the place of execution,
about two and half miles from Mount
Holly, near the Rancocus bridge. The
prisoner was dressed in white round
about, vest and pantaloons; his breast
was open, and in going to the place OF
execution, he requested one of the cler-
gymen to place a handkerchief over
his neck and breast to protect it from
the sun.
Five volunteer companies of infantry
were stationed round the gallows, and
a company of cavalry attended the Gull
prit from the prison to the place of ex-
ecution. Clough seemed through the
whole Of the painful ceremony, to be
calm and collected; he had manifested
a spirit of repentance while in prison,
and had received the rite of baptism.
administered by Bishop Doane.
About 20 minutes past one o'clock,
the prisoner arrived at the place of ex-
ecution; he descended from the dear
born without assistance, and having
taken leave of several persons whom
he recognized, he assembled the plat.
form and sat down in chair. Bishop
Doane, and Mr.. Wilmer of the Episco.
Ipal church, and Mr.. Ashton of Phla-
deIphia, and Mr.. Shepherd of Mount
Holly, of the Baptist church, and the
Methodist clergyman Of Pemberton, al
so went upon the platform. The APP
lproprlate service was read by Bishop
Doane, and prayer was made by Mr..
Wilmer. Bishop Doane then read a
letter from Clough to his mother, and
also the confession of the prisoner
Several hymns were sung, and subse-
quently there was sung the hymn COM
mencing,
When can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
| I'll bid farewell TO every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.
During the whole Of these solemn
performances, Clough evincod much
agitation, frequently rising from his
chair, moving about, wringing his
hands, &c. He took solemn and af.
fectionate leave of the clergymen who
attended him, about a quarter past two
O'Clock. The sheriff then adjusted the
rope, in which he was aided by Clough.
After the rope was placed over the gal.
lows, Clough desired that it might be
taken down-he then measured with
his arm the length of rope necessary
to allow him sufficient fall, and after
some other regulations, in all of which
the prisoner seemed to take an active
part, his arms were pinioned, and the
white cap placed on his head, and drawn
over his face. In this position he stood
few minutes, when the sheriff struck
down the support of the platform, and
Joel Clough was launched into eternity.
A slight muscular convulsion was all
movement visible in the body while it
was suspended. In about 80 minutes
after the execution, the body was taken
down and placed in a coffin.
Notwithstanding the immense NUM-.
berof persons assembled, (nearly twelve
thousand) there was no disorder to mar
the solemnities Of the occasion.
The CONFESSION ofMr. CIough,
written by himself, and read from the
scattold, to the surrounding multitude,
IN a remarkably distinct and impress.
slve manner, by Bishop Doane, embo-
died brief outline of his life, from his
infancy, to the period Of his imprison.
ment. In reference to the crime for
which he has suffered, he made some
disclosures which place the subject in a
different light from that in which it had
been heretofore viewed. He states.
after appealing to that God before whom
ne was about to appear, for the SINGER
lty OF his story, that Mrs. Hamilton had
made an engagement of marriage with
him. She subsequently, manifested n