Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-08-13
EXECUTION.
From ne Roeilnghan R,gi,,,y

Prom me Rockingham Regisier.
We have been politely furnished, by friend.
, with the following account of the behay ior Of
X. ID. HOY, from the time Of the commission
OF the crime for which his life was demanded.
up 10 the time at which il was sacrificed. The
writer visited the unfortunate man in his dun
geon frequently after his condemnation, and
was present at his execution.
EXECUTION OF HOY.
The readers ofthis paper probably re-
member some accounts published here
toiore, of proceedings against RoB'r ID.
Hoy, for the murder Of Margaret Smoot,
last fall. He was tiled at the Nav term
OF the Superior Court. The evidence
proved that the prisoner had entered the
dwelling of Mrs. s. on Sunday morning.
the 9th Of October, 1893, while the
family were preparing for breakfast, and
raising a gun TO his shoulder, told her
she must die" and fired. The unfor-
tunate woman died week aflerward.
II was proved, also, that the prisoner
had been drinking the week before.
and had been much irritated by little
disputes with his wife and her acouain-
tanceS.
The defence of his counsel was in
sanity, suggested by expressions of the
prisoner at the time, who said he had
KILLED her because She had killed his
wife, or tired TO do so" his wife, how
ever, was living and uninjurcd;-and
after his committal TO Jail, when the
excitement had worn Off he steadily
denied having any remembrance of the
murder, or any knowledge of the cir
cumstances which TRANSFERRED that seek.
When he was brought TO the bar. he
behaved with great calmness and com
Posure, evlncIng no signs either of fear
or OF great anxiety; neither was there
any thing OF that sullen indifference
which sometimes characterizes harden
ed offenders; he listened with attention
TO the indictment, and occasionally was
observed to look with severe scrutiny
IN the countenances of the iurymen
as they took their seats in the box
And when finally his sentence was
pronounced by Judge Smith, in a man.
ner that drew tears from many of the
bystander, the prisoner suffered NO
shadow OF change TO pass over his coun-
tenancc, and at the conclusion bowed
gracefully to the Judge as they were
leading him back to prison.
He was ably and cloquentIy defend
cd by Smith of Page, Sp'nuels of She
nandoah, and CLARK Of Rockingham
their only plea being, as have said
that the prisoner Iabored under some
morbid dclusion of the mind. The
jury returned a verdict Of guilty of
murder in the frs, degree he was.
accordingly sentenced 10 bc hung ON
the 1ith of July, and Friday of last
week was thu day of execution.
The morning was clear. and AZ an
early hour The town was crowded: the
heights around the Jail were covered
with spectators; and not less than fen
thousand persons, Of all grades and de-
scnPtions, were supposed TO have been
present. About ! / O'Clock the doors
OF the prison were thrown open, and
The officers OF justice appeared before
the gazing multitude with the prisoner.
He had declined being shrouded. and
had evidently paid some attention to
his appearance. Ills hair had been
carefully combed; his shirt collar vas
thrown over that Of his roundabout. and
loosely confined with a white cravat.
be- wore no vest, but exposed in its
stead the bosom Of plated shirt. this.
With white roundabout and panialoOns.
hne socks and new pumps. completed
his dress. lie was pale and weak from
long confinement, and bore in h nghi
hand a volume Of the scriptures. When
be approached tho outer door. BE- IN
clincd his head slightly a. the crowd
aud with wonderful dignity and firm.
ness approached the foot Of the cart on
which we're placed ihe cords and coffin.
Here he paused, observing a. 4 he va
ready 10 proceed; and on being inform
ed that he could not walk. he insisted
that be had permission 10 do so from
The high lheriG Happily, at this mo-
ment' sonie ope suggested that the road
vas muddy, upon which be placed hrs
loot on a char and with considerable
aiacrty leaped up into the cart.
The place Of execution was distant
from the jail about a mile, and 90 great
was the press 10 witness the spcctarie.
that with me greatest ificuify the carl
with tie PRISONER resched TIE SPOT
II bad been rumored abroad that the
prisoner meant 10 adfreas the aud;-
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