The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-06-03
EXECUTION OF MORAN.

Captain Thomas ). Smith, Oi the schooner
William Writ, took place yesterday morn
ing between IL and IL o'clock, under the
direction Of the United States Marshal for
the District The spot selected for the pur-
pose was in the rear of Bush Hill, where
Porter was hung few years since. AL
though the case had previously excited very
little interest, the multitude assembled to
witness the ignominious death of criminal
was immense. The great area in which
the gallows was placed, was crowded with
dense mass of human beings extending as
far as the scaffold could be seen. Vehicles
of every kind were brought into requisition,
and throngs of horsemen were interspersed
throughout the assemblage, which is said to
have been nearly twice as large as that
drawn together to witness the fate ofPorter,
and no doubt the greatest congregation of
people ever known in the vicinity of Phila-
delpha. Even the roofs of distant build
ings were covered with spectators. 1t was
observed with regret that large number of
females were on the ground, many of them
respectable in appearance, and some had
even brought young children with them to
gaze upon the dying agonies Of the culprit!
At a little before IL o'clock, the melancho-
ly procession left the Cherry Hill Prison.
Moran, accompanied by the Rev. Mr..
Hughes and the Rev. Mr.. Kenrick, who
administered the consolation Of religion to
him, walked firmly in the rear of the wagon,
which contained the eXecutioner and the
coffin. The U. S. Marines marched in
front, with the carriage containing the Mar
shal and other gentlemen, and the whole
was brought up by the mounted marshals
and the posse conlitdtuS summoned for the
occasion. s.,s
On the scafold, Moran presented the
same composed but becoming demeanor for
which he had been remarkable from the
commencement of the trial. He seemed
engrossed with his religious exercises, Civ
ing the responses in a firm, distinct voice,
and never cast a glance upon the multitude,
or seemed conscious of their presence. He
ascended the steps steadily, and not the
slightest tremor was manifest. The neces-
sary preparations being completed, he bade
adieu to those by whom he was surrounded,
and in answer to1a whispered inquiry, re-
ready" when, which rapidly and ferven-
tly repeated a'Prayer for mercy upon his
soul, the fataltrap fell, and he was launched
into eternity! The struggles of the unhap-
py youth were much more violent and pro-
tracted than is usual on such occasions,
and for some time after he fell, the convul-
sive heaving of the chest, and motion of the
limbs, showed that vitality slowly left the
frame. After hanging the usual time, the
body was cut down, and conveyed to the
place of interment.
If any thing had been wanting to convince
us of the good sense Of the Legislature, In
providing that the sentence OF death for
crimes against the commonwealth of Penn
sylvania should be privately executed, the
scenes OF yesterday. at Bush Hill were
enough, and more than enough, to satisfy
us of the wisdom Of their conduct. From
first to last, the behavior of the multitude
was of the most tumulmous and disgrace
full kind. Long before the prisoner came
upon the ground, the police force stationed
to preserve a clear space around the galows,
were almost exhausted with their continued
efforts 10 repress tumult and keep back the
crowd; while many of the people, by their
shouts of derision. yelling and laughter, ap-
peared to view the whole matter as nothing
more than food for mirth. After the corr
tege had arrived, and the unhappy Moran
was just trembling on the verge Of eternity,
the riot and tumult became still worse. The
clamor was deaGening; and although the Mar
shal, aided by the military force, the police
and the citizens whose services were in re-
QUESTION, did all that could be done to pre-
serve order, yet the mob seemed determined
to bid defiance to any thing like restraint,
and by their immense weight almost bore
down every thing before them, fighting,
quarrelling and shouting in the most outra-
geous manners After the body of the cul-
prit was taken down. and the procession was
forming to return, scramble for pieces of
the fatal rope ensued, which drew loud Kisses
and yells from the bystanders; and before
the officers were fifty yards from the spot,
the gallows and scaffolding were overthrown,
probably to furnish relics like the rope.
Nor was disorderly disposition manifest
ed only on the execution ground. The
body of Moran, being placed in coffin,
was carried in a car to the place ofinterment,
accompanied by officers. On the road, the
horse fell, and was disabled; but, as the dis
tance was short, the car was then drawn bv
men. A part of the mob followed, pelting
them with missiles of every kind, and in