Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-20
Samnsru Er.su.i MN K,n,uc,u.


The Cincinnati Republican gives the Particulars
of strange and shocking nifiir in Kcntueky-the
deliberate execution, 10y body of 500 men. Of Two
individuals confined IN jail on charge Of attempting
TO commit murder. We copy the details, for which
there can be no excuse. They exhibit A gran,
invasion of the majesty OF the law, and bring dis.
grace upon the country. The Clergyman, who
oiiciated, must have been wonderful character.
FSosIhs Cincinnati Republican yulvI
MANrHE AND CoUCH-NoST EXrRAoRDIS,Ry
TRANSACTION.
Our information yesterday in regard to the .ur, .
mary execution OF these men, turns out TO he cor
rec and MS this case presents the most extraord,nn
~ features, more 30 probably than have ever beo,
been witnessed IN this, any other civilized conn
Try, we propose to give the details We have receiy
ed them from highly intelligent; citizen OF Ken,uc-
KY, who has conyersed with several that were ny,
sent at the execution. The statement, we believe
may be relied upon, being as nearly correct as will
lie published.
Maybe and Couch had been condnej in IN. ;,I
a. Wllams;own IN Grant county, Ky. Tor the las,
three or four weeks, charged with, and no doub,
guilty. OF, the attempt 20 murder Mr. Uuerhack the
DrOvsr an account OF which we p,,bli.bsd a, d.
time. Mr. Ouerheck, n seems, has been lingering in
a miserable s'ate-hIs throat having been bnrrIbI q,
manslet,-et tavern some three or four miles he.
yond "I!i!amstown on n much travelled road, and
an o1'ct OF cOmmiseratOn with every passcr by
AAE - VI tle adjoining IN
Grant, and where the excitement has been Increasing
ever since the attempt to murder him. IL helms
now probemaucal, however, whether Mr. Utterback
might not surrVve,-although 10 such restored SIT.
uauon as 20 be neither useful to himself nor fellow
m, n,-the uncertainty Increased whether the nj.
most penalty OF the Law would be visited up,n IN,
prisoners, nothing less than which, II seemed wcuId
pacify the people OF Bourbon. MANY of the c.,f, ~,
oi mat county, therefore, deliberately resolved up
on Tho summary execution. They first depu' Ell
ten CITIZENS ofthe county TO visit WILLIAMSBURG ana
inform the CITIZENS OF the place, and the prisoncr
particularly, that at such time the PRISONERS ycr,
10 be executed. This notice was thirty six hour,
previous 10 the actual execution, and n g ergvn,,r
was also sent, and actually went to the PRISON 70,
religions converse with the prisoners
On Saturday last IN pursuance OF the notice
about five hundred citizens OF Bourbon, 10 which
were added some from Scott and Harrison counties
c'he INTO "N'ilmstown m solemn procession ana
most perfect order. They had chosen their Sheriff
to act TOR Tie occasion, and proceeded to the a nd
demanded the prisoners, Maybe and Couch Til,
Sheriff Of Grant refused TO give them up. ar m,
keys OF the prison: he offered however no other re-
sistsnce, and the people at once broke omen IN,
doors. They then took the prisoners, placed then
m an open wagon, their irons on them took IN tn,
line OF march without the least noise OF confusion q
the spot OF ground where the murder was attempt
ed, about four miles distant. By this time the mum
Der assembled was believed 70 have been al lcns
two thousand. After arriving on the ground. MIR
Oljarl, member Of the bar, addressed the reonI,
Tor some time upon the Dropiiety Of permitting In,
aw to take its course. lie was listened 10 with IN,
utmost silence and respect, hut without apparent
" altering the determination Of a single person nre
sent The premIniries were then adjusted, and
the prisoners asked # they had any thing TO saw pre-
vious to the closing OF their earthly accounts one
OF them, Maybe, addressed few remarks to H.,
people, admitted the cOmmI,s Of the act for which
they 20 suffer, denying, however, that il wa,
ms wish TO commit actual murder. Religious ser
vice was then performed by a clergyman present
and Maybe and Couch were hung IN their iron.
upon tree slnndln- over the same spot where then
crime wos committed. Rude Collins were construct
ed aud there they were buried. The crowd ther
dispersed n the same perfect order.
When we ado, that one Of the criminals, Nav.
the, hos been long known by many citlzsns Of Ohlc
and Kentucky a man of VIGOROUSLY bad charnc
ter-having been confined at different times and cs
c ped from the Penitcniiiiios Of both States-w,
have stated oil the facts, and whatever there may b,
Of pailIaung nature, IN this case.