The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-08-04
MOST EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTION.

The facts that drover of Kentucky,
named Utterback, had been nearly mnr-
dered, and robbed, and that two men
named Maythe andsC Couch had been ar
rested on suspicion of being the perpetra--
tors ofthe outrage, were published in our
papers last week; and we now learn that
both the accused have already fallen vic
tins Of popular wrath, by execution.
without trial or even Indictment, and
while their victim was still alive, and the
possibility of his recovery existed. These
exu'aordinaryfacts were communicated
to the Cincinnati Republican by highly
respectable citizen of Kentucky, who had
the details of the transaction from several
persons who witnessed them; and from
that paper we gather the followingpar
lars. -.
AT the time of the execution, the priso-
ners hadsbeen in confinement in the Jail
in Williamstown, Grant county, KY, on
the above charge. Mr.. Utterback, it
seems, has been lingering IN a miserable
state-his throat having been shockingly
mangled-at a tavern some three or four
miles beyond Williamstown, on a much
travelled road, and an object Of commits
Grafton with every passer. by. He is a
citizen Of Bourbon, fhe adjoining county
to Grant, and where the excitement has
been increasing ever since the attempt to
murder him. 1t be ng problematlcal,
however, whether Mr., Utterback might
not survive although in such restored
situation as to be neither useful to himself
nor fellow ,mcn--the uncertainty increas-
ed whether the utmost penalty ofthe law
would be evisited upon the prisoners, moth.
ING less than which, it seemed would pacI-
fly the people of Bourbon. Many of the
citizens ofthat county, therefore dellber-
ately resolved uponthe summary execu-
ton. They first deputed ten citizens of
the county to visit WiIliamstown, and III
form the citizens of the place, and the
prisoners particularly, that at such time
the prisoners were to be executed. This
notice was thirty-six hours previous to the
actual execution, and clergyman was
also sent, and actually went to the prison,
for religious converse with the prisoners.
On Saturday, in pursuance of the no.
tice, about 500 citizens of Bourbon. to
which were added some from Scot and
Harrison counties, went into Williams
town in solemn procession and most per-
feet order They had c osen their sher-
ifs to act for the occasion, and proceeded
to the Jail, and demanded the prisoners,
Maythe and Couch. The Sheriff of Grant
refused to give them up, or the keys OF
the prison: he offered however no other
resistance, and the people at once broke
open the doors. They then took the pri-
soners, placed them in an open wagon,
their irons on them, took up their line OF
march without the least noise or confusion,
to the spot of ground where the murder
was attempted, about four miles distant.
By this time the number assembled was
believed to be atleast two thousand. AT
ter arriving on the ground, Mr.. OHara,
member of the bar, addressed the people
for some time upon the propriety OF per-
mtting the law TO take its course. He
was listened to with the utmost silence
and respect but without apparently alter
ing the determination of a single person
present. The preliminaries were then
adjusted and the prisoners asked if they
had any thing to say previous to the clo-
sing of their earthly accounts. One OF.
them Maythe, addressed few remarks %, @
the people, admitting the commissioning Of
the act which.they were to suffer, deny;
ing that it was. his wish to commit actual
murder. Religious services were then
performed by a clergyman present, and
Mayt and Couch were hung in their
irons upon tree standing over the same
spot where there CRIME was committed
Rude coffins were constructed and there
they were buried. The crowd then dis
persed in the same perfect order.
When we add, that one Of the crlml-
nails, Maythe, has been long known by
manv citizens of Ohio and Kentucky as a
man of VIGOROUSLY bad character-hav-
inp been confined at different times and
escaped from the penitentiaries of both
States-we have stated all the facts and
whatever there may be of paIllating ma
turc in this case.-N Y. Sun.
The Burning ofa World.--lt is not a
little remarkable that the predicted con-