Litchfield enquirer., 1845-11-27
DREADFUL TRAGEDY,

Execution cfthe supposed .sf,wderes 0f Col Dau-
 enport = -Conf nfession of one of the Cuiprits.-
 Shcchtrg Catastrophe
 The Chicago Daily News gives thrilling ac- count of the execution of John Long. Aaron Long. and Granville Young, on the 25th ot October, at Rock River, Illinois. for the murder of Col George Davenport. We make the suboined extracts:
 "At II o'clock the guard formed in hollow square before the jail. and marched to the galluvs where they were dismissed until after dinner. Mu- sic by the Green Mountain Boys, composed ex- pressly for the occasion. At 1 o'clock the guards again formed in front of the jail, when the prison CTS were brought out, and conducted in solemn pro- cesson, with music, to the gallows. Ehe guard then formed in a hollow square about the galows, whhe the prisoners ascended the scafiold and took
 heir seats with the Sheriff. Several other gentle men also ascended the scaffnld. say other gentle
 men, for the prisoners appeared very much like gentlemen. They were well dressed, and up 10 II is time scarcely any emotion wasvsible in their rountenances But after sitting while, a slight paleness seemed to overshadow their faces, as they looked upon the crowd, and upon the appar. ratus before them. Strange would it be if their hearts did not sink in that hour The Sheriff ad- vanced and read the order for their execution :; .iter which he remaiked that f the prisoners wish. 1d to say any thing. opportunity was given.
 [John Long then arose the Sheriff having pre- viousy unbound his arms) and made few remarks, confessing his own guilt, but contending most ear nestly that his fellow prisoners were innocent. He was followed by his brother Aaron, and Young, each of Shom protested his own innocence. John Long came forward secoad time and addressed the multitude as folows:l
 Ladies and Ccntlemen--My friends have made quite short speeches Twill now state why came uut as did, with confession ot this affair. When 1 lay in my dungeon, chained down with my fellow prisoners, could hear on the one side the most awful curses. and on the other could hear these men who are now on the scafEold, calling on God to have mercy on them, and asserting their inno. cence. Could endure that No. gentlemen, knew that they were innocent, and that 1 was guilty; and determined to tell the truth about the matted l did so wrote confession, show ing the innocence of these men. but it was not permitted to be published. Why was this' The people here did not want those abroad 10 know that they were going to hang innocent men. ] wish you all, and especially the young men who are within the sound of my voice, to look at me and take warning, for Lave been for the past five years a very bad man. Up to the year 1s4o, nev- CT wronged man out of dollar.
 1 The way first came to commit crime was this In the year lSi0, became acquainted with Alan l son Hodge. He prevaied on me to circulate some counterfeit money. continued this business t:yo d of the business l could not think of returning to work for living, so went to robbing. Since that | time have robbed many-l have made business of it. l am robber by profession: but am true | to the cause You have heard il said, most of you that John Long IS very cruel fellow. But sol l emnly declare that the murder of Davenport was the only time when any person was hurt m any o u.y robberies. And when have stood before mel, with my pistol cooked 10 prevent them from mak ing an opposition. they have been as safe in my hands as if had been appointed guard to protect their lives. So far from being so cruel as you may think. my accomplices will say that have always stood on the side of mercy; and in the robbery of Davenport. (afier he was accidentally shot,) my self went down and got pitcher of water, and gave him drink, and placed it by his side.
 Iconsider that my friends here, Aaron and Young have been peculiarly unfortunate. They have no had justice done them. We have all been tTied and convicted without having the rights which the Constitution guarantees to us In the first place we were brought here and tried. without giving us lime to get witnesses any thing else. The coun sel who were assigned to Us by the Judge, and who, must say, came forward and did their duty most noby. asked tor continuance in order to pro cure witnesses, which was denied by that inquisi toTial Judge.
 Next Mir. Young requested separate trial which was refused. We also made an affidavit sta ling that we believed fbst could not get justice done in this county, and prayed for change oi We nue which was also denied. All these thing were denied US. and we were hurried on to OUT tri al, with an overwhelming amount of talent agans us. As far as am concerned do not mind it, Would to God that my three sccomplices in gull stood beside me instead of these innocent men, How can you consent to let two men be hung for crime of which they are innocent! lt IS your dut to take these iwa men from the scafiold. FeSru | them from an unmerited death. tell you, gentle men, that what say is true. and feel h my duty [ stand up here long as the law allows me to live and uttess lO the innocenes cf these men. (EieT0