Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-21
DEATH OF WILLIAM STEWART AT
THE PENITENTIA

We announced few days ago tha'
the death of VIM. Stewart. convicted o.
the murder of his father, was daily expec.
ted. He closed his mortal existence on
Saturday morning about ii o'clock
The young man has been confined in the
Maryland penleEtiary not quite seven
years, it being about that time since the
dreadful deed was perpetrated, which
caused his arrest and subsequent convlc-
ton Of murder in the I'd degree, which
consigned him within those solitary walls
for the term of Is years. His health
was doubtless broken before entering the
institution, as we learn he has been deli
cate all the time he has been there, inclin-
ed TO pulmonary affection, which dis
case has at length sent HIM to an early
grave. Stewart, we learn, has proven II
most excellent prisoner--very industri-
GUS and attentive 10 all the departments
OF the institution with which he has been
connected, so much so as to gam in an
especial degree the confidence and ailec.
tlonate regards Of the keepers who have
had him particularly in charge. He has
exb bited a most remarkable tacituFn dis.
position during all the period Of lis con.
tiaement, never speaking unless spoken
to, and then merely making the necessa-
ry reply; and perhaps with single ex-
ception, had not denied or acknowledged
ais guilt. He has not been able to work
much for some time, and for TWO months
or more has been in the hospital.
Though his mind has been given to the
subject OF religion more or less during the
greater part Of his confinement, it has on
y been since his last sickness that he has
been enabled to express his confidence
that his peace has baon made with his
God, through the merits Of his Son, Jesus
Christ, during which time he appeared TO
have enjoyed grea, peace of mind, and his
aSseveraton OF his innocence oil the crime
with which he has been charged, either as
having participated directly or indirectly,
or as to any knowledge who did the deed,
have been made by him over and over
again. This is truly remarkable case.
The circumstances by which he was sur
rounded were overwhelming, and yet the
interviews had with the prisoner in view
Of his approaching end, have been such as
10 impress not only his highly respected
spiritual instructor, but all who have Wis.
tied him, with the conviction that his state.
mens were those OF truth. We understand
that he has expressed regrets that he has
exhibited the stubborn disposition he has in
former interviews with those VINO visite d
him, but he says he thought it was vain
for him to deny that which the communi
ty had made up their minds was true.
Since the above was written, we have
visited the Penltentiary, and conversed
upon the subject with the gentleman
warden, Mr.. Johnson, vino informs US that
on Saturday morning short time before
his death, Stewart sent for Mr.. Roberts
the deputy warden, and told him in the
presence of several others, that ne desr.
ed, in view Of his approaching dissolution
TO renew his protesta,lons of innocence
of the awful crime for which he had sc
long been suffering. He told Mr.. Rob
erts that he had not, directly or indirect.
ly, participated in the murder; and that
the first in;imaton which hs had that the
foul deed had been done, was through the
officers who arrested him at the steamboat
on the day he returned from the Eastern
Shore. He was asked if he susplcioneC
any person of being the perpetrator, and
after hestating short time, said, that he
had himself been arrested on suspicion
tried on suspicion, and convicted on sus
picon, and as he was about to appear be-
fore his God, and in view Of the great suf
ierings that he had undergone, he woulC
not let the name Of the suspicioned party
pass his lips, for fear that he might be as
innocent as himself. This conversation
took place about 8 o'clock, and at ii ht
died as the good man dieth, ia the tri
umph oil the Christian faith. He wa
buried yesterday morning at s O'Clock, il
the Trinity burial ground, on the Gay
street Road, and his remains were follow
ed to the grave by several officers of th'
institution and other persons. The servi
ces at the grave were performed by thu
Rev. John Wyatt, son of the Rev. DR.
Wyatt.-BaH. Clipper, July 2l.