The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-04-25

This new outrage filed the inhabilant:
with resentment, and reached the ears o
lhe executive Gov. Clinton, on the Bis. o
October, who pursuant 10 a motion Of the
Assembly, issued proclamation Offering
reward of Sl2e0 for tho apprehension oI
Claudius, and $500 for his sons Richard
and James Smith This had The effect de-
sired. number of persons bapded iogelh.
er, headed by one THUS, a powerful man,
Of much daring, and Sc, out for the place ol
Smiths rendezvous; but the latter had gone
10 ". Y. and Titus and his parly followed.
rhey learned that Smith was at a certain
place OH Long Island and repairing thIlher
n the evening found Smith al Tory dance
Smith being apprised Of their approach, es-
raped before the house could be surround
ed. He fed to anolher place on the Island
and Titus and his associates. nothing daun.
ed, again sought him out. They cautious
jy surrounded Ihe house, and Titus with
others repaired Instantly, but silently, 10
lhe chamber where Caudius was sleeping
With brace Of pistols by his siJo. Titus
grasped him, and with one eaor' jerked him
from the bed before he could seize his arnJ
He was Immediately overpowered, iirmly
bound. 81 conveyed to boat, from whence
he was conducted 10 Peughkeepsit, and
lodged in the Jail at that place on Thursday
November 10Th lie had his trial before
The Supreme Court, sitting al Goshen,
Orange county, on three indictmenls--one
of which was the murder of Major S!roug,
and On all he was found guilty. He conduc.
ed himself with firmness during the trial
and when asked il he had any thing 10 say
in bis defence, he replied, No; if God
Almighty can'I change your hears | can,
not
He was confined in the Goshen jan
manacIel and chained to a ring in tie hoot
while the Jail was closely guarded By par
ues Of the inhabllaui5--lar they were ap-
prehensge lhas an aU,m l would be mad
To rescue him. The order WIS green to
shoot Smith il an attack cpon the prison
was Ikely 10 succeed II his liberation. a.
length the day appointed for his execution
January %. l779 arrived, and crowd
hocked to see the exit ofa man whose nam
had Cug spread terror throughout tho coun
try. Saith with two other crimna9-
Gordon, convicted Of horse stealing, ant
De La Mar, of burglary were led forth to
me gallows
Claudius was dressed in a sui, Of broad
cloth, with silver buttons, with his large
form and manly air preseated noble aP-
pearance While walking to the place OF
execution, he was observed to gaze intent,
ly towards the hills, east OF The lown, 10 see
(ss was lbOughU if his comrades were ns'
coming to his rescue, for he had haraored
throughout, he idea that he should be pre-
served by some such inrorposiIon. Nont
appeared, however, and lie ascended the
gallows with a firm step Casting his
Ieyes about he bowed to several whom be
knew in the crowd. At this moment Il
man approached Claudius, and desired hin
10 tell him where he should find certain val
liable papers which he had absracIed from
his house upon a certain oc Caslon. Clan
dius replied lh&t that was no place to tall
Of such things, and gave him no satislac
lion. TO show how perfectly hardens'
his wve lched man was, il Is auhentcslIy
stated that on the galows he kicked off ti
shoes, with The observation that his moth
sr had often told him iha, he would die llk'
4 cooper's horse, with his shoes on, bu
hat he would make her a liar. When til
cart was drawn from under, he swung Il
and fro perfectly straight. determined a
WAS supposed 10 evlnce no feeling whe
ne twilched liIlle, aud exhibited signs o
lie after he had hung long Time.
Thus died a man whose abilities if right
y directed, would have raised him to EN-
nence and greatness. Notwithstanding hi
ife of inramy CIaudn' had some gener
Gus qualities ami il is said that the poe
! man found him friend ready TO share bo,
p his meal and his purse, and i. is believe
u that much of what he abslracled from NJ
unallhv lie healnweh nnnn the indipen