American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-01-05
From the Albany Citizen.
A TALE OF ROW.

A TALE OF SORROW.
Names and places might be given, were it
necessary, in verfcation of the following facts:
A man of standing and property, named
Major VIM. W, Of Connecticut, was bless
ed with family of kind, intelligent, obedient
sons. Two of them-the eldest and best belo-
ved-early received each his portion and took
their several ways to distant portions of the
country, intent upon establishing themselves
in the world, and carving out their own for
tunes. They were each possessed of an excel
lent common school-Connecticut common
Standardization and were well calculated to
make their way in the world
They departed with fathers and mothers
blessing resting upon them, and were remem-
bered, with tears and earnest, hopeful suppl
cations before the throne of mercy, ere their
first day journey was ended.
A period of nine years rolled rapidly by, and
among the innumerable changes wrought dur
ing that time, was the removal Of Major W
from the land of steady habits-glorious, fond
ly remembered, ever loved Connecticut-to the
far west'-a comprehensive term, which means
any locality between Western New York and
the Pacific Ocean.
He was man of sterling character; a true
New Highlander: intelligent, persevering, hon
major dabbled much in politics, and being
good practical writer and speaker, in year or
two revolutionized the country i'll which he
was settled. Gratitude and political power
rewarded him first with seat in the State Lee
gislature, and second with the sherifhlty.
A better sheriff than Major W that
county had never been favored with. During
the first year of his administration the salutary
effects of his perseverance and good counsels
were seen and felt.
During the second year Of his official life,
notorious vagabond, known through the coun-
try as Bill Winchelseu, alias Caulkins, alias
Ford, and half dozen other assumed names,
after long course of petty crimes, repeated
convictions and escapes, was at length charged
with the preparation OF foul murder wi
dow, who resided a mile or two from the coun-
ty town, and who was reported wealthy, was
found early one morning in June lying upon
the floor of her barn, few rods from her house,
with her throat cut and her body awiuily man
qled with an axe. 1t was known that Win
chelsea had been at the house late the evening
previous, and that he declared he would lodge
there that night. Soon as the murder was DIS
covered, search was made for him, and he could
nowhere be found. Suspicion naturally set
tied upon him, and the hue and cry was given.
Sheriff W sent out his deputies and
strong posse, and accidentally receiving intOr-
nation which led him to believe the murderer
had fled down the Mississippi, he instantly set
out alone in hot pursuit. lie traced what he
believed to be the trail Of the miscrcant down
as far as St. Louis, and there lost it entirely,
and gave up the chase as trultleSs. AS he was
preparing to return. he was taken suddenly i'll
Of fever, and for many weeks lay in a half
delrious and very critical state. At the end
of that time he began to convalesce, and ere
long recovered SO far as TO DO able to return
home.
During his absence, Winchelsea had been
apprehended tried, convicted, upon proof SO
positive that the jury found verdict of"Guil-
ty of wiful murder" without leaving their box,
and sentenced to tie ignominious death of the
scaffold.
Major W reached home on the day APP
pointed for the execution. Being yet feeble,
he begged to be relieved from the painful duty
Of hanging the poor wretch, and it accordingly
fell upon one of his deputies.
The hour fixed upon for the dreadful murder
which the law has LOCALIZED came round, At
that moment messenger arrived to inform
Major w. that the deputy had fallen upon the
scatfold in an apoplectic fit, and that the exc
cution stayed his arrival. There was no alter
native. The sheriff, though weak, and totally
unfit for the terrible task, felt it to be his duty
to promptly obey the summons.
In few minutes a rolling, heavy hum, and
an unusual commOtion in the ranks of the thou
sands gathered to behold the shameful death OF
fellow creature, gave evidence of the arrival
of the sheriff. The culprit was dressed for the
grave, the fatal rope encircled his neck, the
cap, drawn over his face by the deputy before
the fit took him, at his request, remained as il
had been adjusted. a brief prayer was offered
up to God in behalf Of the poor wretch, whose
last minute had come, The clergyman and
the shsrih' then took him by the hand and bade
him farewell. All things were ready, The
vast crowd were hushed to breathless silence
With a sudden movement the sheriff cut the
cord, the drop fell and the murderer was hang
ing by the neck between the heavens and the
=, earth az
~ j lew convulsyo struggles, and all was over
Justice was satisfied The multitude dis
persed 20 their lomes.
But the tragedy had not yet reached its
close. .os
After hanging the usual length of time, the
body was cut down. to be delivered to the
physicians for friends the dead man had nont
no, not one. The sheriff remained to as
sist,in this last ceremony. One removed tht