Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1846-03-04
IA Tale q sorrow.

and obedient sons. Two Of them 1.-The
eldest and best 5eloved-eally received
each his portion, and took their several
ways 10 distant portions Of the country,
intent upon establishing themselves in,he
world, and carving out their own fortunes
They we're each possessed Of an excel
lent common school Connecticut common
Standardization; and were well calcu.
lated to wake their way ID the world
They departed with fathers and a
mothers blessing resting npon them, and
were remembered with tears, and earnest,
hopeful supplications before the throne Of
mercy, ere their first days travel was
ended.
A period Of niue years rolledrapidly by,
and among the innnmerable changes
wrought during that time, was the reno
val of Major w from the land Of
steady habits glorious, fondly remember
ed, ever loved Connecticut--to the star
West"-a comprehensive term, which
means any locality between Westesn N.
York and The Pacific ocean.
He was m,n Of sterling character; a
true New Englander; intelligent, perse-
yering. honest, shrewd. and uithal little
ambitious. The Major dabbled much in
politics, and bring 90 d practical writer
and speaker. in year Or two revolution
lied the county in which he was settled.
Gratitude and political power rewarded
him first with seat inthe State Leeisla.
ture. and second with tie sheriilaily
A better sheriff than M+jor W hat
county had never been itvored with. Du-
rirg the frs Year of his administration
tie salnta,y effects If his perseverance
and good cann>eis were seen and iell
Dnnng the second year OIL Ills Off ial
life, notorious vagabond. known through.
the country as Bill Wine SEA, alias
Cankins, aIias Ford, aud u halt dozen
other names, after long ceHrsc of petty
crimes, ami repptesl convictions was al
length oh rsed with The cooperation of a
foul murder A widow. who resided mile
or two from The county ttWn. ard who
was reported wealthy, Was found, early
one Forming III June, Yang sanpon lie
floor Other barna few rods Ii. IN her house
With her thr"a, ca,. and her h ,sly awfnlly
tnanglrd ai;h anaxe Il Was klr,an that
Winchelsea had been al the house late The
evening previous, and tia, he deol red he
would .odge there that night. Soon as
the murder Was discovered, search was
made .or him. and he could no where be
found. Sn>picien naturally settled upon
him, and The hue and cry was given.
Sheriff w sent out his deputies
and strong posse, and accidentally re-
csiving information which led him TO be-
lievc the murderer had fled down the
Mississippi, he instantly set out alone in
hot pursuit. iIetraced hat he belle, ed
TO be on the s'trair' of the mi-cr cant d ,wn
as far as st. Louis, and there lost il en-
tireiy, and gave up the eh4se as frnit!ess.
As he was preparing to return, he was
taken suddenly III OF a fever, aud for many
weeks lay in half delirions and very
critical state. At the end Of that time he
begun 70 coIrvalesce, and ete long recov-
cred 50 lar as to be able to return home.
During his absence, Winchelsea had
been apprehrndrd, tried CON-, icted upon
proof SO positive that the Jury found a
verdict Of Guilty of wilful murder. !"
vita opt leaving their box, and sentenced
to tie ignotninon. death Of the scalfold.
Major W reached home on the day
appointed for the execution. Bring vel,
feeble. he begged 10 be relieved from the
painful duty OF hanging The poor wretch,
aud ii accordingly fell upon one Of his de-
Pnies.
The hour fixed upon for the dreadful
murder which law has legalzed came
round. Al that moment messenger arriv-
ed to inform Major W that the depu-
ty had fallen upon the scatIold in an apo.
pleptic tit, and that the execution stayed
his arrival. There was no alternative
The Sheriff. though weak, and tntslly un.
tit for the terrible task. felt it his duty to
promptly obey the summons.
Z In a few minutes rolling, heavy hum,
and an unnsnal comnotipn in the ranks Of
the thousands gathered to behold the
shameful death Of a fellow creature, gave
evidence Of the arrival Of ihx Sheriff. -
The c,llprii was dressed for the grave, the
fatal rope that enc,rcled his neck, The cap,
drawn ov,r his face BY the deputy before
The III to"k lin. 1t his reques-, remained
as il had been adjusted A brief prayer
Was offered up to Go. in behalf Of the
poor wretch, whose last minute, had come.
The clergyman and tie seriT then took
him ty The aand and b,d. him farewell.
All things wee ready. TIE vast crowd
were hu he'd to bIea,hless silence With
a sudden movement the sheriff cut the
cord, the drop FL, the murderer was
hanging BY the neck between HE heavens
and the earth.
a few convnlsive struggles and all was
over - Justice was satisfied. HE multi
tu3e dispersed 10 their homes.
Bai the tragedy had not yet reached
lis close.
After hanging the usual length, Of time
the body was cut dourl,' TO be delivered
tothe pii.siciass----tar friends the dead
man lad i,ane, no not one. The sheriff
remsiAed assist IN his last ceremony,
Ont removed The shoes. and another the
long gown, and the sheriff himself pulled
of The cap, The body was then lying face
A innnsnt after il was iurn-
ed over, and in the lived, distorted, ghast-