The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-10-19

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During the recent cholera sickness in this
prison, The services Of the clergyman was OF.
ten in requisiton, VIII has given several
sketches OF the dying prisoners. The fol-
lowing is one OF the number:
While was in prison, the warden led me
to the bedside Of convict by the name OF
Shearer. was informed that he had former
" been one or two years a member OF the
State Legisla,ure-had stood very high in the
estimation Of his lellow-c -ciIizens-and, at the
time Of his eoPSiction, was surveyor ~ HE
county. He had been tried before the United
States Circuit Court, and on mere cireumsian-
tial evidence had been convicted Of mail rob>
bery, and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
The poor man dnew me, having heard me
preach in the prison.
'Sir,' said he, must die' +.
lie was then in collapsed staie--the
marks OF death were upon his cOuntenancel !
/ sat down by his rude couch and held hts
pulseless hand Long did ! endeavor to point
him to the Lamb Of God who taketh away
The sin ol the worlds His spirI grew calm
' and almost joyous, and he protested tina. the
y terrible sting was gone.
: Now said |, Shearer, you are perhaps near
i death, have you any word to scnd 10 your fam
Y ilyD
p sOh, said he, | Lave a wife and two chill
f dren--I wish could see them once more.'
y lie paused a moment, unable to 60 on. No
p doubt his thoughts we're at home, sweet home.'
n lie rallied and prOeeeded-'Tell my family
IS lnat am innocent OF the charge for which
d suffer,' isl aaa 4ssa a aa#
rs said to him, tMr Shearer, you are no" IL
! a tew minutes TO stand before that God who
ls will Judge you righteously there can be moth
II ing gained but everything lost by concealnG
the truth-do not utter at this solemn momen
Y. an unuuth' esaaaes ias 5
tn He replied, | know il all ! am about 70 g
before my Judge, and TO you, sir, | decla''
within dying breath, am Innocent
Never had such emotions. have stoo
by many a death bed-by the rejoicing Chris
ID ,ian and the desparing rebel-by the yOun
he and the nld---but this to me was the most i'm
,e. uressive. He had been one OF our law makers
nd had sent his influence from the Legisa
gs tive Tall TO the extreme borders Of the Stat
} had moved respected and beloved; yet theI
Oy he lay--a relon! dying Ielon's death !-abol
W, to have Ielons burial! and this, all this, vii
sh- strong probability of his innocence! And the
on all he wished his family to know was, that
led death-amid the swelling Of Jordan,' he pc
o. sisted in declaring his innocence. Was the
ces not possibility that the men who condemn'
or. him were mistaken? Upon them we cast I
=, censure. They doubtless did what they b
,sr heved 10 be ri2htI but # mistaken, oh what
nor fatal mistake! What commentary upon &
Ger cumsantial evidence! .,..e
civ lam informed that petition had been draw
.ck % 10 the President of the United States
Inv his pardon, on the proha ble--nay, almost g
.,s, tain innocence, and that il had more than 10
,o signatures. But il had not been forwarded
sav Now it is too late! The man Of influence
the gentIeman--sIeeps in convicps grave !
still r, ~ ...,,. :
I1E WAY WIVES ARE OALFoRWAIzED'--J
"" see how the wicked men induce their wives
let them go to the gold diggngs, by work.
~ ~ upon their innocent love Of disPIays
~ There was a wicked man, know,
He coaxed his vile to le. him 60,
~ But this is the way he did it though,
' To get California!
...o Says he--I'l send you Jumps Of gold,
~" Much more than your two hands can he
~, w. In your own carriage you'll be rolled!
1.n,' Says she--Now James. you know my d
~. cannot live without you here
"N" Rnt one1s own carriage sounds so du