The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-08-27
Execution of the Cosden Murderers,

]1AOSCIlou VI tiiS CUSutu LAuIutEGISt
Murphy, Taylor and Shecn. convicted Of
the murder Of the Cosden Family, in Fehrua
ry last, weie executed at Charlestou n, Mary.
land, on Friday lest. Shelton remained care
Lass and Indifferent IN the last: Mutpb, shou,.
ed praise 10 Almighty God prayed for his wIte
and children, and persisted in his nnocerco 10
the last; Taylor declared confterce iha, The
Almighty would lbke care Of him, bu, 0epi at
the idea of leaving his wife aud children.
A, q minutes past 10 o'clock, the sheriff,
with his assistants, Wm. Parker and John
Greenwood proceeded to sdjus, The ropes a.
roupd the necks Of The condemned. The
cord was SO arranged as 10 allow faIl Of the
bodies OF about SIX feet. Shetcn SILL p,eociv
ed his uniform position of down cas-, eyes, and
upparen, cold, stupid, Insensitiity Of a heEeaf
Ter. Murphy aud Taylor manifested 20 great
uneasiuess, requesting rot 10 te hurt 10 pa.
cling the cord but we're heard TO pray after
the black cap was drawn down over their faces,
The platform was cleared Of but he
prisoners. Al was ready for the fatal mo
mentappointtd for launching those unfortunate
men into eternity. The Sheriff sioed with lie
pully cord 10 hand the profouudest silence
prevailed in every part Of the crowd and just
as Murphy, iu his audible prayer, was heard TO
exrluim, am going home, the platform fell
on which the condemned stood, a0d Tay lor
aud Shelton were seen suspended in The air
ard passed from time 10 eternity With scarce
u struggle. The only motion Al al re cep.
tbie was muscular m0veHeH; Cf Shc on S
shoulders but the kro; of he cord arcund
MURPHY 8 neck gave way, aud the uuCarunate
man came doen upoD the earth almost sjmuI.
taHeously with tho scattering tinker, comPe
sing the platform on which they eli had stood
I1st an lnstan. previous.
1t was an wiul scerc. The victim bound
ed abou, on he ground, and uttered most heart
thrilling moaus and cties. There came up a
Simultaneous melancholy scuud from tie as
ssmbed thousands Of people and nvoun
tsry movement on the rsrt Of the crowd &c
press uP, so as to see the unhappy ean. But
with word almost perfect order vas restored.
Oae sentiment CT regret al the uniowald accl.
dent came from every lip and feeling Of the
proioundes. moral character seemed TO prevail
IN every breast.
Murphy VAS lifted TO chair and the * n
of his neck, wherever the cord touched, was
cut, and emitted some blood. He asked fer
water, bul be could not Pass it dow n his throat.
He soon go far recovered as 10 talk freely,
though he suffered much pan, 10 The mo-
ment Of bis descent he experienced, in all
probability, pang equal tolhose "ho dcd. -
The clergy attended h,m when restored and
he still persisted IN his innocence; sEd also
declared his belief OF Shehons innocence.
After he bodies Of Tay lor and Shelton he'd
hung twenty seven minutes, they were de.
carcd dead and we're lowered 10 their cotfins.
There was nothing unusual about The appear,
ance OF Shelton. Tsy yor's neck bone vas
broken and his head nesrly severed from his
hody, so deep had the cord entered his flesh,
Murphy vas again taken 10 The scadold,-
He still protested his innocence, as also that
of Shelon's-bBt said he knew nothing Of
Taylor. At taenty minutes past / l o'clock
the rope was again put around his neck. He
was moaning most plteousy and pTuyug.-
/ The platform fell, and Murphy was e corpse,
with but Sigh, shuddeting Of bis body.
Thus ended the sad event.