Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-06
EXECUTION OF PIRATES.

Henry Douglass and Edward F. Benson were exc
cuted in the city of New York on Friday, The 25th
July, for the murder of Asa Havens, second mate of
the barque Glen We recapituate the facts relating
to their crime we find them in the Herald:
cit i'll be recolected by our readers that the three
prisoners were engaged on board the bark Glen Deue-
lass and Clemens as seamen, and Benson, man OF
color, as cook. A mnny arose whilst the Glen,
freighted with cargo valued at $500 600, in the
Pacific Ocean, on her voyage from Valparaiso to New
York, and upwards of one thousand miles from port
The ships crew consisted OF seven or eight men, the
captain and first and second mates On the nigh. Of the
18th OF September, 1850, mutiny during the
watch OF the second officer and the captain and chief
mate having been aroused from their sleep, came on
deck where they encountered the muneers with fire.
| arms, hachets and other deadly weapons Here tho
captain and first mate narrow escaped immolation;
but having acted with exceeding bravery and presence
OF mind, they secured the mutineers, and found that
Asa Havens, the second mate, man of hercuean
stature and great muscular power, had been murdered
his body presenting awtu spectacle-with a gun
shot wound through the abdomen, bayonet stab in
the thigh and the back of his neck literally chopped
more than an inch deep with Ratchet, adze. The
three prisoners then put in irons and brought to NJ
York, where they tried before Judges Nelson and
Belts, in the United States Circuit Court, and condemn
ed to die
All three of the prisoners were young men-the eldest
only about twenty three years of age. Active efforts
were made in behalf of the convcts, to obtain
prve, but the President of the United States refused
Interfere with the regular of the law, far
Douglass and Benson concerned. Some doubt
existing the guilt OF Clements the President grant
ed respite in his case, for short time. As before
stated, the other pirates executed Friday OF
course an immense of people attracted
TO the vicinity of the City Prison, where the execution
took place. The New York Sun says:
About5 O'Clock the two convicts, being attlred ina
suit of black bonn bazne, were brought out of the cells
They approached each other and shook hands Nth
DOUGLASS a
over my boy" to which Benson replied, $50 much the
better" The scene within the prison presented
yicts with their spiritual advisers. Rev. James l..
Hodge, Of he LIST Baptist Church, Brooklyn, and Rev.
]. w. B. Woods Sand 81 Church, were standing,
surrounded by a number OF gentlemen Ever and anon
tine Reverend gentlemen would whisper words of con-
ISOLATION in the of the unfortunate men, d.
recng their minds towards higher and better world.
The prisoners betrayed much emotion, and spoke on
ly few words
Near the hour of 10 O'Clock some six or seven hum
dred people had been admitted into the prison yard
and were closely packed on one side of the gaows,
which had heen erected between the main building and
the outer wall on Elm street. A posse of policemen,
with their respective Captains and the Chief,
the groundin order to keep back the crowd. file of
U. S. Marines, under command OF LIST Lieut., Norvel,
were present. Much loud talking and laughing pro-
ceeded from the spectators which seemed but little in
accordance with the melancholy spectacle about to be
presented to their view.
About haEpast ten o'clock the warrants of execution
wee read by the Marshal to the criminals in their
der Ring, Esq, t. P. Hall, Esq, and the Deputy Mar
shals.
At precisely ten minutes to eleven O'Clock, process.
SION was formed, headed by The U. S. Marshal, Clergy
men, and Others and followed by the two men in
charge of the officers The scene now became OF
immense anxiety, as the time for the contamination of
the Laws penalty approached. The doomed men
were placed under the gallows, and Deputy Msrshas
Brown and De Angels stood by their side in order 10
adjust the fatal rope; when directed by the Marshall
The United States Marshal then addressed Douglass as
follows: Edward F. Douglass, the time has ap-
preached for your execution, and you have any thing
to say, an opportunity is now presented
doug lass spoke, in SomeW hat tremuous voice, the
following words
"Al have to say is, that the wages Of sin is DEATH.
want to tell you all my friends and people, that the
wages OF sin is death am getting my wages you
see an example before you. Lei me warn you against
beginning with small things lest you end in large ones.
Again l say you have an example before you. Take
warning entrea you. have one thing to say
to the United States Marshal, and to all you people
James Clements is innocent OF the crime with which he
is charged he is not deserving OF death. have
to say"
When he concluded, his countenance assumed a
death like appearance, and his whole frame shook vo-
lently with emotion.
The Marshal then addressed Benson as he had done
Douglass, who spoke as follows
Men and Biohers-l have but few words 10 say
before leaving this world. | did not have anything to
do with the murder OF Havens. | did not strike him
nor shoot him, nor use any violence against him; and
to my knowledge Clements is not guilty of participating
in his murder. This | say at my dying hour before
God ana man. L am ABOUT 10 ule dtH pre-
pared and / say TO all be prepared, when the
hour comes, to meet your God You see what Christi
AMY can dol am resigned; all an example before
you. Farewell my iriends-may l meet you all in
heaven"
A h, mn was then sung by Benson in firm voice, in
which Douglass joined in low voice.
The Rev Dr. Hodge then delivered very impress a.
sive prayer after which the Marshal, Cergymen and
others, bid the unfortunate a long farewell. The
black cap then drawn their faces and II ia
Ia rope adjusted. The Marshal then ordered the U.
s. Marines 10 kneel, when the rope cut by Depu-