Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-12

he fall being from six to six and halt leet he was
precpitated TO the ground, 10 The great shock Of the
spectators. among whom there universal thrill of
horror He laid on the ground and rolled over cried
in the most pieous manner his neck being severely la
ceraed and cut by the rope Taylor and Shelton died
very soon and easy-Taylor scarcely moving his limbs
at ALL
Murphy still asserted his innocence and it was ne
cessary to let Taylor and Shelton hang till dead, be-
execution. When the crowd saw Murphy fall to the
ground they pressed forward toward the spot but
the prompt action of the guard forced them back
again.
Murphy was conducted 10 chair and sat down, pro-
testing he was not guilty and begged they would spare
his llfe "Oh" said be- "for innocent man 10 be
hung half dozen times! Oh my poor dear wife !
Oh to think was hung once, and am to be hung
agaln-an innocent man this day."
The Rev. Mr.. Valiant came TO him and urged him
to confess all he knew-hat he would certainly be
hung again and nothing could save him. Murphy said
he had already told all he knew of the murder and
that nothing; that he had known anything Of il,
he would have confessed it long ago. ooh, my God ,"
he continued, ito think have to he hung over AGAIN
Oh, my Cod to murder innocent man this way p
He asked for drink of water and it was procured for
him. but the injury 10 his throat prevented him from
Shelton and Taylor having hung ill six minutes
past eleven o'cockiwenty seven minutes-were pro.
nounced dead by Drs Whalen, Houston, Marsh.
Wlckes and kcaud' The surgeons in attendance, and
slipped to the back parts of the neck. Taylor's neck
was cut one side very deep by the rope, and the
bone was disocated. Sbelton's neck cut, and
not dslocated, it thought. The bodies were placed
in plain pine cofns, painted black, and removed from
under the scattold
The scafold and rope having been re adjusted Muir.
ply again assisted on the trap, and the moose be-
lug fixed to his neck, in a minute of time he was
dangling in the air. Before the trigger was pulled he
said-''l am innocent gentlemen; never knew Cos
den. do not know whether Taylor had anything to
do with the MURDER but Shelton know was not there
on that night. | am an innocent man, gong home to
my God! Oh! gentlemen, do not kill met"
The drop Tell the second time at twenty minutes
past IL O'Clock, and the body having hung some 80
He died rather harder than the other lwo the muscu
lar motion OF his body, at any rate being greater
Taylors body was sent to his family as REQUESTED
the brothers OF Murphy and Shelton took charge of
| their bodies and took them TO their residences
| Shaw sent for and brought to Chesler,own a
few days since at the request of Taylor, who said he
wished to see hin1tnat when he was confronted with
him he would not make such statements az he had
| &c. When Shaw came there he reiterated his evil
dence against them, told Taylor he knew he was gull
| y and there use in his deny ing it, All that
| Taylor did to abuse Shaw most fouly, and wish
he could be admitted to kill him. asking the Sheriff for
| pistol to shoot him.
| Taylor once convicted of kidnapping negro.
and sent 10 the penienuary for years. and not
| withs andng the positive and indubitable proof in
that case, always denied his guilt of it. This is the
first execution that has taken place in Kent county for
period of over so wears.
Murphy and Taylor asserted their full preparation
TOR death-whether ruhtully ornot is issue now be-
tween then and their Maker. Shelton also declared
himself fully prepared but gave very little if any out
| ward signs of it,
Murphy when the knot in the moose slipped and he
fell stunned tor few minutes. After he recover
ed he appeared to suffer acute pain in the spine
repeated intervals and presented object that excited
the sympathy OF all to the most painful degree. To a
question put to him. he remarked that he only felt
something giving way under him, and sudden tight
ening ofhe rope around his neck-n an instant he was
| totally unconscious OF pain.