The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-23
Visit TO the Condemned Crimlnals-Doug-
lass, Cleuents, and Benson.


lass, Clements and Benson-now confined n Kings
county Jail Brooxyn under sentence of death for the
murder Of Asa Ravens the second officer of the Amer
can bark Glenn and must express our acknowledg-
ments to the Deputy Sheriff for his Kindness, and the
readiness it'll which he devoted himself to Us on the occa
sion 1t viii be reeocted by readers that the three
prisoners were engaged board the bark Glenn Doug
lass and Ceme nts and Benson Of color
as cook mutiny arose whilst the Glenn, freighted
with cargo valued 100000 in the Pacific Ocean
her voyage from Valparaiso to New York. upwards
Of thousand miles from port The ships crew con-
sisted Of seven or eight the Captain and first and
second mates On the night Of the 18th September
1850 mutiny during the watch of the second Of
heer, and the captain and chief mate having been
aroused from their sleep deck where they
tered the mutineers with fire hachet and other
deadly weapons Here the captain and first mate
rowly escaped immolation; but having acted with
ceedng bravery and presence Of mind which have been
but Ill requited they secured the mutneers and found
that Asa Ravens, the second mate, q of herculean
stature and great muscular had been murdered
his body presenting awful spectacle-with gunshot
wound through the abdomen bayonet stab in the thigh
and the back Of his neck literally chopped than
inch deep with Ratchet adze. The three prisoners
then put in and brought to New York where
they before Judges Nelson and Belts in the
United States Circuit Court and condemned to die on
Friday the 18th July between the hours Of ten and
twelve o'clock The captain, Charles Small acted with
very great bravery the Judge remarked in sentencing
the prisoners When the captain and mate fiji st reached
the deck the alarm produced by the report of the
musket and the cries of the murdered Ravens, they
found the prisoners in and in deadly conflict with
the authorities of the ship and indeed may be said
they subdued and reduced to submission, after
harp struggle by the extraordinary conduct and courage
Of the captan-conduct and courage under the crcum
stances, rarely If ever, surpassed.
The Marshal visited the Jail yesterday morning and
communicated to the prisoners their final doom He
them that the President did not feel justified
in interfering with the sentence and that it should be
consequently carried into effect Friday morning next
Our reporters subsequently the unhappy men, not
with any view Of extortng from them confession,
publishing expression that might initiate against
hope their behalf though to look for reprieve
would be informed, shopping against hope"
The APPEARANCE OF EDWARD F. DOUGLASS.
On the ponderous metal doors of the cell of Douglass
being opended he from his bed where he had been
asleep, and forward to the entrance having sna
ken the Deputy Marshas by the hand he enquired how
others of the officials and being asked how he him
self felt he said very well that he had been asleep he
said he had heard the from Washington but he
pected nothing else he knew all along there was no
hope He seemed quite careless and spoke with yawn
and the easy Indifference Of q man who about to
meet ordinary event. He mentioned his mother,
visits TO him, and her having communicated the fact
that her application to the President fruitless
and in naratng this incident he seemed little
moved He said that he had written brief history of
his life which he had given to hpmate that there
Of romance than reality about It. though
Of the circumstances detailed BY him facts This
document Is in our possession and may upon revision
be given to the public Douglass a native of Michigan
L g; is twenty-five years Of age possessing pory
figure and good face, though somewhat emaciated
and his eyes little sunk. His hair Is quite gray this
he attributes TO brain fever, which he lad time
since He is daily attended by the Rev Mr. Hodge, and
sincerely trust that the few brief hours he has yet
1--we may be fruitful 20 his immortality Douglasss
ther who is constant in her visits her son. appa-
ren,ly young woman, and though bowed down with
grief and the weight Of Ills which but mothers
heart could under similar circumstances appreciate
she yet retains the mdness and the freshness Of wo
in the prime Of life She is n widow, soon,
fear, to become childless aud alone in the world
The poor finding that all chance Of govern
ment elemency 1T end, threw herself upon
the mercy of the officials Of the prison, and i'm
poringly tcsought the deputy sheriff 10 connive at
her sons escape This kindhs arted but unflinching
functionsry FOR time appessed the griefstrcken
Their by saying that, If the marshal permitted It, he
would have ne objection When the next day came
sh. sad her only hope him; but of the
deputy shera informed her that the marshal would
consent nd that he could act without his permis-
siop.
We Eaaerstsnd that Douglass some nights since at
terpid 70 effect his escape II appears that notorious
bur.ia sbscksmith. who had been confined in this
jail some ..ne ago had furnished key for the lock Of
the outer rsa.ock Of the cell and this being thus open
Esresss -ndesyOrsd to pick inner lock With the
han Ale ~ a~NaFTn g1Fh tnr ana I'M
frcd the corridor he assembled to the upper landing
shee he formed another lock, passage leading to
deacd his design, rsgned himself his fate, and
tnpru bis eel, where he discovered in the morn
lhs With the evidences q bis unsuccessful efforts.
rBz spvrARArcg OF JAMES CLEMENTS.
James C'ements IL also young 70 youth,
only eighteen rear a and native Of Belfast Ire
and Hesssms reckless n his fate but till persists in
,rnoEipys ss.sy lie ssys be has not yet commenced
prsysrD fr b. awful doom though ne has no hope of
90 ssS,t err d,ys A. bi- frieuds mieht sue
cees IN OBTAINING rcprieve for him ON Il being re-
uia-s,d w one q the oeers that h locked pale, he
fer time past bot that an hour Friday
morning m Ant change his color lie expressed wish
this. the Captain q the Glenn. (Chas small who
rrAmincd the trial might BE presen, at the execution
Ne dd not Intend TO anything 70 hurt his Telling on
ssd Captain small had 20 certain Confession that
he lCienent had made but that the Captain bad ex-
acted tho admissions from him when be had him In
chans starving: and that he made the admissions at
the price 81 pfce q bread Clements has promised
70 mako statement previous 70 his execution,
and scr persisting In his innocence iornuates
that IL shal be known which Of them &C
tunliy murdered the mate though said he, " the
empty ruket being four IN my hands made Il appear
that must have shot him" lie shook hands cordially
with .ts Deputy Marshsls asked who to hang him
Jut said Il nal little natter 70 him though he knew
zone Of them would DO Il willingly. nor would IL be a
rlsarspt task Clements Is also attended spiritually by
The Rev SIR Hoage but he has not yet con neneed %
rrrrart himself for death He he hopes he shau be
prefart aud that he has couple Of days to do 20
lie s.Js b. = member q the Church q England, II
anything but he did not what religion he vas II
rne good one IIi- mother and sister residing in
Bcne 4 snd believe know nothing q the fate Of
theft haviess relative young woman. named Gle
psris applied days since for permission 20 see
him caring that from the accounts she had read Of the
murder trial he her corsn but meeting they
ud recognise each other and explanations as 70
birth psrebtage and fiends convinced them that they
wsre not related Subsequently another young woman,
q the called TO make enquiries respecting