Washington telegraph., 1851-06-25
Of the House of Representatives.
JOHN r HAMPTON, President
Of the Senate.
Approved, JAM 8, 1851.
JOHN SELDEN ROANE.

The LyNcRING NEAR PEvsAcoLA-The end of
career of crime-Yesterday, we had brief notice
oil the summary execution of John B. Hardin and
negro, by the people at Milton, Santa Rosa
county, Florida. 1t will be recoilected that we
stated Hardin and the negro were arrested some
time ago at Columbiana, Shelby county, Alabama
We now learn from The Abbeville (Ala) Banner
of the 2Slh uit-, how Hardin and the negro were
transferred to Ssa.s Rosa county, the scene of
some of his crimes. Tire Banner says:
Pursuant to previous notice in our paper and by
handbil.s, large and very respectable portion OF
the citizens of the county met in the court house
on Saturday, the Gath inst, to decide what they
should do with the notorious and consummate horse
thief, murderer and bigamst, John b. Hardin, who
has been confined in the Jail Of the county but a
short time.
A delegation of FIVE gentlemen from Santa Rosa
county, Florida, came up and requested that the
ci,zeus of Henry county should deliver the said
Hardin to them. to be carried t. Santa Rosa conn-
ty, Florida, where he committed the first theft and
murder. After mature deEberation on the part of
some of our best citizens, it was decided that II
would be best for the citizens OF Santa Roso coan-
ty 10 have Hardin. therefore he was delivered up
to them SO that they could naete out that Justice
which he so justly merits, that the citizens Of our
county could not be able to give him by the laws
Of Alabama. Hardns last wife cOncubine,
whom he had with him when he was 6pprehended
by Mr. Smith, says that Hardin stated TO her that
he had as many sixteen wives, and that he had
murdered sixteen men, and if he should live, he
would kill four more camplete the number he
desired 10 murder.
We made some little attempt to obtain from
Hardin some confession in regard to bis past life,
but he invariably avoided anything like particular
confession in our presence.
The statement made by the woman in reference
to HarGn's crimes, astonishing it is, appears to
have been confirmed by the hardened wretch.
The Pensacola correspondent of the Mobile Herald
in his letter Of the 3lst ut, giving account Of
the execution OF Hardin and The negro, says:
He was carried from Shelby county to Henry,
county, Alabama. deputation was sent from
Mutton, Santa Rosa county, Florida, to get him
| from the authorities in Alabama, and bring him t.,
| Milton, which was done. Yesterday, he was ex-
ecuted in Milton by the people, without trial.
| The negro who assisted him, belonging to Joseph
Forsy III, was also hung at the same time yester-
day, Friday, May 30th, at l23 o clock. He con-
frss-d the crne and said he richly deserved death
| for he had been villain all his life. He had twenty
| wives living, and had killed sixteen men, and all
| he was sorry for, was that he was not permitted
| to live long enough to I'll four more He and the
negfo Jack wsro both hung to one tree, and burr
| ed ~ one grave. Repentance and remorse were
strangers to him. tie said his father and brother
were both hung. He refused TO make any further
| confession, he would mpicate many heads Of
families who passed as respectable, and would
! thereby leave many widows and orphans.
| lie met death without Studded; was as cool
as a cucumber. He rspented Of nothing he had
done, and said that he would (if turned loose,) be
as had as ever if not worse. The only request he
had to make, was not to be put to torture. He
said he wished to be hung and decently buried
| Yours, very respectfully.