The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-11

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AssDpsvatj0ssef tn'eea 49, ArsIfn4 lncidemt---
The Esu f Mswphy TO fhs Gfound--R snesosd
AsssserGtse~s q lsnocencs--Ftsat Sceas
This being tbe day fixed for the execution Of
Murphy. Taylor, and Shelton convicted Of the
m ura u tha Cosden family, in February Last
tho deep interest felt in the inhumsn butcherv
brought to this place large number of persons
from various adjacent counties Of MARYLAND and
Delaware. There were, also, some few here
fr0m Baltimore city, who came down in the regu-
lar lins Of steamboats, the day previous. Three
steambeats--the Portsmouth, Port Deposit, aud
Dupont-trought large numbers Of persons
from along the line OF their river routes this
mornlng. troop of horse, from Queen Anne's i,
Captain Betts also came to town this morning,
which, with two companies OF troop Of this
county, under Captains II. Beck and +. l.. Wal
lace, and three hundred armed citizens on foot,
under command Of Col James b. Ricaud. made
quito an imposing acquisition to the population
Of this quiet town.
have regularly visited the prisoners since
last wrote you, and have had every facility at-
forded or gaining whatever information was ne
cessary, both in reference to the statements OF
the prisoners aud of their religious sentiments
and feelngs-
The prisoners each had some of their male
relatives visiting them last night, for the purpose
of tAking their final leave, and receiving such
directions a they desired to give in reference to
the disposition OF their clothing, &c Tue
reverend clergy then connseled and prayed with
them, and some Of the legal gentlemen con-
cernsd in theirtrial were with them to late hour
The same feeling IN regard TO their eternal
OF. {oAs toc iaffo pstu ~
ing them, was still manifested, and each adhered
to bis fOrmar Oft repeated declaration of in
nocence.
visited the Jail early this morning, and ascer-
tanned that they had rested quiet md well dur
ing the night Murphy, indeed slept soundly.
In passing to the different apartments where
they were confined, ! found Abraham Taylor,
Nicholas Murphy aud William Shelton, awaiting
their doom with the most astonishing apparent
ndifference-Shelton, perhaps, being rather more
depressed than u>uai. The clergy were early IN
attendance; but, though Murphy ana laylor
protested hopes ofthe future, Shelton preserved
his usual cold and calOus appearance.
Revs. Messrs Petit of the Methodist EpIsco-
pal church; Jones, Gordon ana Flowers, ci Ine
Episcopal church and Valient, OF the Methodist
Protestant church, have been unfirlng In their
religions attendance to these men. The Rev
Mr.. Majors, of Delaware, eloquentlv appealed
to their religious feelings TO day Shelton re-
mained cold; Murphy shouted praise to Almighty
God, and prayed for his wife and children; and
Taylor declared confidence that the Almighty
would take care Of him, but wept at the idea OF
leaving his wife and children
have heretofore given you some idea of the
age of these men, and of their families, and need
not therefore repeat the matter
The officers undertaking to array the prisoners
for the execution, when the white robe was
placed Oh Murphy, he remarked-"i suppose
that is my last dress, but some one else ought
to wear it," and the black cap being placed on
his head, he sad with quite a sneer-"Wel!, |
suppose am dressed now"
They were properly robed-hands tied with
elbows pinioned-were marched to an open pas
sage way; Shelton was in the advance, and, upon
Taylor's approaching him, Taylor implored him
to tell what he knew of the matter, and to state
a conversation that is supposed to have taken
place between Shelton and man named Drum
mord, some time previous to the arrest, but shell
ton positively adhered to his oft repeated de-
claration, that he knew nothing to say, and that
he was innocent
Inc prisoners were ,neh "aihea ou' VI tle
jail, ana P'aced upon cna.rs !. an ope" VAIL
Inc clergy were i"u'eo'a'e'y ~ use" 'eA' "''''
souie Oh le cou'e'' @''1 s 80.
OF 'ne press. "ono"-sq9a,o 49, a. ~ IL.
huncreu loo'ns' e"', 81 .rs,o,, :,
~ '.e "a '. ~. srho er,iud ,v.s derss Mi
tne iro,' ai'u rear. "I 49, ,tar.,ns;en =.
a.v"S s CnI p;e.ud mansged the civil police ar.
~angement most admirably Col. Kemp had d.
~aat;o,, of the military battalion. and done his
dnty wsIl
nrr;v;cc at the foot of the mound on which
Tho scafraid was erected about mile northwest
Of tho town. Can't Beck's troop advanced and
claarod tbe dense crowd of people from immedi-
steIv o,opnd tho scatfold
A, Ton m;nu,as 10 10 o'clock the condemned
,,ara s..tsa mon the scafTold. surrounded by
th, ,;o;stars ~ the law. the clergy. and the rep
~asorta,;ves If the press. Mr. VIM. Cosdon.
tsthar NJ Tho ,srao, who. with his family. were
, n,J. md for which these men were about
tn ha executcd. came upon the scaffold to take
leave of them. The old gentleman wept most
bitterly. and said to them. "you know my son
,,or : d,no vou any harm, ~ whilst the culprits