The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-09-11
From the Baltimore Sun.
Execution of the Cosden murderers at Ches-
tertoWn, Maryland


Execution of the COsden murderers at Ches-
tertown, Maryland
CHEsTERTowN, Aug. 8, 81.
Of Ianocence-TA Thrilling Incl
dent-The taH Of MtrThyto the ground
ReaeUcd dissertations Of jnaoccnce-Ft-
nal scene.
This being the day fixed for the execution
of Murphy, Taylor and Shelton, convicted of
the murder Of the Cosdcn family, in Febru-
ary last the deep interest fclt IN the inhu-
man 'butchery brought to this place a large
number of persons from various adjacent
counties of Maryland and Delaware There
were, also, some few here from Baltimore
city, who came down in the regular line of
steamboats, the day previous. Three steam
boats-the Portsmouth, Port Deposit, and
Dupont-brought large numbers of persons
from along the line of their river routes this
morning. A troop of horse, from Queen
Anne's, Capt. Belts, also came to town this
morning, which, with two comp anies Of troop,
of this county, under Captains FL. Beck and
T. L. Wallace, and three hundred armed cit
liens on foot, under command Of Col. James
B. Ricaud, made quite an imposing acquisi-
ton to the population of this quiet town.
| have regularly visited the prisoners since
I last wrote you, and have had every facility
afforded of gaining whatever information was
necessary, both in reference tothe statements
of the prisoners and of their religious senti-
ments and feelings.
The prisoners each had some of their male
relatives visiting them last night, for the pur-
pose of taking their final leave, and receiving
such directions as they desired to give in ref
erence to the disposition of their clothing,
&c. The reverend clergy then counseled
and prayed with them, and some Of the le-
gal gentlemen concerned in their trial were
with them to late hour.
The same feeling in regard to their eternal
condition, stated in my last letter as charac-
terising them, was still manifested, and each
adhered to his former oft repeated declaration
of innocence.
visited the jail early this morning, and
ascertained that they had rested quiet and
well during thenight. Murphy, indeed slept
soundly
Imposing to the different apartments where
they were eonfed, I found Abraham Taylor,
Nicholas Murphy and William Shelton, a.
waiting their doom with the most astonishing
:, apparent indifference-Shelton, perhaps, be-
ing rather more depressed than usual. The
clergy were carly in attendance; but, though
Murphy and Taylor professed hopes Of the
I future, Shelton preserved his usual cold and
caIous appearance.
Reys Messrs. Petit, of the Methodist
Episcopal church; Jones, Gordon and Flow
ers, of the Episcopal church; and Valient,
of the Methodist Protestant church, have
been untiring in their religious attendance to
these men. The Rev. Mr. Majors, of Del
, aware, eloquently appealed to their religious
, feelings to-day. Shelton remained 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
f leaving his wife and children.
have heretofore given you some idea of
: the age of these men, and of their families,
5 and need not therefore repeat the matter.
: The officers undertaking to array the pris-
+ oners for the execution, when the white robe
g was placed on Murphy, hercmaked-'tI sup
Q pose that IS my last dress, but some one else
: ought to wear it, and the black cap being
+ placed on his head, he said, with quite a
i sneer--tt Well, I suppose ! am dressed now"
:. They we're properly robed-hands tied,
2 with elbows pinioned-were marched to an
n open passage way; Shelton was IN the ad-
: vance, and, upon Taylor's approaching him,
i Taylor impIored him to tell what he knew of
il the matter, and to state conversation that
& is supposed to have taken place between Shell
= ton and man named Drummond, some time
Il previous to the arrest, but Shelton positively
d adhered to hissoft repeated declaration, that
re he knew nothing to say, and that he was in
m noeent.
r The prisoners were then walked out of the
IF jail, and placed upon chairs in an open wa
gon. The clergy were Immediately in Their
rear, with some of the counsel, aud severa
q. representatives of the press. a hollow
be square guard of three hundred footmcn sur
IL rounded them, in the order of the procession
ed with troops Of horsemen in the front and rear
v, The crowd was dense all along the line @
% march, but no interruption occurred. Col
n, Ricaud managed the civil police Arrangement
Oflmost admirably Col. Kemp had direction
as of the military battalion, and done bis duty
10 well.
nd Arriving at the foot of the mound onWhiel
the -SeaI0lQ was efecteQs ABOUT y Lllle Dofln
Ia westof the town, Capt Beck s troop adyanc
ri ed aud cleared the dense crowd of peopl
ed from Immediately around the scafold.
al; At ten minutes to 10 o clock the condemn
al ed we're seated upon the scafold, surrounde
he by the ministers of the law, the clergy, an
op the representatives. Of the press. Mr. Wul
~ Gosden, father of the person who, with hi
te, family, were murdered, and for which thes
lac men were about to be executed, came upo
ed the seaHold to take leave Of them. The oh
er- gentleman wept most bitterly and said
by them, ssyon know my son never done yoG an
ID HARM whilst the culpfits protested their il
led nocence, and announced that they fofgav
led him and all others for the part taken IN tue
convietion.
op, The Rev. DR.. Johns then offered solen
cd prayer To Heaven IN behalf Of the culprit
elf Rev. 3ir Kalient admonished them to ca
CHI tion ID leaving this world without aclea
conscience, and was followed by the Re,
ter NIessrs. Petit aud Majors, also IN regard
OF their soul eternal u tersst Inc clergy the
re, retired
the Mr.. Ricaud asked tie condemned e thi
had anything to say
for Abrahaln FLOR promptly rose, and Sc