The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-09-11

where be had been seated, briefly Addressed
the multitude, saying, That ID view Of the
few minutes now only between him and eter-
nifty, he felt comp iill Is aver bis inno-
cence; that his liio ia been worn away BY
the nan Shaw, who turned States witness;
declared that he had not seen Murphy forl
above Eve years previous to Tic arrest, and
that he never Know Or saw Shelton until be
met him in jail, after the arrest; and express
sed lis hope of going to place Of rest in
the future. lie spoke without any apparent
embarrassment, and with much physical and
mental seif-posscssion M
Nicholas Murphy next stepped forward,
and ayaling his innocence, said he was not
within nine miles of Cosden' house the night
If the murder, CHE distance which Murphy
lived from where Cosden did being 8 miles)
that he never had seen Cosden, or knew
where his house was; that he was at his own
home that night, aud in bed with his wife at
3 o'clock. Concluded by saying: "Now,
murdcrcrs, do your work-for when you shall
have done, bear it deeply in mind that you
have not hung murderer.
Shelton declined making any public re-
marks; hut Taylor again implorcd him to
till allh2 knew; ana especially as to an inter-
view between lin and Drummond, TO which
Shelton gave the same formal answer, that he
knew nothing, and had nothing to say, fur
thlr than that he was innocent.
At The request of Taylor, Mr.. George
Davis, cf Smyrna, Delaware, (who has be-
slowed some charities upon Taylor's family
was called, and Mr. Ricaud handed him ten
dollars for the use Of Taylor's family. Mr.
Davis. at Taylor's expressing uneasiness a
bout his body after death, promised him to-
have il conveyed to the residence Of his wife, |
and dcccntly buried.
At - minutes past 10 o'clock, the sheriff,
with his assistants, VIM. Parker and John
Greenwood, proceeded to adjust the ropes a
round the necks of the condemned The
cord was so arranged as to allow fall of the
bodies Of about six feet Shelton still pre-
served his uniform position Ct down cast eyes,
and apparent cold, stupid, msensibility of a.
hereafter, Murphy and Taylor manifested
no great uneasiness, requesting not to be hurt
in placing the cord, but were heard to pray
after the black cap was drawn down over
their faces.
The platform was cleared Of all but the
prisoners. All was ready for the fatal mo-
ment appointed for launching these unfortu-
nate men into eternity. The sheriff stood
with the pully cord in hand; the profound
est silence prevailed in every part of the
crowd; and Just as Murphy, in his audible
prayer was heard to exclaim, II am going
home" the platform fell on which the con-
demucd stood, and Taylor and Shelton were
seen suspended io tas IT. I'D passed from
time 60 eternity with searc : struggle
The ouly motion .. ali pcrcep4;la was mus
cular movement of Sholton's shoulders; but
the knot Of the cord around Aurphys neck
gave way, and the unfortunate man came
down upon the Garth almost simultaneously
with the Gathering timber composing the J
platform on which they al had stood just an
instant previous. 1t was an awful scene
The victim bounded about on the ground,
and uttered most heart-thrilling means and
cries. There came upa simultaneous melan-
choly sound from tue assembled thousands of
people; and an involuntary movement on the /
part Of the crowd to press up, so as to see
the unhappy man But with word, almost !
perfect order was restored One sentiment
Of reuet at the untoward accident came from
every lip, and feeling Of the profoundest
moral character seemed to prevail in every
breast
Murphy was lifted to a chair; the skin Of
his neck, wherever the cord touched, was
cut, and emitted some blood. lie asked for
water, buthecould not passitdown his throat
lie soon 50 far recovered as to talk freely,
though he suffered much pain. In the mo-
mont of his descent he experienced, in all
probability, pang equal to those who died
The clergy attended him when restored, and
he still persisted in his innocence; and also
declared his belief of Shelton's innocence
After the bodies of Taylor and Shelton had
hung twenty -sevcnminutes, they were declar-
cd dead, and were lowered into their collins.
There was nothing unusual about the appear
auce Of Shelton. Taylor's neck bone was
broken and his head nearly severed from
his body 50 deep had the cord entered the
flesh.
Murphy was again taken to the scaffold.
lie still protested his innocence, as also that
Of Shelton-but said he knew nothing of
Taylor. At twenty minutes past IL o'clock,
the rope was again put around his neck
lie was mourning most piteousiy and pray
ing. The platform fell and Murphy was
corpse, with bat slight shuddering Of his
boly.
Thus ended the sad event.
MurPhys son-in-law, (Shelton's brother)
will take care Of his body, and Shelton's al
so.
Dr. Whaland, Houston and Marsh were
in attendance.
It's supposed there were some seven or
cighs thousand persons to witness the scene.
There va. not 3 Waite lady present, be-
licva bet one incident occurred to disturb
the j nasty of the occasion.
T. 3Iessrs. kc2ld and Moore, Mr.. Cam
the Sheriff, Mr.. Greenwood, the jailor, and
other gentlemen who aided in afIording facil
tiles in the way of my duty, return my
thanks Also, to Capt Sturgeon, of thl
steamboat Cecil, for afiording an carly oppor
tunity to return to Baltimore, &c.
DEATH OF AN OXoxDAaA WARRIOR. fPe
ter Sky one # the warrior Chieffs of tn,
On,ala5ls, died at Onondaga Castle on tn,
11th, aged So years. The Syracuse Star says
"Th9 deceased was true aud faithful