The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-27

vors Upon reaching the place Of execution tho
military formed around the gallows. The prisoners
were then directed to ascend the platform. Reed
obeyed the order with alacrity, and assembled the
steps leading to the soaAold with frmness. Gle
mems followed, with slower though not less steady
step. After reaching the platform, the unhappy
convicts exhorted by the priests to put their
trust in God Preparations were then made for the
execution. The hands Of both convicts were tied,
caps drawn over their faces, and the cords ad-
justed about their necks. The platform was then
cleared-the trigger which supported it was drawn,
and in moment the unfortunate men were launched
into eternity. Reed died, apparently, without a
struggle. Clemens struggled moment or 80, his
frame underwent one or two convulsive throes, and
then life became extinct. After hanging the allot-
ted time, the convcts were cut down and inferred.
Throughout the whole painful ceremonies proceed
ing the execution, the unfortunate criminals evinced
the utmost fortitude. Each met his fate with firm
ness and resignation From the time thoy emerged
from the prison, to the awful moment preceding
tneir execution, neither gave evidence Of the
slightest degree of unmanly fear.
during the progress Of the melancholy procession
up the valley to the place of execution, the mani
iestations OF popular sympathy in behalf of the
fortunate convicts were general and hoartfelt but
here, as well as at the gallows the utmost order
prevailed Ill bowling with the greatest respect to
the majesty of the law. Immediately preceding
the execution, incident occurred near the scaold
which produced momentary panic spirited
horse became unmanageable and gave evidence of
q desire to pitch his rider upon the heads of the
mass of human beings wedged in between the mill
tary one side, and Bacons Quarter Branch on the
other. Whilst the horse was rearing and charging,
a rush was made by the crowd to get beyond the
reach of his hoofs. Many persons were forced into
the Branch, and the pressure created q momentary
confusion amongst section of one of the volunteer
corps, one or two members OF which forced out
OF the ranks. The confusion, however, was only
momentary, and no one sustained serious injury,
though we hear one or two persons fell into the
Branch
n
observed in your paper few days since, that the
President had refused-and think very properly-to
pardon Thomas Reed and Edward Clements the two sea-
men executed yesterday at Richmond, Virginia, for
piracy and murder. committed board the schr. j. r.
Lindsey near the Island of Trinidad port of SPAIN as
am in possession of all the particulars 1 think they
guilty Of of the deliberate and cold booded
murders ever committed the high The murder
was prcmeditated and they laid their plans before the
vessel sailed from Trinidad 1t their intention when
NJ sea- 20 murder the captain mate cook and passen
ger to take the vessel somewhere the Spanish main
scutte her. and as they supposed the captain had the
money for his cargo. which he had sold at Trinidad to
take that and TO California On the first evening after
sailing from Trinidod they killed the mate and passen
GER Walker who deck at the time; and as the
captain out of the cabin they both fired a horse
pistol at his head of the balls taking effect on his
throat The captain then went into the cabin told the
boy the cook that he was wounded and loaded his MIS-
tolls and Reed and Clements had gone forward to reload
theirs after which they aft when Reed fired his
pistol again at the captain while in the cabin the cap
on deck by the cabin door the ball striking Reed on the
SIDE ct the nose and passing into his mouth knocking
him down. II this shot that saved the life of the
captain and cook Reed and Clements afterwards cut
the rigging and attempted to scutc the schooner when
they made their escape in the boat When the vessel ar
rived at st. Thomas she presented painfully agonxing
scene After learning the particulars of the murder
offered reward for the offenders who taken shortly
afterwards, near Laguayra the Spanish MAN, Commo
dore Parker Captain Lowndes, Mr. Steel u s. Charge at
Caracas; Louis Baker Esq. U. s. Consul at Laguayra;
and Captain Echbergcr Of Bark FL Dorado Of Balti-
mere deserving of all praise for the assistance they
rendered in bringing the Offenders to Justice Poor
Walker he struggled hard for his life but 0verpower
cd and dreadfuy massacred his coat pockets cut out
and his body thrown into the deep blue sea- and as
sunk beneath the wave the vessel rode her way eay
ing him to be sepulchcred in his coral grave the
for his winding sheet and the moaning to whistle
his funeral notes. When the curtain which hides us
from eternity shall be rolled up then and then alone will
be seen how many unfortunate beings have
ed on the high trust the dreadful fate Of Reed
and Clements will prove solemn warning to all evil dis
posed sailors Most truly the way of the transgressor
hard. CHARLES II DELiVAN
Late United States Commercial Agent for the Island
st. Thomas. w. /.
NEW York, April a. 1852.