The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-01

His Associates.
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VISIT TO THE CONDEMNED CELL,
&C.. &c., SO.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL.
Charles, or as he was universally called, Charley
Scudder, . colored man, was executed on Friday
last at Ryerhead the county town of Suffolk, L. 1,
The crime for which he suffered was the wilful MUIR
der of Mrs. Robbins, and was committed at her
own cottage in Comac, in the to Wnship Of Hunting
ton, in the month of March last.
Charley was q native of Huntington, and lived
nearly all his life in the immediate vicinity, or else
where on the island. At the time Of the muIder he
was an ostler in the employment Of Mr.. Oliver
Conklin, who keeps an inn at Comac, and being an
excellent groom, was well known to all the gentle
men, inhabitants, and travellers on Long Island
but Gas did some others of his family, unfortunately
he always bore a very Indifferent character.
He was not completely black, but was rather
mulatto, and showed some signs Of Indian blood,
with avery intelligent, but crafty, expression Of
countenanoe. He was about six feet two inches
in height, and at the time Of his execution
was thirty.fve years of age. Those acquainted
with him from his boyhood, scarcely thought him
capable of committing such heinous offence -
murder, though he had been celebrated as petty
thief Buffalo robes, blankets, and other articles,
were frequently missing where he had been en-
ployed as ostler, but dogs were more particularly
the objects of his desires All these no would often
(havng stolen them) give away, and his appropria-
tivensss was for long while considered more as .
Greatness" than any symptom of deeply. seated de-
pravity. He was, however, at an early age, con-
victed Of highway robbery, and served out term
Of seven years in the State prison. While there, his
conduct was very untractable, and he was conse-
quently detained after the expiration Of the original
sentence. Since his liberation he has proceeded in
a very incorrgible STYLE though he was, by reason
Of his skilfulness in the management and grooming
Of horses, always enabled to obtain good service
brother Of his is at present an inmate OF State
prison, and another died in the Jail where he him
selfwas confined, under circumstances which will be
related hereafter.
The victim Of the crime which he has just ex-
plated, was Mary Robbins, the wife Of q farm Ia.
borer at Oomac. Her body was found tied by q cord
to the bed post, the throat having been. cut,
and the person exhibiting other marks Of vic.
lence, which led TO the supposision that an
other crime had been previously perpetrated, or
at least attempted. The prisoner was known to
have been in the habit of going to her cottage, and
do till the eleventh hour, be denied his guilt While
in prison, he told another with whom he could COM
muncate, to CO. as soon as he could get out, to GER
tain door Of Mr.. Conklns barn. over which he would
find concealed pocket book containing twenty shl-
lings. That person communicated the fact to Mr..
Conklin, and the pocketbook was found as describ-
ed This was Immediately identified as one belong
ing to the murdered woman, and its contents
ponded with o sum she was known to have had in
her possession This Circumstance the principal
evidence relied on at the trial in the September
term Of the Court Of Oyer and Terminer.
MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.
Shortly after his committal fol- trial. brother was
incRrcerated in the same JAIL on some charge OF lar
ceny One day some cakes were brought to them. This
was afterwards, the brother sickened and died very
suddenly, and notion has since become prevalent in
that part Of the country that an attempt was made
received the fatal dose by mistake: coroners in
quest was holden, however, and the body buried with
out thing further being divulged and it was net
until afterwards that the suspicion arose.
CONDUCT IN JAIL.
The wretched man, from the period Of his arrest,
has perseyered in a most determined and logged
silence upon the subject Of the CHARGE and has al
ways assumed a most revolving air Of indifference.
On the trial, he diverted himself by humming
tune, and striking his hand on his knee, in man.
ner common to his race; and his condemnation and
sentence made little no difference, except that
towards the close of his days his conduct became
more eccentric, and his health failed him. he de-
clined all religious consolation, and showed in some
cases, strong feelings of antipathy towards the
clergy, but always expressed his readiness to die,
with stoicism he preserved to the last moment.
He would not allow his hair, nails, or beard TO be
cut, but allowed them to grow to great length.
Once, for . long time, he adhered, apparently, to
determination to starve himself, and refused all
his food, which accumulated in his cell; end then,
changing his mind, he deyoured it ravenously, in
such quantity that, had suicide been his object,
and his organization that of an ordinary man, he
would have accomplished his aim by the
contrary means; even as it was, seriou:
illness ensued. These attempts he seemed
to have abandoned, but there was some ridculou:
story afoat about his trying to kill himself by eat
ing bottles and glasses which he alluded to and de-
MED, when under the fatal tree.
His dislike to the priests was principally directed
against Mr.. Tibblcs, Methodist preacher of River
head, who sought several opportunities of seeing
him. but the convict always refused, in such fashion
IS this Minister Well, Charley, how do yor
do to day g CHARLEY suppose, you'd like t'
:. hate you and wish you would keep away
Minister" Why | never injured You, and -
Charley" know that but dislike you; and
wish you would keep away, for Jesus sake Not
outstanding this strong appeal, Mr.. I. did not en-
tirely comply with his request, until The sheriff ant
jailer excluded him.
Mr. Lockwood, pastor Of the Congregations
Church, he said gentleman, and his visits III
rermitted--but they were of little avail IL seenet
that his spirit was, unhappily, obdurate to de
rive any consolation from the reverend gentle man
preaching. Prayers he would not have, but sait
they might pay for him somewhere else II they hat
a mind to. but he didn't want them.
The evidence, stated above, being considered
by some few, in conjunction with his perssten
ayowals Of innocence, somewhat weak, the idea 0
q petition for a Communication suggested to him
but the convict replied" oh If have any friend
here don't let them do that, for Gods sake Dom
send me to the State prison-ld sooner be hung"
| PREPARATIONS FOR THE ExEoUTToN-vIsIT TO TIL
CONDEMNED CELL.
On Thursday morning. John Clark, Esq thu
Sheriff. arrived from his residence at Greenport, ant
the preparations for the execution were completed
In small yard adjoining the Jail gnllows wa
erected precisely after the model of those used il
New York, of great strength, but Of plain pine
wood; and boarding being placed in the front ant
rear to the height Of about twenty.hve feet, space
little more than sufficient for the occasion was en-
closed, completely screened from the view of thu
merely idle OF morbdy curious gazer.