Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-16
Tbe 1xeoution of arthur sprin,g..

general Indifference TO his fate. HIS conversation
I in bis cellwith his spiritual advisers, according
10 the published reports, consist of a series oil
declarations and calculations, with little coheren
cy, and nothing 10 inducet the slightest confidence
in his sincerity with regard to any thing he said.
The only alterations seem to have been, from
having andsirreysrent EXPLANATIONS, in the name
OF Jesus, TO uncouth and revolving jests respecting
his condition and approaching fate.
The statement CT events from near midnight OF
Tuesday up to the hour of execution are mainly
included in the following sketch:
PRISONERS CELL, NEAR MIDNIGHT.
10 Thursday Night, June 9-After religious ser
vices, by the Rev. Messrs. Street and Kensil,
Spring was asked how he feltl He answered.
"F never felt better in my life.a Ineyerl murder
ed any person, and expect TO die a Christian. I
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ-and that he
alone can forgive my sins and wash my soul in his
blood, and that he alone can save me- and never
did believe in anything else. also believe in
the resurrection of the body, and in judgement to
come, and Lille everlasting after death; and that
every man must give an account of every action o.
his life, whetherit be good or evil and in place
of misery for the wicked.n t-iH
To aqueston put to him, with the open Bible
in is hand1-Do you feel that God, 70. Ghrist's
sake, accepts you and forgives you2 he answered,
al trust he does, and death does not trouble me.''
To question put to ,him-tDo you, in the fear OF
God, before whom you will appear IN a few no rs,
forgive every one who has IN any way or man
ner injured you?" he answered-ttI do, and
trust He will forgive me as forgive them" '7s-
His last statement was-Although the boy
brought home the money, he neveritold me that he
murdered the womeni neither do believe he
knew anything about the murder, for if he had he
would have told me. Neither do believe he had
any hand in it. These are to be considered es
my dying words. '' IKE ZIG
He had previously gone into along detail ESQ
K often to) about his sons visit to Mrs. Shaw and
Z Mrs. Lynch after midnight, aud bringing home
I the money, Hethen, in positive terms declared
he was in bed on the night of the murder; and
though the son brought home the money and put
liitn his pocket-book, yet he declared he believed
his son had no handin the murder of thewomen,
and that he is entirely clear. I'D So
z After having got through his statement, he COM
menced to joke and'laugh, although reminded OF
the necessity of being solemn. He said, "I have
got long journey to take in the morning, but
dom think they will get me OF until after dinner,
as i want to lay in good stock of proyisions.''-
And then he went on to relate an anecdote in
relation to two men swimming race. The one
of themtook weeks provision on his back, and
when the other saw this he gave up the bet.
The prisoner then laughed hea tily until re-
minded of his condition. To this he remarked
that he could not help 1t, as he glad to get
off. In answer TO remark that every person in
The community believed him guilty, and that we,
his spiritual advisers, believed it also, he said,
ttyou must think am Creek" and thus he went
on until we left him, about midnight, to take the
last sleep previous to awakening in eternity.
After she departure of the Rev. Messrs. Street
and Kensil, the chaplain of the prison, the Rev.
Mr.. Alexander, took their place, and the prisoner,
hours. He awoke about O'Clock, and Joined in
prayer wththe Rev. Alexander. The prisoner then
prayed for the welfare OF his son, and asked Mr..
Alexander to Join him IN prayer Tor his dear Ar
thur. The religious services were continued up to
z o'clock, with occasional intermissions, d.ring
which Spring asseverated his innocence, and his
belief that his son was also clear oftse guilt oil
blood. 81
least four hundred. Withoutthe prison there are
about two hundred scattered around, including a
large body of police. f-s 49,,
~ Attorney General Reed received letter from
Governor Bigler this morning, in reply to a iques
ton whether there was any hope of a respite. The
Governor states In the most emphatic TERMS tina
the condemned must give up that hope, that he
had determined not to exercise any clemency to.
war,s him.
The letter from the Governor was read TO hin
by Mr.. Reed, butitfaileIto produce the least e E
feet upon him, and he asseyerated his own limo
cence. 80
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION. ~
The preparations for proceeding to the prison
yard were completed within few minutes of Il
O'Clock, and the various official bodies formed il
procession, and awaited the coming of the prison
er in the court yard, withinthe northern gate. "A
IL o'clock the prisoner entered the yard, aud thl
procession CONNIE nced its solemn march.
THE EXECUTION.
The condemned man was seen 10 tremble whei
he gazed upon the large number assembled, an
on catching the first glimpse of the gallows mel
yous.trembling was apparent, but still he walked
firmly and assembled the steps boldly
The reverend gentlemen, and the Sheriff, ant
Mars hal, assembled with HIM, and the religious ex
ercises were commenced by singing a hymn. Th.
prisoner kept his eyes closed most of the time. &
Upon the conclusion ofthe hymn, the Rev, Mr.
Street, thus addressed him: IS
Arthur Spring, you have been convicted ant
Sentenced to death for the murder of Honora Shaw
| and Ellen Lynch, and the execution of that sen
tence is now about to take place. We have no
n 0f fafa md a.
to repent and make your peace with God. l nov
ask you, in the presence of Almighty God, befor
whom you will shortly stand, are you guilty or no
guilty of the murder of these women?
Prisoner-No siri no 81!
MIR. Street.-The Grand Jury have also, by the
presentmeni, charged you with the murder of Mr.
Rink. Are you guilty or not guilty of that crime?
Ptisoner-No sir. i never saw the man in M
life. 81 - -
Mr.. Street, have another and last question {,
ask you. Before God, is your son, Arthur Sp:ing
entirelyclear Of. the murder of Mrs. Shaw and Mrs
Lynch. - b
+ Prisoner believe he is. He had no more t,
do with it Than 1 had. Hs=r ~
At this response there was q general groan frou
the spectators, which was, however, but momen
Mr.. streetthen said, oMay God have mercy up
on your soul.',s, ~
| 8 Alfupon the scaffold then kneeled, antlthe Rev
Mr.. Kensir prayed in the most feryent manner.
AT the conclusion, the prisoner smoke few
words to Mr.. Street, aud that gentleman was abou
10 repeat it, when the sheriff interposed and toll
the prisoner TO speak himself.
lie then said that he went to bed on the night o
the murder at q O'Clock, and never knew anythin,
about ii until told by the officers.
The question was again asked him, lis your sol
| einnocentl' and he Ieplied: =
tdy son is entirely innocent of bloodp
Mr.. Alexander hele exclaimed, .Let this q
throughout the landp -
The reverend gentleman then left Tie gallows
alter Shaking hands with the prisoner. ass
Tile executiohef arranged the knot and drew
the cap over his face, and the Sheriff having lef
him, the props were removed from beneath The
| platform, aud, at quarter after IL O clock thu
drop fell, and the victim ofoffended Justice hum
between Heaven and earth.
he fell about two feet and half, and it wa
thought dislocated his neck. as with the exception