The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-20
Exc. ati0n or Jennings, for she Murder Oh
VILE rS. at %. jose ph, Mo.

account OF tie execution Of Augp~ens Jennings for
being patty TO the muIdsrof man pamed W llard,
committed near ST .Joseph, more toan year ago.
The narticuors OF che case have been frequently
nubljshed aud il is not necessary TO Iecapitulate
them rGe murder was de iberate and cruel one
Jennings was tried ana found guilty and others are
vet TO be tried for the offence 1t Is est mated that
ten or twelve thousand persons were present 70 WIT
ness the execution.
The condemned for week or two previous to his
execution, manifested considerable interest in the
subject Of religion, ard be was attended by the Rev.
Messrs Boyakin ana Vandeyenter who afforded
him all the consolation in their power Before leav.
ing the jail he babe a6ieu to his fellow prisoners,
who it is said, wept bitterly, while Jennings sup
pressed all emotions. He then took leave OF the
iailor ana family and expressed great gratitude for
The kindness he had received at their hands He
also expressed the same for the Sheriff, and then
took his seat ia the carriage with the Sheriff. three
ministers, and one or two other persons. large
procession, attended by the Robideaux Greys and a
posse summoned as guards, accompanied him to the
place OF his execution. DuriGg the whole OF this
time he mali tanned the utmost tranquility, andnever
betrayed the least sign Of emotion or fear
After reaching the gallows, he took h,s stand upon
the platform, wren the Rev. Mr.. Vandeventer ad
dressed the Almighty God in ,eiyeut and appro
pirate prayer After this service was over Jennings
delivered to the assembled multitude the following
address
stsnd here charged with q high crime, of which
have beer found guilty By jury Ct my ccuutry and
poS have TO die for it The public are desrous aud per-
that acted in the RuIder Of Willard AID that mind
is Ia view Of d ing and he JUG bar o. God Ia
70 'ns
this eth Of feelings would not permit me to enter into
The particulars that would co just to me to others
gagged with snd that would be ssts factory to this
corcourse Of people here noled. Anc petDg this
condition of thirgf, have, TIE past fou Eve days,
be en- cooy snd t-y reviewing the ~nois mat
tey and bsve carefully by the aid Of an amauuenss
written out the whO affair snd IN tbs Of six
eight gentlemen invited 90 roo for that purpose
rc~d cd ersci thx ar1a knaw
spd did in that matter-Hih the part that su others
bsle in that terrible trans action ard have ordered it to
you put possession Of s the details of that
transaction In making that full Free frank confession
have been prompted by i'll rnknd feelings to
on he earth Dor have catered to morbid pubic
taste to read marvellous deyeopements and wondrous
tales of crime from the prisoners cell have done it
have burned in my bosom for the last thirte long
months, and 9 sheer matter of justice to myself,
family arc my friends, and that the eods Of justice
might thereby b. better secured That confession is my
voluntary ard unconeT4ired confession, pouring
out thereby the whole secret treasure of heart made
without regard the testimony given my trial
.h8ever. The responsibility of that confession the
sequences inst may follow And its publication,
ire, wholly mine, and nobody else's, l have made,
and ordered il 10 be published. To that now fer
In reference my mind in view of death and the terri
bic judgment bar q God have the pleasure to state
to this concouTss that believe have peace With
God. Until days back my heart feelings
to gaze me ss1fn su AeS C
tod NE Of my sins, ard told me Of them 10 sucn o
way IS to touch ard soften my hssrt They directed
me 10 The Lamb Of God. Thsy went With me there In
OF the and honestly poured out whole soul in
confession OF my sins ard have assurance in my
own bosom that COD has forgiven eey all my fins
and enjoy the moatlons q religion Ny present
composure ard peace of mind is attributable to the
Christians hoEe and is honorable the Christian phi
losophy Amorg he great many frierd that generously
to my assistsrc IN this ny dark hour of sdver
sity beg 10 the Rev Meesrs Boy akin and vepds
venter, They have done their whole DUTY towards ne.
d6 YV0 hp NJ lv0so and
their high ard holy calling To them mainly uEd der
God am indebted for the corsolatcn and comforts Of
present my execution painful Us IL to them they
kindly consented, and are pieseot THIS to you all is
painful exhibition The most painful in eli the workings
of human government Justice l suppose requires it,
and with IL am rats6ed-to II we'll recoLciled per.
hsps. man Of 10y age temperament OF mind aud
Danger of bad and evil habits ardsnty hoae
to meet the pure in heart abowtru,ting alone in the
thief upon the Cross die in peace Amen
Another prayer was then offered by the Rev. Mr..
Boyskin, after which the unfortunate man expiated
his crime by suffering the extreme penalty Of the
law.
The Cycle also contains letter written by Jen
nnPs TO his parents in Ohio about week before bis
death, which shows man capable Of better things
than to have suffered felob's death. 1t is an
neyed:-
ST JOSEPH August 49, 1858.
Ny LEAR AND HosoRED PARES Wesley bas gos back
from Jefferson CITY and informs that the Governors
addressed to him in behalf, That he could
no ST. fctnt for the exercie Of executive Gle
the Governor and + Id him that had been advised by
some of the most prominent Of this place, that Il
the Governor refused TO grant the prayer Of the petition
ers 70 ask him If be world not grant respite until the
other tried who confined upon the same
charge wirh me- To this request the Governor reply
" That matter had teen set,led long ago So 1t
appears from this that my fate is sealed-that my
earthly is about to terminats-thst all hopes OF
executive Glen ency forever blasted, and
nrned .v,tn,,c doath and NJ
toD for other mems offences and not All
earthly means q restitution aao just Hcation
yet another tribunal before which we must ali appeal
and no matter how great the wrongs may recsve
here, there we shall receive our Just deserts.
Ny friends here were numerous, 20 werful and highly
IL NJ entail and they clustered around me in that
seemed TO indicate certain to their noble
beavers in my behalf But. alas their hopes and
rtcaons have been sadly blasted and their and
regret apears almost equal to my crushed feelings
Of tisoppoiDted hope.
Wesley has been TO me brother in deed aud in truth
He ~ been moot uDremitting and untirna in his
erttoos By his nocle generous and seltsacr idcing
ali. Even my most inveferae enemies are forced to
aepaud biz nsIliress OF heart feplemauly behavior
this trspsact,on He has done all that he could more
could dot ask Nancy, 700, has gained for herself
many invaluable friends AID golden opipions Of
respect srd esteem by her fidelity and unfolding at
tachment 10 me during the dark hours Of my vers
Amid all the scos end scorns and and cone mp.
ard copt'psy OF cold, unfselng and unc haritsble
and unchanged Amids dersion and abuse Of the
abomIsbe character sbe bss fear,essly stood BY me-
AID supported me and defended with zeal and
hielity hat las been truly remarkable Her Affections
have been the extreme She bsau harasssd
tom esd and ersecu-sd every hand. She has been
tcB h'rself She bss buried two innocent babes Add
row alss must lose her bu-bstd igpominiousy. God
forb'c that omipy ehould attach to her fair
name Dor little babes not lost, but have gons
Rome And II is ch .sriFg 10 reflect, that as long
mercy Tree, We may confidently hope TO clnsiitute
htpJy family in better world than this, where sick
ness SId orrow pain and DEATH felt and feared NO
have not besId from William Pro.tsman since his inter
view with the Governor He LETT here buoynnt with the
pfo'Itc6 o. success but presume his disastrous de-
feat bas almost crushed his NIGH heart He vent to
wort With zeal sbd earDetoess tba appeared TO know
no deDisl Bus be was forced TO sacrifice radiant intel
lsct and srakips genius at the shrine OF dsa ppontsd
hote All bis feelings dos Tres towards were really
ADD truly brotbery Another in 'ervew with him--hos
desirable II might be- would, perhaps. be unr
ssIiy painful 70 boh If Taking thia feeling into
siderstion IL ia very doubtful whether shall ever
sgsip behold him. At all events shall solicit
another Interview with HIM ove him q never ending
debt Of prsti,pde. Msy God reward him, des-rvnsly,
hs deep ard snt Christian charity and bepevo.
laxo IL. I.xll