Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-12-03
State Affairs

SENTENCE OF pEATn.--A correspondent of the
Richmond Dispatch writing from Staunton, Nov.
2sth SAYS: "Sentcnce Of death vas this day passed
on Andrew Hemphill 1ryer and Henry Wilson,
who had been found guilty Of the murder of VIM.
Coleman. AT 10 O'Clock in the morning. the court
met, and the Clerk, Mr.. n. {. kurney, calling on
the prisoners To stand up aud speak, if anything
they had to say before sentence was read, Trayer
rose and in disconnected manner. aud in IA
tremuous voice, made a few remarks, ussevcra-
ting his innocence positively and emphoticaly.
Wilson also very briefly stated that he was ''inno-
cent, and knew nothing about it," aud sat down,
Judge l.. L. Thompson then, in a very impressive,
solemn and feeling manner, pronounced sentence
of death by hanging, on the 9th Of January noxt
between the hours of / and > O'Clock.
The courthouse filed with persons from
all parts of the county, and all seemed 10 feel sen
sibly durinS the progress of the awfully serious
ceremony.
BURNT TO DEArH-A most distressing casual
ty occurred a few miles South of Emaus, in this
county, ON Saturday afternoon last by which two
persons (slrs. Nancy spradln widow Of the late
Abner Spradln dec, aged about 10, and her
daughter, Mahala, probably some - years of
age) lost their lives The particulars of this
shocking event, related to Us, are ns follows:
They had both left the house II which they re
sided and had gone into the adjoining woods for
the purpose of getting "turn of bark aud up
on returning, after short absence. they dscoy-
cred portion of the roof enyelopcd in sheet of
flame. Anxious TO save portion of their prop
erty, they went into the house. and succeeded in
removing bed from the ground floor to place
of safety, They then re-entered, in the hope of
being able 10 rescue other articles of their fur
I'm Ia oil I,t
nately in the attempt, became the prey of il
themselves
We learn, further. that ON the afternoon of the
same day, and but short distance from 'he scere
of the above disaster, an old negro man was Also
burnt to death. He had been let by some of the
family sitting by the fire place, IN the kitchen Of
Mr.. L. Xix. During their absence. he had as il
is supposed fallen from his sent. and, upon their
return, was found lying ON the fre-hs body
partially onsumed.-Bedford Sentinel.
Az INDIAN MouNp.-The Wheeling Intclligen
Ger gives an interesting description of the open
ing of an Indian mound, at Grave Creek. The
exploration was effected by DIR. w DE IIass, as
sisted by several men. The mound is about
13 feet in height, and 2l0 feet in circumference
On penetrating about II feet, stone work was
traced beneath, which proved To have been IA
vault extending some Is or l6 feet in its greatest
diameter, and sinking To the depth of 6 feet in its
centre 4 stratum of ashcs-supposed to be hui
man-was discovered beneath the stone.
The most singular and interesting feature of
the mound, was the centre. Immediately beneath
the ashes and at the depth of eighteen feet from
the summit of the mound, was discovered that
which the gentleman conducting the examination
believes TO have been the altar Covering a
space ofabout three feet, directly in the centre,
was found several layers of large flat stone.-
Lifting these, appeared the usual deposit of ash
es which, ON removal,reveaied well formed com
pact body OF aohiie clay four inches in thick
ness, eighteen inches in breadth, and two feet in
lenghth. This found on careful examination
to rest upon stratum of four inches in thickness
of very coarse sand. This was enthusiastically
the altar, and the mound, beyond all question.
one of sacrifice
Before entering fully upon the vault, the re-
mains of a humah skeleton showing strong indi-
cations OF ire, were found and near by, two con-
per wristlets of very neat and truly artistic exc
cutlon large flint spear point was also found
The scientific world will look with interest to
the results OF these explorations. The antiquities
OF Western Virginia are among the most remark
able to be found on this continentand are attract
ing much attention, both in this country and
Europe.--R. Dispatch.