Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-08
Affecting Interview in the Cell Of Arthur
Spring.

The Philadelphia Sun gives the follow
in interview between Arther Spring (who
is to suffer for his crime next Friday and
his son in the cell of the prison:
The authorities, considering that last
interview between the father and his son,
might be conducive to confession of the
truth, telegraphed on to Washington to
request the attendance of the son. With
almost the speed of the message, he few
to the cell of his condemned parent, ac-
companied by Rev. John Street, Mr.
kensh. and the Chaplain. He entered the
cell Of the doomed man, with a counte-
nance full of the deepest grief. He looked
on his father for moment, then with
convulsive cry, he threw himself upon
bis bosom, and with bursting emotion,
exclaimed.
My father my dear father!''
TIE father, equally moved, cried:
My son my son! my darling O,
my darling boy. ~ ard almost devourod
him withkisses. Tears flowed copiously ::
the fountain Of affection seemed broken
up, and nature triumphed.
AS soon as the son could command the
power Of speech, he said, so beseechingly:
''Oh, my father, my father, have pity
upon me: oh. have pity, and tell the
truth Do, . do, say I am innocent.
Oh, you know I am. My dear, dear
father, you know | am innocent -
The father, thus appealed to, groaned
aloud, and strained him to his bosom,
with the most intese affection, answering ::
My son, my darling, | will tell the
truth !"
Eagerly seizing on the expression, the
son followed up his weeping request.
ooh, my father, have pity upon me ::
oh, do say am innocent! You know
had nothing to do with the murder of the
woman 7"
Sill that man Of iron nerve, although
convulsed with agony, answered cautious
ly, and in general terms.
MY dear, dear boy-I will do what
ever can for you; will die for you"
Another gush Of grief relieved The swell
ling bosom Of the weeping youth, and
again, in the most affecting manner, he
said:
90, my father, my dear father, YOU
know | love you 0 that [ could die in
ycur stead. For what is life to me now {!
My course of misery is already begun.
The gloomy future grows darker every
day. You are soon to die: few brief
painful hours will close your earthly suf
ferings: but mine, 0 my father, my SUI:
terings. where are they to terminate? !
am already pointed at and avoided. Where
shall hide my head if you die without
clearing me from the dreadful crime Z!
Worse than Cain, shall be regarded as
the murderer Of my father! Q how can |
bear to live -
Then, in an agony of grief, he tenderly
upbraided him.
80, my father, my father, you have no
pity-you have no pity. You see nc
bowed down with grief, and you will
make it deeper and darker by withhold
ing the truth. 0, tell the truth. and die
happy! Now while clasp you in ny
arms, let me bring you to God and ask
forgiveness, and die in peace. Q, how
can you die without telling the truth z"
10 all these touching appeals the deep
ly agitated father returned indirect or
evasive answers, as if, in the storm of
grief he took counsel in his gloomy soul,
so to answer as not to oriere bis son, n0T
commit himself! Their excited feeling
becoming somewhat calm, they could
speak with more composure. The father
gently upbraided the son, as being the in
strumental cause of his conviction' This
brought on a passion of grief And he
conyulsively sobbed ont:
40, my father, what could do, when
compelled to testify; I had to speak the
truth. 0, forgive me, forgive me, dear
father, my heart was with you, while my
lips spoke the painful truth. O forgive
men
Il forgive you, my darling: but not
Burns nor Raglan"
''Oh yes, my dear father, all; oh, for
give all, and make your peace with
hcaven.'
The gentlemen present knelt in solemn
prayer for the weeping parent and ago
nizcd child. Afterwards they proposed
to leave them alone for little while, and
thus addressed the father:
'Arthur, the world has condemned YOU
rs no longer fit to live. 1t has been re-