Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-06
From the Balumprs Sun.
Execution of woodward.

in foTtyOne years, took place to-day ana OahiSA
r. Woodward has paid the forfeit of his life
Yesterday afternoon the unfortunate man e&-
pressed desire 10 receive the Holy Sacrament
| the Lords Supper. The Rev. MIR. Smith couiu
not under the discipline of his denomlnauon' ao,
miniSterit. Rev. Mr.. Scrivener, being only oil
the order of deacon in the Melhou'ss chu ,si
was not authoTized-So the application was haue
directly TO the Rev. S. K. Cox. That gentleman
had from the beginning been one oil the ialthiu \!
spiritual advisers of WoodwnTd-anu 10 tne sPi,ltt
cation Of Woodward he frankly responded IhI I
he viewed the sacrament as most noly anu ~
emn serrice-and that he could not, conscien
tiously, administer it unless the prisoner Wou!u
make an open full aud frank confession Oi n.s
crime before God and his fellow men. 10 'hls
Woodward replied Indignantly that upon tnOSe
could Get 10 heaven without it-lnd made many
other remarks dictated by reckless Vainslorlous
shirt. The ministers of religion present were
exceedingly grieved al this Interview. but used
every exertion to allay improper feelings on the
mart Of Woodward.
when the unfortunate man sgnifed 10 his spiritual
advisers that they could leave him, as their ser
vices were not necessary until morning, they re-
turned to their homes. Woodward lail down
about halr-p eleven o'clock, and, with slight
intermssIon, slept well until hali-past four this
morning. MeSSrs. Bell and Latruite, assistant jail
lors, watched IN the cell during that entire period
At near five O'Clock this morning Woodward
arose, perfectly calm and cheerful, and soon wash
ed him.elE He remarked to Mr.. Bell that he pre-
sumed as this was the appointed day. that auef
washing, his irons would be removed-and, soon
after, under, the authority of the marshal, that
was done. HIS letters off; Woodward proceeded
to dress himself, and occupied considerable time
in atliring in a suit of black-dresS coat, black
satin vest, black pants and gaiter boots.
IAbout half paStls seven, Rev. S. X. Cox, oil the
Methodist Protestant Church, and Rev. John
Scrivener, of the Methodist Church South, arrived
at the iail but Woodward was not ready TO receive
them until the lapse of half an hour. he break
tasted pl .asantly on tea and bread sent HIM by
some kind lady in the neghborhood, and then
conyersed with Mr. Bell considerably about the
gallows, the process of hanging, and how the cuI-
nrit looked. At an carly hour the Rev. John U.
Smith reached the Jail, and soon after Rev. MIR.
Brown, of Wesley Chapel; but Woodward had de-
termined to spend the morning IN sohtuue anu
reading, so that the ministers only entered prayed
! at intervals, as they were desired by the doomed
man.
AS the hour oil dissolution approachedh: his calm
ness and determination seemed 10 increase, and
instead of being the unfortunate culprit, whose
crime was about to be expiated .on gallows, he
assumed the air of master spirit director OF the
entire arrangements; and, SO far as compatible
with duty, his wishes were gratilied in every re-
spect.
Marshal, with his deputies, DR.. Chaplin and Mr..
Phillips arrived al the prison; and shortly alter
CAPTAIN BuTche, Chief of the Auxiliary Guard,
with large possee Of that body, and Mr. Steel IN
charge of the day police, reached the jail and
reformed efficient duty in keeping the walls, and
other prominent points oil the PRISON Tree from the
intrusion ofSpeotators.
BY ten O'Clock every house, every lofty emf
nence, and dwellings with platforms erected on
/ the roofs in the neighborhood, were crowded with
boys, children, men and women oil all classes anu
ages, so that notwiillstandii the heighth of the
\ Jail wall, and the precaution taken TO carry Out
the law in all its spirit and intent, some hundreds
of persons did, from distance, witness the dread
| full scene.
several of his professional advisers were also pres
ent. and noticed among the invited citizens the
| Mayor of Washington, 2. r. Fendal, Esq, u. 5.
District Attorney, Messrs. RatcliT and Key
Col. Thompson, counsel for Woodward on his
trial, and n gentleman named o'Sulllyan' iEom
| New York, then proceeded 10 the Executive Man.
sim, and made another thrilling and powerful ap'
neal TO the President for a respite or a conmuta'
| ton of his dreadful sentence; but the Executive
| kindly and firmly reiterated his conviction oil the
fairness of Woodward's trial and other views, ant
respectfully declined any Interference in the case
Col. II. returned TO the prison and babe his cilen
| farewell.
Al eleven O'Clock, Woodward was shredded il
| a long full black gown and his arms were plnon'
ed, but nothing of this PRODUCED any perceptlb!t
| change in his countenance, anil to one oil liz
| ministers, Ito whom he was peculiarly attached,
" tho pressed him in quiet manner for confession
he replied that he u0Ouh not CRAFTY the public IL
that respect.
foot of the stairs in the Jail, waiting The approncl
of solemn official procession OF the Marshal, hi'
aids officers, cleTgymen, culprt, and Others, judge
| of my surprise when discovered on the landing
place above, with rather smile, clothed i'll black
his gown partially drawn up in his folded arms, {
| black hat tasefully placed on his head, the man,
the murderer Woodward; he was the foremost man.
closely followed by the ministers of the law, anC
his spiritual advisers. In the advance, he deScen
died the stairs, quickly and firmly walked TO the
CalIows up the steps of which he ran rs gayly n!
| il it were some place of amusement. His action
| his look, his dc pertinent forced shudder OF hor
TOR on all present, but this feeling was considers
bly, augmented when the prisoner took stand OF
the platform, coolly surveyed the crowds before re-
! ferred 10, then stepped the centre drop piece
took hold of the rope, and made some objection tC
the length Of the dr. p, (three fee and then stoop
ing and giving directions about pinioning his OWL
legs, all present seemed 10 relax and stand almost
petrfed at the astonishing, Notwithstanding exhi-
| bition.
Rev. John C. Smith addressed the Throne OF Di-
VINE grace briefly and fervently. At the close
| Woodward took his position on the drop. Mr.
Hoover removed his hat and placed on his head the
black cap, but Woodward Immediately raised his
hand and threw the sable covering up over his eyes
and this he did several times, SO that the whole
face was fully exposed TO view.
AT this juncture the officers of the law, minis
tiers of the gospel, and other friends babe Wood
ward last farewell, and left the platform, the Uni
| ted States Marshal and the Rev. Mr. Smith only
remaining.
Woodward then knelt down, and with his face
turned upwards, appeared to be devoutly engaged
in pr1yeT-his lips moving rapidly, and with appa
rent enTneStneSS. Here he remained several min.
utes, then arose and stood for few seconds will
uplifted head Us if engaged in devotion. Al his
request, the Marshal kindly granted Woodward
the privilege OF signilyIng his readiness 10 depart
At twenty minutes 10 twelve O'Clock, Woodward
lowered his head and made the signal 10 the Mar
slal by tossing him white pocket handkerchief
which he held in his hand. The Marshal there
upon touched the sprtug-the drop quickly fell,
aud the unfortunate man paid the highest penalty
Of the law.
When he fell, Woodward gave usudJen momen-
tary jerk of his hands, and soon nfler short mus
culOr action of his legs, but ii was soon over.
| After the body had been suspened % minutes,