Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-09-14
A True Sketch.

the social glass.
t A True Sketch.
The following faithful picture, drawn by
JAMES IL. SMITH, Esq, Associate Editor of
the Wilmington Free Press, actually tran
spired in our own City of Raleigh. We we'll
remember the soul-thrilling cries and harrow
ing shrieks Of the heart-broken mother. We
stood near the gallows as the unfortunate
victim was prepared for the fatal drop, and
warned the multitude around to beware of
strong drink, the foul demon that had brought
him to his awful end. Anxiously he looked
for, and seemed to expect, the approach of a
Courier bearing the Governors Reprieve,
and writhing under terror and suspense, he
would cry" 1t is hard-it is hard for one
so young to die the felon's death-Oh! whis-
key, whiskey--cursed whiskey! it has ruined
me-" The last five minutes of his time had
come the Sheriff adjusted the rope and
death-cap-the fatal cord was strickland
poor MADISON JOHNSON hung between Heaven
and earth-the disgraced and lifeless victim
Of strong drink.-ED. SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
In the days of my boyhood I knew
young man who was in the 18th year of
his age, or thereabouts. The healthy blood
flowed in his veins, and he bid fair to live
many years. But, although nurtured by
tender parents and taught to avoid evil
practices, he mingled in evil company, and
at last began to drink liquor. His father,
who kept grog shop, ascertaining that he
drank to excess, forbid the clerk from letting
his son have any, on pain of being dis
charged. A few days after this ORDER the
young man entered his fathers shop, and
demanded drink of brandy.
Your father has positively forbade me
letting you have any," said the good-na-
tured clerk.
"I don't care what he or you says either"
shouted the young man, for his passion
was becoming ungovernable.
"You can't have any liquor from this
place, sir"
{" cannot ?"
" Not drop"
"Then I'll have something 'else," said
the young man, fercely, drawing pistol
from his pocket and presenting it at the
frightened clerk.
"Give me liquor"
"I'll die first"
"Then die, I'll have liquor"
GA report, and the clerk fell corpse
on the floor The murderer was arrested
Mad with the effects of brandy, he ragged
the more those around endeavored to paci-
fly him. He became the sole occupant of
dismal dungeon-the felon's home, and
too often the poor drunkard's home. The
unfortuuate youth was left alone-alone
with his own conscience and with no eye
to watch the operations of remorse when he
became sober, but the eye of the Eternal.
The awful day of his trial is at hand. He
is put upon his trial and pleads not guilty
}, Counsel use every stratagem to clear him,
but after a patient investigation, twelve
honest and capable men pronounce hin
GUILTY OF MURDER. The Judge with q
sad heart yet an unyielding sense of duty
pronounces the dreadful sentence of death
upon the doomed man. He is remanded
back to his dungeon home, where, cut off
from hope, in this world, he might prepare
) for eternity.
The revolving wheels of time bring tht
fatal Friday and crowds of men are gath
ering here and there-every pulse beating
wildly. The law will be enforced, Blu
what grief stricken group is this who are
vending their way to the Governors man
sion They are the parents of the doom
y ed youth. They are making another sou
moving appeal to the Governor. See they
5 are kneeling at his feet, and are pleadn!
for the first pledge of their early love. Tn,
IS wild screams of the heart broken mothe
g ring out clear upon the air and reach ever
P the cell of her beloved son. But there is
l. voice far louder than the terrific wall @
: that mother. Justice thunders to the of
r fccr, I" See thou pardon him nos-bloot
! for blood" Hope has fed-all is lost
Il With the crowd we hasten to the prison
The time has come to proceed to the plac
/" where the horrible tragedy shall terminate
: Behold him o, God save me from scene S
overwhelmingly appalingly. He comes ou
: of his Shiny cell dressed in the habiliment
of the grave. His mother, his once belO'
;. ed mother, is there waiting to give him on
u u parting embrace, He kneels down an
} asks her to forgive him for breaking he
poor heart, becoming a drunkard and col
:. sequently murderer. Weep, ye angel
:, over scene like this. Oh, youth of A
;. merica-be warned by his confession.
. was Rum that done it all. The Sheriff pr
/, ceeds to the fatal spot The agitated crow
: follows. They reach the place. After
ct short prayer, the criminal ascends the sea
le fold. The rope and cap is adjusted, a sho
re pause, and then dull, heavy sound fal
ID upon the air, and the stiffness ofdeath COM
al over the assembled multitude.
We Justice says I am satisfed-the victi
ny was slain. Rum had done its work.