Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-02
rs. &c.. in a very light and Indifferent


manner. He asked the Sheriff, '' Don't
YOU hate to do it ?" When he answered,
e. Yes, indeed 1 do" he laughed. Al
ter these services. the rope was adjust
ed about his neck, and at his earnest en-
'ltreaties and with the advice of the minis
tiers and physicians on the ground,
glass of wine was given him. He was
then led on to the drop and the rope fast
ened to the beam above his head. He
insisted upon being given as much rope
as possible, declaring that it could mol
break, and the Sheriff having every con-
fdence in it. gratifyed him by giving
him the whole length-admisting of a
drop of about five feet.
i He then requested, and Mr.. William
son gave him. ten minutes to say anything
he might wish to the spectators. His re-
marks were very unconnected. a great
part of them repeated number of times,
aud were spoken too low to be audible
more than twenty feet i; we give. howev-
er, the substance OF them. and in as neal
as possible his own words. He said:
Il have nothing against any mani
love everybody-I think l have no enc
mles-l hope to meet You all in Heaven
He then turned 10 the sheriff and asked
- Does 1t make any difference if | say
whatever l choose to-do Jou care what
say 20 Upon being told to saw lust
what he pleased, he proceeded" / don't
know what made me do it. If nv father
hadn't moved from the bend of the river.
l should now be as Mr.. Williamson. here.
(pointing to the sheriff. and the rest OF
these people are, free and at liberty
Since that time have had FIVE changes,
and expected to have had another. but
new don't expect to have it. | have
dreampt a great many dreams, and Geo.
Holleyfeld dreampta dream that always
expected would come true until now. but
now | know must die upon the gallows.
| believe dreams are miracle great
many people do not believe dreams are a
miracle. love everybody know /
am going TO Heaven-if everybody was
as sure DIGGING TO Heaven as | am, there
would be no need of hell. never saw
50 many people together before-I hope
you will not do as | have done-I would
be a warning to everybody-I hope
will be warning to everybody. In 1859
| wouldn't have done as l do now, and
as these people do. listen to religious
worship l have had FIVE changes-the
first change was when l cut my foot, and
that led me 10 this galloWs work. Ihave
been punished a great deal in this world
m l,a
people. l have cousin in Heaven-she
was taken away. and Mr.. johnson 1.-THE
Ijailer) became my master. l have had
three masters-my father was the frs,
Samuel Crislip 1.-THE man whose child he
killed, was the second, and Mr.. j ohnson
the third. Mr.. johnson has given me
sixteen chances to escape. but took only
one-the Lord Wouldn't let me get away"
He then shook hands with, and bid farewell
to those on the scaffold with him, ba de good
bye to one of the guards below, and the
cap was drawn over his eyes. He then
said " goodbye" when the sheriff with
drew the support from the drop. and he
fell to the ground, the rope breaking close
to the beam above his head. A portion
f of the crowd rushed towards the scaffold
as he fell. and were only kept off by the
bayonets of the guard. The sheriff hur-
ried down and loosened the rope. which
had been drawn quite tight, leaving a
mark all around his neck. The frs,
words spoken by the unfortunate young
man were, Lord have mercy on me 20
He was considerably injured. but soon
recovered. and was again conducted upon
the scaffold. He then asked wha- DIOR
he was. and plead the sheriff 20 lr. the
volunteers shoe him. While the rope
WAS being adjusted around his neck the
second ,ime. l,e Wa sitting in chair
near the edge of the >caifolI, and asked
the Sheriff to let him sec the rope, where
and how it broke. Mr.. williamson hand
ed 1t to him. when he attempted 10 kill
himself. by throwing himself heaIlong
from the Scatfold. His movements were
~ quick that the officers. although stand
ing close TO him were unable to prevent it.
He was hurt very little. If any. and was
Immediately again taken upon the scat.
ioId. the rope fixed, and he placed upon
the drop. This time he went on to the
drop with considerable reluctance. and i,
was with some difficulty that he was iniu.
ced to stand in the proper position. All
was. however. soon made ready. the drop
let fall. and the miserable man launched
into the presence of that just God. who
Judges alike of the quick and the dead
There was but little struggling of the bo-
dy. few convulsive shudders and ner-