Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-02
The Execution at l'hillippi.

o1sthe 9th of February last Until
within day or two of his execution. he
confidently expected Communication of
his sentence, and manifested but little
concern about his impending fate. He.
however. day or two before that ap-
pointed for his execution, became fully
impressed with the danger of his condi-
ton, and seemed TO have great repug-
nance to being hung. begging the Sheriff
to shoot him. Upon being informed that
that could not be done. he expressed a
desire to see the rope that had been pre-
pared for his exeeution-to see il it was
strong enough. The Sheriff. Mr.. John
R. Williamson. grati6ed him by taking
the rope to the jail and letting him ex-
anime it. After inspecting it closely and
trying its strength. the unfortunate pri-
soner declared himself satisfied with it.
On the day before his execution. he
attempted. and nearly succeeded in eff
fecting his escape. On the morning of
that day. when the jailer. Mr. Garrett
johnson, went into his cell to remove the
ashes. Board asked him TO let him have
the shovel and he would take up the ash
es. Mr., Johnson replied. mo, Tom, if
you want to do anything, you may re-
move that basin of water. pointing to one
near the fire. in which he had been wash
ing. Board Immediately seized the ba-
sin, dashed it into the corner of the cell,
and darted out of the door with the ra-
pidity of thought. The door not being
so constructed that it could be fastened
upon the inside. it had only been shut
In attempting to seize him as he was
passing through the door. Mr.. johnson
got his fingers in the crack of the door,
and Board pulling it quickly shut after
him, tore the skin badly off one of them
He quickly relieved himself, however.
and started in pursuit of his prisoner, who
had escaped out of the jail into the Cour,
house yard. and overloaded him Just as
he was leaping the fence into the street.
He stoutly resisted at first. but on the
approach of assistance. he gave himself
up and was quietly taken back into the
jail.
On the morning of the fatal day. and
even the evening before, notwithstanding
the inclemency of the weather-it rain
ing all the time-peOple from all quarters
commenced focking into the town. Old
gray bearded men and downy chined
boys-women and children--motners
with their infants-fathers with their ia
milies-gallants with their sweet hearts,
and niggers with their dogs-all were
there, who could raise horse or would
trust their legs; the number of the fair
sex was extremely large. Two women
walked twenty-three miles through the
rain and mud Of Thursday last, to see the
execution.
The arrangements of the Sheriff were
very well made to execute the sentence Of
the law in as humane manner as posi-.
BILE. A rope was made for the express
purpose, of flaxen shoe thread. and con-
tanned three hundred strands, well braid
ed and twisted together, capable of sus-
tanning at least tn ousand pounds. The
scaffold was erected about half mile
west of Phillippi, and was some twelve or
thirteen feet high; the gallows-tree being
SO me twenty feet high. The drop was
hung upon iron hinges, and supported at
the other end by board so attached to a
lever. that it could be instantly and east
ly Withdrawn, letting the drop fall with
out the least obstruction.
Spiritual consolation had been admin
istered to the doomed prisoner by Rev,
Henry A. Stevens. Josiah w. Reeves and
others, who besought him to prepare foi
his final transit from this to the eternal
world. He manifested little or IL" anxi-
ETY. about his fate until a day or Two be
fore his execution, but on the morning of
that day he acknowledged the justice o!
his sentence and declared his Willingness
to die, and his faith in a happy hereafter
At 12 O'Clock, the prisoner was taken
from the Jail by the Sheriff. accompanied
by his deputies, Jacob STERN. Thomas a.
Williamson. Garrett johnson. the jailor.
and the Barbour Blues, commanded by
Lieut.. Stephen Holt. as guard. The
prisoner. who was rather good looking
young man. about "a years old. with fine
black whiskers. and without anything par
ticularly striking about his countenance.
was dressed in white. with black glazed
muslin cap. and was taken to the place OF
execution in a wagon. The sheriff and