The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-06-21

Ger tho welfare Of his son, and asked
MIR. Alexander to join him in
prayer for his dear Arthur. The
religious services we're continued up
to 7 o'clock. with occasional inter
rissions, during which Spring assev.
Grated h's innocence, anu his BELIEF
that his SOL. was also clear Of the guilt
Of blood.
The spectators within the prison
numbered at least tour nundred.--
Without the walls there are about
twn hundred scattered around, in.
clrdiry large body of police.
Atiorncy NcurraI Reed received
IA ietsrr frcn Governor B;glcr this
norn'ng, il reply to 4 G':r'tion as 10
wLeIhcr there was any hope Of lc.
spite. The Governor states in the
:nos. emphatic terms, that the con,
lcmncd nus. give ~ that hope that
b.. ia I,l"rminc'i not to exercise
ar.;' clcMencY towards him.
The letter from the Gnvcrnrr WAS
read to him b Mr.. Reed, in, it fail
III to proiucc th- least clicct urcn
him, and he lass. .reratcd his own in.
n"cCucc
PREPARATIONS FOR TIE EXECUTION.
The preparations fer proceeding
70 the prison yard were completed,
within Il few minutes OF IL O'Clock.
! aud the various oicial bodies ;nrmrd
, IL line. ard awaited the coming rt
the prisoner in the courtyard, with
in the northern gate. ~ II o'cl3ck
the prisoner entered the yard, and
| the procession commenced is solemr
! ,narch.
TIE EXECUTION.
The condemned man was seen to
trembie when hc gazcd uron the
large number assembled, and Ell.
catching the first glimpse of tie
Sa'.ows, nervous trembling was ap.
parent, tut still he walked firmly,
and asccnucd the sters boldly.
The reverend gentlci.cn, ana the
Sheriff, and Iarshal, asccl.drd with
him, AMI the religious exercises were
columc;.ced oy si..si:g nymn.-
The prisoner kcpi MS eyrs closed
most Of the tim.
Upon the conclusion Of the hymn.
tic Rev. Mr.. Street, thus addressed
/ hiu:
Ai;hur S;.r;n-, snn have uccn
convicted and scnt.ncct t? deatl, Inr
tho murder .. IIon.ra Shaw anl
E".n lynch, and the execution of
taat sentence is now about to .nku
place. We dave moi ceased to warn
You Of your i;.tc and to induce you
TO repent al.l Aake your peace with
G"d. | row asA you, in the ,res.
encc Of Almighty God, before whom
yon will shortly stand, are you gni!ty
or no, sullty ci the Inn"!rr of these
%nm 'nl
Prisoncr--N" sir! no sir!
Mr.. Street The Grand Jury
have also by their prescntrcnt,
cha. gcd you with the murder of Mr..
Rink. -ire you guilty OF not guilty
Of t..at cri.r:?
Pri5oncr--No sir. l nc",r saw
the man i'll my life.
MIR. Street 4 have still anoth,
al.i las' questions to ASK you. Before
God, IL your SCI, Arthur Spring.
cntirciy clear Of the murder OF Ms.
Shaw aud Mrs. Lynch.
PIiso9"r--l believe he is. H.
hac no u.oIo to do with it than |
rad.
~ tils response there was a gen
erh' G:oan rom the spec ,tors, which
was, however, but momcntary.
MIR. Street then said, 'tIAy God
have mercy upon vour soul
Al upoI the scaifold then kncrlcd,
a"d the Re-. Mr.. kcnsil prayed in
the most torvcnt manner.
ht tie conclusion. tie prisoner
spoke few words to Mr.. Street,
and THAI gentleman vas about to re-
peat it. when tie sheriff interpoeed
and tor. the prisoner to speak han.
self.
lie then said that ne went to bed
on tho night Of the murder at 7
o'clock, and he never kncw anything
of it until told by the officers.
TIE question was agaln asked
him, is your son innoccnt?' and
he replied:
My son is entirely Innocent Of
bIood!'
Mr.. Alexander here exclaimed:
Let this 60 throughout the Iand!!'
The reverend gentlemen then left
the gallows, after shaking hands with
the prisoner.
The eXccutioncr arranged tie
knot and drew the cap over his face,
and the sheriff hov;n1 1nft him Tho