The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-09-22
From the PttStol Gazette
The Execution Of ReeS W. Evans

The Execution Of ReeS ". Evans.
The execution ofREEs ". EVANS, who
was convicted of the murder of Louis
Reese, of Wilkes barre, at the April ses-
sions of the Luzerne County Court, took
place in the jail yard on the 9th inst, al
/ o'clock in the afternoon. The event was
one which had filled the mind of the peo-
pie with pity, even in the face Of all his
guilt. From early in the day, until the
body of the deceased was removed from
the scaffold, every available elevation was
eagerly sought by the curious crowd, in or
der that view of the convict in his last
and trying moments might be obtained.-
The neighboring trees and house-tops
were resorted to by such numbers as tc
bend them beneath their burdens. The
fear of danger had fed, and every breast
seemed to be filled by the palpitations o.
it's own heart. About one hundred per
sons were admitted into the yard, and a.
monc the number we noticed the father o.
young Evans To all appearance, he was
less moved by the spectacle than many
who were not bound to the victim by the
ties Of kindred blood. The murderer
dressed in citizen clothes, was conducted
to the scaffold-surrounded by the militia.
ry under Capt. Reichart-by Sheriff Pal
mer, accompanied by the Rev. DR.. Peck
Rev. John Boyd, and and Rev. 3. B
Emory. Fervcnt and impressive prayers
we're delivered by the two former of the
clereymen. We have received the one
by DR.. Peck, of which the following is 6
copy
80 Lord God, we would approach thee
on this solemn and awful occasion, with
the deepest reverence and establishment
Grant US the forgiveness Of our sins, and
gracious acceptance through the merits
of Jesus Christ our Lord. We pray thee
in thine infinite mercy, to look favorably
upon him who is about to pass the bounds
of time and go into state Of retribution
0 grant him free repentance and un-
feigned faith that he may find mercy al
thy and. We thank thee that thou hast
provided way of salvation for all classes
of sinners, who with hearty repentance
and true faith turn unto thee. o, AL
mighty Father, give him an assurance o.
salvation and save him from the terrors
of death. May he bid adieu to all earth
ly things in peace with God and with al
mankind. We thank thee for the hope
in Christ which thou hast vouohsafed to
to him in this hour of trial. Now, Q
Lord. give unto him a mighty faith "a
faith that picrces the unseen future, and
which rests firmly upon the infinite love
and all conquering grace of the Saviour
And make him monument of the Infinite
condescension, and saving grace of Cod
and to God the Father Son and Holy
Ghost, shall be everlasting praise-A- :
men -
After bidding him farewell the clergy
man left the scah6ld to the sheriff for the
performance of his solemn duty. After
the rope had been adjusted, mask was
drawn over the head of the prisoner, anC
he stood alone in the attitude of prayer
which from the motion ofhis lips, seemed
to increase in fervency as the warnings Of
the executor assured him of his near ap-
proach to death. The crowd stood il
breathless silence at the last announce
ment to him, which was-"Rees Evans
you have but one half moment to live 2
and ere the words had been echoed back
the fatal prop had fallen, and law and
Justice had seized their dowry, and the
transgressor had paid the penalty of his
evil deeds. He met his fate with forti,
tude which surprised all who saw him.
His physical appearance and health did
not appear to be much effected by his
confinement or the goadings Of a guilty
conscience. The hope of either escape
or Executive clemency continued strong
with him until few days before the one
fixed for his cxecutin. He uttered not a
word that could be heard by the audi
ence while upon the ecafold, After
hanging about ten or twelve minutes and
pronounced dead by DR.. I. W. Miner,
the body was then taken charge of by his
relatives and conveyed to Pittston, where
it was inferred in the burrying ground
of the Welsh Congregational church. A
full confession of his life and crimes has
been published, and curiosity of the
mostexciting character has been gratifed
by its perusal. The rapidity with which
crime succeeds crime, when the cata-
logue has been commenced, is strikingly
Illustrated in the case Of this young
man.
Evans, according to his story was born
in Carbondale, on the 3D. of August, 1884,
and was of Welsh parentage. Being left
in early life to the inclinations of his own
headstrong disposition, which, accompani-
ed by desire to fare sumptuously with
out labor, or honest exertion, may be re-
garded as the influences which hurried
him to his tragical end. Petty thefts
were his first offences, and frequent
repetition of these, soon prepared him for
more daring acts of the same nature, un-
til his numerous and prohigate desires
could find no means Of satisfaction but
through murder. For several years he
resided in Pittston, where he committed
numerous thefts.