Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-03-30

doomed man, as it can better be imagined than
described.
During Thursday night, the prisoner slept
none. He was visited during the night by a
number of the clergy, younger brother Of the
prisoner, and number Of his friends. The time
was filled up with pous exho-tation and prayer,
with and for the prisoner, who Joined most hear
tily and fervently in the exercises.
On Friday morning, from the dswning Of the
fatal day up to the hour Of execution, the prison
er was attended by the Rev. Mr.. Thomas, Rev.
Mr.. Kerr, Rev Mr. Dempsey, Rev. Mr. Nevin,
Rev. Mr. McGowan, Reys. Douglass and Brown,
who labored assiduously in the discharge Of every
duty which could give ease and comfort to the
unfortunate sufferer. The prisoner expressed
deep penitence, and prayed most ardently for the
welfare of his pious instructors, and others who
had distinguished themselves by so many acts Of
kindness towards him.
We visited Jewell. in company with a number
Of others about twenty minutes before he left his
cell for the scafIold We found him engaged in
fervent prayer, kneeling by the side Of Mr.. Nc
! Gowan, one Of his moral instructors. After he
had concluded and taken his seat he seemed
calm and composed as it was possible under the
trying circumstances. He seemed, however,
very much enfecbled and exhausted but after
some small restoratves were kindly administered
| to him by DR.. Glenn, he seemed to revive, and
conyersed calmly with those who surrounded
| him.
! 4 few minutes before this, and while the cler-
gymen and the prisoner were engaged in prayer,
an incident occurred, very unpleasant in its ma
ture but one which we feel constrained, without
desiring to cast censure upon any one in our plain
narritive OF facts, to notice a German minister
of the Catholic Church entered the CELL threw his
arms around the neck of the prisoner, and pre-
sented the crucifx before him, and mporcd him
to seek consolation in that faith, in which relief
could only be found. Jewell imPlo9ed him to
leave the cell, as did others who were present.
An officer was called, who very kindly, and with
out violence, induced him to leave the prison.
About % minutes past one o'clock, and when
the time arrived for the prisoner to leave the CELL
he requested that he be conducted thither by
Sheriff Magill on the one side and Dr. Glenn on
the other. In this position they entered he Jail
ward, and the prisoner assembled the scsiIold with
firm step, and took his stand on the fatal drop.
He then read to the people, loudly and distinctly,
with very little apparent tremor in his voice. the
following, as his & Dying Declarations :"
DYING DECLARATION.
To THE people OF PENNsYLYANIA-I am a |
bout to die, and desire to leave on record q dy- |
ing mans declaration of course they will be re-
ceived for what they are worth but | will say |
this of them, that they not made for the pur-
pose of injuring any one-they are made for the /
benefit of my fellow citizens, and for the purpose
of rescuing my name from the black and igno- |
minious catalogue in which misled and excited |
public seek tc place it, which position l detest as
much as any you.
feel that | am no murderer-that have been
uniustly punishcd-that have had the whole /
force Of exciting circumstances lover which l |
could have no control) to contend against, well
as the charge of prejudiced judge, who in spirit
descended from the bench and entered the list
against me.
am satisfied that am borne out in this view
of his charge by almost every person who ever
read it and its delivery by him even more
effective upon the minds Of the excited, than
closer pcrusal of it since. By studied empha-
sis upon certain words and sentences, he insidi-
ously conveyed the most malignant poison into
The breasts of my jurors against me. 1t cannot
be denied, with trvth, but that the Bench can
always carry great force into the jury box; there
submitted to the jury, after the arguments ofthe
COUNSEL without any remarks from the Court,
unless especially solicited to elucdate some point
of law on which the counsel differ in opinion, so
that the prisoner may have a strictly fair and
impartial trial If had possessed the right,
would not now have any just cause Of complaint
to record against one whom God has not fitted
for the duties of an impartial Judge.
To make out case of murder against me, it
was necessary to prove maiaee Premeditation,
1sIfulacss. Was either attempted Was either
urged, unaccompanied by the most barefaced
and transparent sophistry? A brief detail of
the facts will show, and will not be ashamed
nor afraid to repeat them before my God, before
whom, and at whose tribunal, am soon to stand,
and have my case reviewed and reversed Il
have been too much of deyotee at the shrine of
pleasure. Is this crime2 fit is, millions are
at this instant guilty of the same offence, and
will go unpunished. On the fatal 5th of July, 1 |
had given myself % recreation and pleasure l
had unconsciously partaken too freely. One
WHOM regarded . frieIsd Appealed to my sym
pathies, stating that his character had been ira
duced, and requested me to see him righted. |
volunteered to go with him for that purpose, little
dreaming what might occur. When we had
gone part Of the way lost all recollection, and
knew nothing more until after the fatal blow,
which is said to have been inflicted by me du-
ring the fight. | have no recollection of doing it,
but will not shrink from the responsibility, feel
ing consciously innocent OF any intention to take
the life Of human being. Heated with drink,
and excited with the pleasures of the day as well