Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-10-11
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fiizeEzt-a 81 lseUsi iaetiii .,,:ecr. .,.:.s5z--
: Tie execution of this nrcfe!ss,A fnan took
place at BelIevilie yesterday, ii pursuance Of
the serteilce Of the law. Fhe act for which
he s9fTeied was one of pecufilr turpitnlie--thc
wilful aud deliberate murder Of his hiend :snd
henefactSF. What made the ease sslll more
aggravated was the circumstance th;sta Friend
ly act WHICH the victim was performing Tor his
murderer gave him the opportunity to commit
the deed. The two we're riding together IN
wagon the former being in state of partial
intoxication, when the latter struck him seye-
raj blows on the head with . hatchet, fractur-
ing his skull every time. After he was dead
his murderer took horse shoe and, with the
aid of the hatchet, made wound on has fore
head as If he had been kicked by a horse, and
then tumbled him intotle road, and ran for
doctor
when shc doctor arrived accompanied by
several neighbors, the man was dead. A hasty
inquest was held, and y verdict rendered that
.sthe deceased came 10 his death by being
kicked in the head by Horse He was then
as hastily buried--tumbled into a rough boX
without being dressed in grave clothes, or even
tie blood and dirt with which he was bedab-
bed washed from his face and head IN q
short time some circumstances occurred which
excited a suspicion that he did not come to his
death accidentally. 1t was noticed then that
his widow and Orban were in correspondence.
and letter from him to her was intercepted,
in which he recommended her to '<seil oil her
property as soon as possible. and meet him at
a certain place, as things were beginning to
leak out. !"
the murdered man eXhumed, and post NOR
TEN examination held when it VAS discovered
that he had received five blows on the head
with iatcllet--two with the hamm er part ana
three with the edge. The wound witt! the
horse shoe was known to have been made al
7 H,,,s,, -aFfl lal rtgfI I
as in the other wounds, showing that at the
time it was given the circulation had ceased.
On the trial the chain Of evidence against the
prisoner was so complete that not the shadow
of doubt could exist as to his guilt, and the
jury had no difficulty in agreeing on verdict
of guilty. After sentence vas pronounced, a
bill of exceptions was fled in the Supreme
Court, but they were not sustained, and Exc
cutve clemency YVES appealed to in vain, rs
| there was not the slightest ground for even
mitigation OF sentence, much less for pardon.
Between. eleven and one O'Clock yesterday,
the sentence Of the law was carried INTO eiiect
in the yard OF the county Jail, in the presence
| OF very few spectators. 4 large crowd OF
| persons had assembled outside with the eXpec-
tation of witnessing the spectacle. and were
quite clamorous for the execution taking place
| outside, but were overruled by the proper atI-
| thorities. They manifested their dlSapproDa-
| ton by a shower of bricllbats several of which
struck members of the military company pres
ent to prevent disturbance. Two of the num-
| Der was knocked down and badly hurt. Order
was quickly restored, however, and the exc
cution proceeded without further interruption,
! The prisoner was very much emacated by his
/ long confinement. and looked exceeding hag-
| gard. After he had hung about three hours,
| he was taken down and delivered TO his friends
| for burial and thus ended the last scene in
| one OF the most dreadful tragedies which has
ever been performed in the West. An execu-
| tion has not taken place in st. Clair county
| before for % years.