The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-04-06
A Letter frem a Condemned
Criminal.


The following letter from David Jewell,
who was executed at Pittsburg no the Gath
ult., for murder, has been handed in for
publication by the person to whom it was
The letter is worthy of a
perusal. 1t contains valuable lession:
Comfy Prison, PITTsBURG, March, 1854.
DEAR WILL:-In a few short days the
existence and history of your friend will
end on earth, and before | leave, Dear
VjH, | have few words of advice to
leave with one whom love as 6f0thef,
and which you appeared to be to me, and
have acted as such, during my long and
painful incarceration, for which L return
to you, and your wife, my most profound
thanks.
trust what little l have to say to you
will not be deemed wrong nor out Of
place; it may be benefit to you in years
to come, and you may profit by it, which
[ hope you will. Only look back to the
morning of the 9th of July, 1852, and
picture to yourself the happy man l was
on that glorious, but unhappy day to me.
[ left my little family under the promise
to be back again in the course of an hour,
to accompany them on railroad excur-
sion; from there | got in the company OF
some young friends, took social drink
together, from that to another, and an
other, and yet another l then forgot my
promise to those [ held most near and
dear to me. And it is to this blighting
curse, and against it's use, | wish to draw
your attention. You are younger than |
am, and I know you will bear with me il
warning you from euer, ercr touching it,
l know you are not in the habit of it; but
you are kind, open, generous and free
hearted, and it is for this that makes me
write to you on this occasion; and yor
will adm that no one knows your gen
erous disposition better than | do.
My FIRST piece of advice to you is never
to drink liquor in any way-never to dc
it from the time you read the last word:
of one who always was your firm friend
and, thank God, you have proved the
same to me- But, for me to say that Ii
quor drinking is an evil, is what every
man, woman and child will readily ad
nit; and to say that liquor drinking is
the cause Of intemperance, is also saying
what no living man will deny; and in
temperance produces, either directly o.
indirectly, much the largest part of th'
misery and wretchedness in our happy
country. It's blighting, withering curse
is seen and felt in every grade of society
1t makes the rich poor, and the poor des
titute. 1t separates the ties that binc
husband and wife. 1t destroys the nat
ural affection existing between the paren
and child. 1t brings husband and wife
parent and child, to an untimely, and
very often, to an iga0miai0nS DEATH
But it is unnecessary for me to depict tn
evils attendant upon the use of intoxica
ting liquors, [ wish from MY inmost sou
that | could have looked with the sam
calm reflection on this evil, when | haC
my liberty, as | have since seen, and sine
studied. There are but few persons,
am satisfied, but can call to mind in thei
own recollections, some friend, some tore
acquaintance, whose bright future ha
been hopelessly blasted by the vice o
drinking liquor, l will say no more t
you on this subject, only remember this ::
How many sorrows and how many tears,
Which darken life's rough pathway thou dos
bring! Qntemperance.)
! For closer than a brother dost thou cling
To those fril mortals once within thy power
Who strive TO shake thee off:-evade thy string
And 'scaps the threatening clouds that arount
| thee lower,
Which darker, gloomier grow with each sue
cecding hour.
I will say no more in regard to this
but my last word to you is, never drin.
liquor, and you will be happy man.
Leave off running with fire engines, the
are the means of bringing many youn
man to shame and disgrace. Let you
evenings be spent in the society Of you
wife and child, and my word for it, yor
will be the happiest of the happy.
[ can say no more, my heart is too fall
Farewell, Billy, farewell. Ever and trul
yours, &c.
| DIT-Tn TTurEJT T.