M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-06-08
rp..,,, m. clsveIand Plain DeaIer. /

penIance of the PrIsOner--Prep
nrarions for the awful Scene
CaImness and apparent resigna
tiOn--Address 20 his Irien6s--Th'
cnuse Of the Attempted Suicide
Reiterated Declaration OF InnO
cence--"I Die an Innocent man
The Closing Scene.
Parks rested tolerahly we'll during tn
night, sleeping several hours. He wa
attended by persons connected with tn
Jail, who did everything TO make him
comfortable, by administering occasion
al draughts of wine and water. Oh
waking, the idea that the morning haC
dawned upon the day Of his execution
seemed 10 fash upon his mind. aud h'
made slight attempt to get at the ban
dages on his wound, but il was bu: 4
momentsry emotion, and he resumed
his calm and cool demesnor. He break
IA sted upon some raw oysters. and wa;
much stronger than his loss Of blood
would seem to have allowed. As he
lay upon his pallet in the Hall he con.
versed with several persons who came
in, Sheriff Seward, Marshal Fitch aud
others, on the subject Of the days bust
ness. Towards eleven o'clock he took
shmenis of wine aud water, a clean
white linen shirt was put upon him,
and at his request pipe was procured
and he took comfortable smoke. The
Cleveland G;eys has been on duty since
dusk the evening before, aud through
the discomiorts Of the rain storm ke pl
every thug outside quiet and orderly
Thousands crow dsd around the Jail yard
gates from morning till noon, but no
disorder was allowed.
The peIsors present in the Jail hall
consisted OF the county officers, few
selected by the prisoner as his council,
several assistants, the physicians, and
the usual number allowed to be invited
BY the Sheriff; numbering in all about
forty persons. About half past eleven
he called 10 him a relative, Mr.. John
Dickinson and gave him directions as to
the disposition Of his body. He wish.
ed that the public might not be allow
ed to gaze upon him suspended from the
galIows, but wished that he might be
taken down, decenlly shaved. dressed
and deposited in his coffin, and that
those who had curiosity might be al.
lowed TO look upon him. He also re-
quested him TO refrain from writing
to his friends and parents in
England which would inform them OF
his true fate on the scaffUld.
The structure upon which he was tu
he executed had been put up this NOR.
ming in the north east corner Of the Jail
hall, and consisted of a platform six
feet by eight, about eight Ieet from the
ground, having two trap doors with a
joint support, which would be easily
removed BY touching lever in The rear
with the point Of cane.
He inquired towards noon whether
Mr.. Wright the clergyman had arrived.
Nv C'cIRl Wdu Wuo PlSoShh'
At ten minutes before noon he was
conducted upon the scaffold by Mr.. Sew
ard, the Sheriff, and Marshal Fitch. He
walked feebly but without any emotion
in his couutenance. He took a-chair
provided for him, drank a portion Of a
glass Of wine, and held the glass in his
hand while he prepared 10 speak. He
was quite pale, but his whole air was
rema rkabIy firm and clear minded. A
deaf and dumb person, all acquaintance
Of his, kissed hio hand to him aud he
returned the signal with apparent salts
faction at the friendly token. He CON.
menced some remarks in strong and
clear voice, the substance Of which we
will attempt to give.
He said. We'll, gentlemen. there are
but comparatively few present. and my
words will be but few. shall dstain
but short time. IL | wished 10 say
more, | have hardly strength to do so.-
| see among you some of my jurors. |
have no reflections TO MAKE upon the
verdict; you did your duty. | have no
levity TO show on so solemn an occasion
| should have been glad TO have spared
the people the horror of an execution.
My attempt to do so yesterday by end
ing my life BY my own hand, was not
for my own benefit, but for the sake oil
those leave behind. You know now
the old family feelings of pride have
prevailed. | had hoped to prevent my
child and relations from the reproach
which this will bring to them. knew
| was not murderer and had right to
dispose Of my existence as much as the
laws and society had TO do SO. had
not done aught 10 break the laws or Of.
fend society. have not i'm posed upon
others or myself in this affair. That
VIM. Beatson fell ind killed himself is
true. am no murderer in any way.
might say so much, commend myself Il
God, and stop here. 1t 10 said that
have had two impartial trials, chat thi,
ought TO be conclusive, But gentle.
men, the trial by jury is not yet perfect
Ell human approaches TO truth are but
difficult and uncertain. ! regret that
ain not understood, that the bend Of m;
mind and the scope Of my understanding
are misunderstood. never dreamed o
murder; my conscience would neve
have dared TO conceive it. That mur
dered Beatson for his money is absurd
He was but a poor man, with less mo
uey thatI. He was not rich, and hi
friends have never made themselves
known, though il is but a short journey
from England to Ohio, had ho malig'
nifty towards him, and feel none to
wards any human being.
| have a dear wife who has in my lon,