Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-24
A Letter from Condemned Criminal-A
Valuable Lesson.

The Philadelphia Ledger SAYS, the fol-
lowing letter from David Jewell, who was
executed at Pttsburg last year for mur-
der: has been handed US for publication by
the person to whom it was addressed. The
letter is worthy of perusal. 1t contains a
valuable lesson -
COUNTY PRIsoN, PnTsBURG, March 1854
Dear Will:-ln few more short days
the existence and history of your friend will
end on earth, and before | leave, dear WiH
L have few words Of advice to leave with
one whom [ loved as brother, and which
you appeared to be to me, and have acted
as such during my long and painful incarcer-
alton, for which return to you, and your
wife, my most profound thanks. trust it
will not be deemed wrong nor out of place :;
1t 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, 1853, and picture to yourself
the happy man was on that glorious, but
unhappy day to me. \ left my little family
uncef tre promise 70 'uf batk again in the
course of an hour, 10 accompany them on
railroad excursion; from there | got in the
company of some young friends, took a So
cial drink together, from that to another,
and another, and yet another and then for
got my promise TO those Iheld most near and
dear to me. And it is to this blightiny curse,
and against its use, wish to draw your at
tentlon. You are younger than am, and
L know you will bear with me in warning
you from e0er, e0sr touching it, | know
you are not in the habit of it; but you are
klrd, open, generous and free-hearted, and
1T Is for this that makes me write to you on
this occasion; and you will admit that NO
one knows your generous disposition better
than do.
My first piece of advice to you is never to
drink hquor IN any way-never do it from
the time you read the last words of one who
was always your firm friend, and thank God
you have proved the same to me. But for
me to say that liquor drinking is an evil, i,
what every man, woman aud child will read
lily admit; and to say that liquor drinking
IS the cause of intemperance, is also sayino
what no living man will denv; intemperapce
produces either directly or indirectly much the
largest part Of the crime in the country. Its
blighting and abhorring curse is seen and felt
in every grade of society. Itmakes the rich
poor, and the poor desttute 1t separates
the ties that bind husband and wife. Il
destroys the natural affection existing be.
tween the parent and child. 1t brings hus-
band and wife, parent and child, to an un.
timely, and, very often 10 an ignonoiuious
death.
But it is necessary for me to depict the
evils attendant upon the use of Intoxicating
liquors. | wish from my inmost soul that /
could have looked with the same calm re
Election on this evil, when | had my liberty.
as have since seen, and since studied. There
are but few persons, I am satisfied, but can
call to mind in their own recollection some
friend, some loved acquaintance, whose
bright future has been hopeiessly blasted by
the Ulce of drinking liquor. | will say nc
more to you on this subject, only remembel
this:
How many sorrows and how many tears
Which darken life's rough pathway thou dost bring
(intemperanee,)
For closer than brother dost thou cling
To those frail mortals within thy power,
Who strive to shake thee of-evade ~ sting
And 'scape the threatening clouds that around the
lower,
Which darker, gloomier grew with each succeedin.
hour.
I will say no more in regard to this, bu
my last word to you is, never, never drinl
liquor, and you will be happy man. Leav,
off running with fire engines they are the
means of bringing many good young mar
to shame and disgrace. Let your evening"
be spent iDthe society Of your wife ant
child, and my word for it, you will be th,
bappiest Of the happy.
| can say no more, my heart is too full.-
Farewell, Billy farewell. Ever and trul,
yours, e., DAVID JEWELL, JR.
1t is now one hundred and fourteen wear