The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-07-23
VOL. X.l-NO. 90
THE DAILY. DISPATCH-

IHE UAlLYs DISPATCH.
lwsdsssdsy aIs~.i.s. jsiy ., 1sss. I
The Traocdy h Morgan Cannfys n e..-x
Prissner Hnuas a.
The following q 4 full account Of an afYsir II
Missouri. which wAi briefly mentioned vest.rd.v
We copy Il from the 81 Losls Daily sNswas
MORGAN Co. Mo-, Juiy e. 1856
About the Cd Of this month tho spring Belonging
TO the Prairie Ditfict Of Morgan county WAS found
% be poisoned Or as least the people Imagined 20
There were at this time thirteen or fourteen
children aud the teacher. who, after pArtaking or
the water. were taken very sick. The spring wan
analysed and found to contain afseuc at least the
BY the name Of James Ray, who had about week
before perjured himself Ia the court Of Morgan,
and his word was proved to pass for naught by
thirteen or fourteen peighbors, and who swore
that he would be revenged on the whole neighbor-
hood, and who. to make the evidence more strong
against him, had taken bis children away from
school . day or two before, was taken mp upon
suspicion; but there not being sufficient evidence
against him. was told that II he would leave the
county 10 Eve days. escorted by guard to the lin
is Of the county, and the State as soon as possi-
bic, be might 60. He was taken to house and
guard put over him. but owing to treachery or
negligence he was allowed TO escape. He then
went to Hickory county. and several persons pur.
oucu utm Suu tuOA NUN up On Tue Utn OK July IN
that county, when they brought him back and de-
termned to hang him.
This morning. runners were started before day.
break u announce the intelligence went up TO
the scfool house. hichl wss. his prison; when
arrived, Il found the crowd assembled around
rock. ON the sutnnlit Of which was Minister Of
the Gospel named Gfeon, addressing the mob; af.
ter few remarks he called the immediate neigh
bors around him, 70 the number of seventeen or
eighteen, who had children At the school, to decide
nr1l fn "a. fHoxv
for . few moments, when he (dr Green an
nosnced that they had decided thatsAhe prisoner
should. die In one hour--a brief time to be sum.
moned before an offended God and to eternity.
Ihere was no excitement, no noise-All was qui
ct and orderly; the prisoner, who was very calm,
spent the most of the hour given him in prayer
and looked at the clock only twice 70 see how rap
idly the time dew BY, and gave no other signs Of
uneasiness. and was as cool possible At the end
OF the hour he was taken out ana got upon horse
back himself, when he was escorted to the gaIlows
which wss q limb that had been fixed but few
minutes before. He then desired that PAPER
headed James Rays Confession" should be read
aloud before and after his death Mr. Green. who
took prominent part in 1t. as he had two children
who were expected to die every moment from the
effects OF the poisoned water, read 1t aloud but il
was only reiteration of his vows of innocence.--
The prisoner was then given thirty minutes to
"Geutlemcn and honorable citizens of Morgan
county aud State Of Missouri: I come not to
plead for mercy; / am an innocent man 1 don't
come before You with darkened forehead or q
downcast eye; / come determined to die brave and
! shall die without q tear in my eye. Gentlemen,
take care of my poor wife aud children. and see
that they have plenty to eat and to wear"
BE locked up at the limb, and not muscle of
his face quiyered; he only spoke twenty minutes
/ and had ten minutes more; he asked TO pray du-
ring that time lsnd said 81 will not keep you long,
gentlemen, and if l am q minute or two over my
time, 1 hope you will excuse me-" tsSs
He then got upon the bench, and remarked that
/. he thought the rope was too short as he wanted
to fall further that he might die easy, as be had
seen persons before die hard when they did not
have fall enough The rope was fixed around his
neck, and he tied the handkerchief over his face
himself and called all his friends to tell them good
BY; he kissed one or two ofthem and said, " / am
innocent when the benctovas pulled frOm under
him, but the rope not being fixed right he had to
be lifted up again until the rope was properly ad-
justed when he died in about five minutes. There
was about $50 or 800 persons present, and no one
said word in his favor. ies9i. So -