The Trinity journal., 1856-11-15
Last Moments of Crowder.

Sampson White Crowder, the unfortunate mur-
derer of S. r. Lewis, at French Bar, Scott River,
on the night of the Sd of August, last, suffered
the extreme penalty of the law at Yreka, on the
lst inst at 3 o'clock, p. NJ.
There is perhaps no language SO touching aud
effective which can be uttered from the human
tongue, as the language which is spoken with a
pious admontion from the heart of a cuprit who
is truly penitent Read the following:
"My name is Sampson White Crowder / was
born of religious parents (Methodists) in the
county of Attala, State of Mississippi on the 10th
day of February, A d. 1892 and am now in the
2ith year of my age. My father Eli Crowder a
very piOus and exemplary man, is now in his
eighty fifth year, and Missssippan by BIRTH
married, when young. awoman from the Choctaw
nation of half Indian blood, the result of mar
riage between an American and Choctaw wo-
man. The issues Of my fathers marriage were
two brothers, sister, and my unworthy self
Both my brothers, as well as my sister were pro-
fessors of religion. My mother died when was
in my infancy, when my father again married.
We lived thirteen years upon the farm at Big
Black, Mississippi. and then removed to Texas
and located among the ChOctaw tribe upon a trib-
utary of Red River, called Boggy, where my father
now resides. Here, by dnt of industry and per-
severance, sufficient property was accumulated
to place the family in comfortable circumstances.
In 1884 left my father and started across the
plains for California. Arrived at Diamond
Springs in August Our company here separated,
aud made my way to Ircka. Being accustomed
all my life to hard labor. could not content my
self with remaining long idle, and Immediately
set about searching for a mining claim. Not
meeting with success in this. became somewhat
dishcartcned and determined TO adopt course
N.bp Inv In a considerations small thouOh
ii might be- for my labor, and accordingly hired
out by the day to different parties and eontrved
thus to work on the Yreka and lower flats, Canal
and Long gulches, until the spring of '55, when
| went on to Scott river. Here was more sue
cessful, and became interested in mining claims
udon French and Junction Bars. My seeming
good fortune here enabled me to look forward
with hope to the day that would soon arrive when
my most cherished desire of returning to my aged
and excellent parents might be realized. My
prospects seemed bright and encouraging. but
fate was ordainng otherwise, and destined Inc to
become that which nature never intended should
become MURDERER-the principal actor in
tragedy deep and damnable, from the very con-
temptation of which my soul shrnks with horror.
! dad determined to return home III the fall, and
had fixed upon October as the month to start Tor
my native place and with the end in view of so
arranging my affairs as 10 enable me to do SO,
upon that evening so fatal to all my future pros
poets, proceeded to French Bar for the purpose Of
disposng of my mining interest at that place toa
person who had partially agreed the same day to
purchase. Upon reaching the Bar could not find
my man. but fell in with Patrick Shanghnesy, my
partner in the French Bar claim which | desired
to sell, and two other of his friends. After seek
ing in vain for my customer, was about return
ing to junction Bar, when Shanghnesy proposed
that we should take drink. | consented, and
from that moment my fate was sealed. Oh that
had remained firm and steadfast to the resolution
formed four months previously, never again to
suffer that accursed originator Of almost every
crime to pass my lips | might perhaps to-mor-
row, instead of dangling in the breeze, struggling
with life for an ignOminious death, have been on
my way lght-hearted and free, to receive the en-
braces of the venerable and beloved author of my
existence /; but such was not to be one draught
of the fatal cup followed another, until reason
resigned her seat to more lifting occupant OF
tenement rendered disgusting and loathsome.
game of cards was proposed by my first tcmpter,
(may God forgive him as d0,) two Others being
then present the request was acceeded to aud
now declare To Him i'll whose awful presence |
will shortly stand, and before High Heaven, that
do not recollect anything that transpred there
after until taken before the Justice Mr. Lewis
noticed in the room once while there but do not
rember seeing him after | knew him by sight,
but never spoke with him to my recollection and
God knows that certainly no Ill will existed i'll
my mind against him.
"My habits at home were good, and the first of
those that were evil were contracted ON Scott
river. That evil commenced with intemperance
and has ended in murder,
"The greatest crime that nature doth abhor."
Oh may my friends take warning by this fearful
fate of mine, and shun the accursed poison, that
potent destroyer of the human mind that curse to
humanity more blasting than any that now en-
cumbers the earth, as they would the venom Of
the adder. Oh that bane of every earthly hap
piness How truly has Beecher remarked that
the sutferings of animal nature 0ccasioned by in
temperance are not to be compared with the moral
agonies which cOnvulse the soul 1t is an immor
tai being who sins aud suffers, and as his earthly
house dissolyes he is approaching the Judgment
scat in anticipation of a miserable eternity. He
is made to tc"! his captivity, and in anguish of
spirit clauks his chains and cries or ,". zen" Con
science thunders, remorsc goads, and as the gulph
opens before him he rccOils and tremblcs and
weeps and prays and resolves and promises and
reforms and seeks it yet again " Wretchcd,
wretched, man he struggles but he is in chains,
he cries for relief but it comes not, and lost lost
may be inscribed on the door-pOsts of his dwell
ing. And now the vortex roals, and the strug-
gUg victim bullets the fiery wave with fecblcr
stroke, and warning and supplication, until dcs-
pair flashes upon his soul, and with an outcry that
pierces the heavens he disappears. | say beware
the dreadful draught, remember " AIS to be
feared where al Is to be LOST