Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-09-05

tion, prefaced by the remarks of tire Clergy.
man who was with him in his last moments.
We need scarcely say that no one who heard
the bold declarations of innocence made by
the condemned man in the very face Of DEATH
believed q word be uttered:
SPEECH OF REV. DIR. JuNKIy.
"My fellow citizens" said he, 1--WE are here
under circumstances Of the most painful char
acter and awful solemnity. The occasion is
one, which am thankful to say, occurs bat
seldom, but the vindica;ion of the law and
the principles Of justice require that We shall
witness the greatest known penalty inflicted
upon a criminal. 70 inhict such penalty we
would not dare usurp the right, but the fiat
of God has gone forth, that "whoso sheddeth
mans blood by man shall his blood be shed,'
and in accordance with the Divine law are we
here assembled. Moreover, the free govern
meut which regulates the social alluirs Of
men, has declared the prisoner guilty, and for
US to hesitate would be culpable.
awful and solemn is this moment Terri
BILE the death but God, though just, is mer
ciful.
The prisoner has requested permission to
address this concourse, and his request has
been freely granted. To him | now give
place.
DYING SPEECH OF MKIM.
David Stringer McKim then stepped for
ward, his voice becoming loud, deep and So
norous, and spoke at length -
Friends and fellow.ctizens," were Lis
words, las a condemned murderer do | stand
here, and upon this platform have stepped
to be executed. ] say and say most solemn
ly, that | am not guilty Of the crime Of which
| am accused, Of the murder of Samuel Il.
Norcross. j have been wronged by my fel-
lowmen and, on my trial, the witnesses
against me perjured themselves. In that
court, they took the Holy Book in their hand,
and then falsely swore my life away. As
dying man. and as one who has a soul to save,
and who will soon be launched into eternity,
] say again that they have sworn falsely
against me
Il will mention one of those whom | accuse,
Mr.. Addix, from Iowa, recolect particular
ly, and he committed perjury 1t is my duty
TO state to you that ] am innocent, and had
these men not lied against me, it would have
been SO proved. nerer uaS in 1ddir'S
obice when NorcrOSS wdS there; but freely
forgive the man who swore, for the wrong
that he has done me- and my wife, child,
mother, brother! Nevertheless, | contend,
sir, that he was one of my murSerers"
AT the conclusion of the last sentence the
speaker stamped his foot with emphasis upon
the platform. lie continued
THAT man, Addix, snckered in my face in
court, and every word he said to the jury
concerning me was false. lie knew nothing
at all about my cuse. May God Almighty
have mercy on his soul freely forgive him
now!m
(NoTE ny REPoRTEs-Addix was the bro
ker at Dunleith, who swore that McKim had
induced Norcross TO get all Of his money in
gold instead Of a draft on the East.)
Then there was man named Eaton, from
Dunleith. | cannot repeat his story, but |
recollect that he said that he saw me shave
Norcross with the same razor with which, he
asserted, his throat was afterwards cut-that
is-with my own razor. My razor is nop at
the Hotel at Long Pond, and / nerer shaced
him at all oih it. He told all but the truth
but may God Almighty bless him and for
give him.
"Another man said that i rode upon the
sled with him on the morning after the murder,
and away from the place it was committed,
and that seemed as If was in a hurry. Y
nerer rode on sled toiM that man-no 4
nerer did say it as dying man, aud
HOPE THAT l MAY NEVER SEE HEAVEN IL
EVER RODE WITH HIN He is man who has
sworn to o positive falsehood, and not
single word OF bis evidence was true. May
he be prepared to meet his God, as ] AMI
freely forgive him."