Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-08-26
THE EXECUTION OF M,KIM.

night people from a distance came into the
town, and SO great was the rush that beds
could not be procured at the hotels, and many
were compelled to lie upon floors, tables and
chairs.
This morning stream of humanity COM
menced pouring INTO the town at very early
hour, and nothing was talked about or thought
of but the condemned and his approaching
end. Business is almost entirely suspended
here.
The Sheriff was beset yesterday and this
morning by persons who were anxious to get
within the prison walls to witness the last
dread scene, but very few out OF the immense
throng were gratified in their wish to be al
lowed to enter the enclosure and the disap
pointed multitude. had rest contented with
gazing at the prison walls or in picking up such
scraps of information from within doors as
were retailed outside.
All sorts of rumors were in circulation dur
ing the morning, and those who went out of
the prison doors during the forenoon were Gag
erly questioned by the crowd to know what
the condemned was saying aud doing, and a
boye all to ascertain whether he had made any
confession.
M'Kim slept soundly during the greater part
of last night. At six O'Clock this morning he
attempted 10 commit suicide by opening vein
at his wrist with a pieceIof glass. The blood
flowed freely for while, but it was discovered
in time to prevent serious results, and the
wound was immediately bound up. A close
watch was then set over the condemned wretch
to prevent a second attempt of the same kind
Neither the awful position OF the condemn
ed, his attempted suicide, For his being foiled
in the attempt to destroy himself affected his
appetite, for he ate a hearty breakfast.
Great calculations were made on the manu-
script statement which the condemned had pre-
pared for the purpose of reading under the gall
lows and many thought that in it would be
| found admission of his guilt, but this ex-
pectation was disappointed this morning, when
it was announced that NJ Kim had destroyed
the paper he bad prepared. 1t seems that in
fit of rage he tore the ssstatement" TO pieces
The report of the attempted suicide of the
murderer, and of his having torn the much
talked of paper to pieces, created an immense
sensation ont OF doors, and the excitement
went up to fever heat
At fifteen minutes past ten O'Clock the con-
demned man led out of the prison TO the
gallows. After mounting the scaffold, VI Kim
proceeded TO address the assembled crowd,
and he. spoke for one hour and five minutes.
He denied his guilt most vehemently, aud said
that he declared before G od and with his last
breath that he died an innocent man.
MKim said that he had never either COM
mitted murder nor stole money or anything
else. He also said that Atticks Fleck and "a
mother witness had sworn away his life on his
| trial.
At twenty five minutes before l O'Clock
Sheriff Fort pulled the drop, and the wretched
| criminal was launched into eternity, declaring
his innocence until the last moment.
There were three military companies on duty
around the Jail, and Notwithstanding the inn
| mense crowds ir the town, everything passed
off quietly. -
After the body is cut down it will be handed
over TO the relatives of the malefactor, who
have had prepared handsome coffin for its re-
ceptioD.
1t will be remembered that the crime for
which Nj Kim has suffered the extreme penalty
OF the law, was the murder, in January last.
of young man named Samuel 7. Norcross,
formerly of East Lexington Mass. Norcross
had gone from his home to the West in the
capacity of music teacher. After residing
there some time he returned to Massachusetts,
and borrowed $1,000 from his sisters. This
money he returned with to the West, and in
vested it in lands in Dubuque, Iowa, ard Dun
ieith, Illinois, The, property rose SO rapidly
| In value, that he commenced the study of med
| icIne with DR.. Burnhold, relying upon the in
| terest OF his money to support him.
In the meantime an abscess formed on his
Ieit side, which. became painful, and he de-
| termIned to return home. NJ Kim whose ac-
| quaintance he had formed, volunteered to ac-
company him. Norcross obtained his money
| In NJ Aim s.presence-the two started in COM
pany on the journey-M Kim treated Norcross
with great kindness until he had won his kind
ness and esteem, and finally killed and robbed
him, on the morning of the 10th of January
last, on the Pennsylvania Railroad track, three
miles west of Altoona, where the victim was
found in dying condition by some laborers
on the same morning, probably two hours after
the commission of the decd.
The murderer managed to evade the officers
OF the law for several weeks after the commits
sion of the crime, and he was finally captured
| in wild mountainous spot in Columbia county
by Mr.. Wolfe.
His trial commenced at Hollidaysburg the
last of April, and although the commission of
the fiendish crime was not directly proven, a
powerful chain of circumstantial evidence was
linked together. The Commonwealth proved
conclusiyely the departure of Mckim from
Dunleith with Norcross-apparentl having
charge of him ar the Eagle Hotel in Pitts
burgh, and the story he told the landlord about
Norcross's insanity; the departure from the
Motel IN company the testimony OF railroad
employee to seeing two men get of the train
| at Altoona, and go up the track on the morning
OF the murder; the non appearance of McKim
in Philadelphia to claim his baggage his sub
sequent appearance in Pottsville with two
lewd women; his reckless squandering of
money, and subsequent disappearance when
suspicion was aroused, and number of other
very suspicious circumstances.
Against all these tremendous facts the de-
fence offered no testimony, except some en-
treiy unlinportant negative evidence, and the
result was a conviction of murder in the first
degree. After his conviction, he made an uu-
successful attempt to escape by saving Off his
hobbies. He persisted in declaring his inno-
ccnce of the murder until the last.
Locofoco editor says: "The Democratic
party contend for great living and immutabe
principles" 1t is true that they contend for
''great iiUing,' and that is the reason why
they howled so awful against the sale of the
Main Line. The ssimmutable priuciples'' for