Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-08-27
EXECUTION OF McKIM.
Extraordinary speech.
Correspondence Of the Philadelplia Bulletin

on lonely and unfrequented spot on the
Allegheny Mountains, by the slaughter Of
an innocent, coniding and unsuspicious
young man, The atrocity OF the murder
was unprecedented in this region, commit
tied as it was solely for the sake Of robbery,
and the criminal dies this day without
friend to she'd a sympathising tear.
/ am writing in the prison, at quarter
past 9 o'clock. Strangers from abroad
came to town yesterday, from various parts
of the country-Dunleith, Illinois, Chester,
Bedford and Huntingdon--and I am in
formed that one old gentleman came seven
ty miles to see McKim. The train Of cars
was filed, last evening, with men, women
and children.
The prisoner was visited during the day
by great number Of people He eontin-
ued busy on his manuscript statement,
which he purposed reading while ON the
scaffold. At night he took leave Of some,
declaring his innocence He gave cool and
deliberate directions in regard to his coffin,
and eyinced no apparent concern at the
approach Of the fatal hour.
The people keep moving in from every
direction and early as the hour is many
have already congregated around the jail.
From the window | notice a number of
women with children in their arms ranged
along fence opposite.
McIEim, as the watchman thinks, slept
soundly during the night At 6 o'clock he
cut several gashes in his arm, little above
the wrist, evidently ,nistaking the place
where the artery was situated. He bled
some, but the timely return Of the watch
man prevented any harm from being done.
The statement he prepared to read upon
the gallows he tore up Immediately after
gashing his arm, fully confident that he
had committed suicide
His spiritual advisers, Dr. D. III. Junkin
and Rev O. A. M'Clain, have been with
the prisoner all morning. 1t is due to Rev.
Mr.. M'Clain to say that he came here at
McKim's request
The following persons are in the jail to
witness the execution:
Sheriff Geo. Port; Deputy Sheriff John
Mcclure; Physician, Dr. IT, T. Cofey /;
District Attorney Hammond; Special
Deputies Geo McDonough, Jno. Charles,
DR.. A. j. Landis, Jas Fink; Watchmen,
B. b. Rorabucher and S. Cuny.
The Jurors are Jno r. McFarlane, Chas.
r. McCrea, Geo w Sellers, Jos. Robson,
Martin Runyan, Edw. McGraw, Stephen
Hammond, Geo w Reed, Joseph Jones,
DR.. D. s. Hays, A. c. Mccartney, John
4. Lemon.
a few moments ago one of the clergy
men ended a long prayer, at the conclusion
of which McKim raised up, and again most
emphatically declared his innocence.
At 104 o'clock, the prisoners irons were
| knocked off, and the shroud was put on
him after which, the spectators, the clergy
and the prisoner kneeled down, and long
and fervent prayer was made by Rev. Mr..
NIcClain A few minutes later the train
from Altoona arrived 1t consisted of ten
cars, filed to their utmost capacity, with
people and military The latter consisted
of the Logan Rifle Rangers, the Altoona
Infantry, and the Allegheny Cavalry.
1t quarter of IL o'clock, the prisoner
was brought down to the yard, and ascend
ed the scatfold with firm and unfaltering
step Sheriff Port and his Deputies then
adjusted the rope; after which DR.. Junkin
announced that McIkim wished to address
the people present, and that his wish had
been granted. McKiln turned round, faced
the people assembled in the ill yard, and
said
"Well, friends and fellow citizens, stand
before your eyes Il dying man, but / contend
L am innocent Of the murder of Samuel
Townsend Norcross, or any human being. :
Before you all / say that men came here from
| al / 4
took the Holy Bible from the honorable Court
and swore to tell the truth, but told every
thing else, as my soul will be launched into
cternity-as | am dying man.
The first Of these men was MIR. Attix.-
Yes, fellow citizens of the United States, as
am u dying mani do not expect you to be-
lieye it-this Attix, fellow citizens, came here
into Court before the honorable Judges, and
there took the Holy Bible and swere to tell
the truth, and / contend that he told anything
but what was truth. lie said that was al
his office with Samuel Townsend Norcross,
but, fellow citizens, | was never there with
Norcross. lie said that | teld Norcross to
take nothing but American gold coin. new
er was in his office in my life, as Pm dying
man. He also said that he asked me if was
his agent He never spoke to me, as | am a
diving man but freely forgive him for the
injury he has done me, my loving wife and
child, my brother and my four sisters.
contend that he is one of my murderers, who
| by his false evidence, succeeded in gettinS
this rope about my neck when he was il
the Court, he locked in my face and tolt
these infamous lies. He told, fellow citizens
everything but the truth. But little did h
think that he must answer for it before
higher tribunal-not common Court, bu
before God Almighty in Heaven. If ne doe
not repent, he will be damned. Now ma,
God Almighty have mercy upon his soul.
freely forgive him.
The other man WAS Mr. Eaton, from Dun