Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-29
EXECUTION OF M'KiM.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
His Speech on the Gallows,
Persistence in his Innocence.

murder of Dr. SAMUEL y. NoRCRoss, Of
which he was convicted in May last
lIollidAysburg was crowded TO excess and
perfect whirl Of cxcitcmont. Early
in the morning people of al ages and sexes
keep pouring iUto the town from every
quarter, and so great was the rush on
Thursday evening, that many could not got
beds, and wero compelled to chang up" on
the tables, chairs and floors. On riday
morning the crowd was vastly augmented,
and excitement ran high Business was
almost wholly suspended.
Tho Sheriff was greatly annoyed by the
desire of the curious and morbid to get
admission into the Jail yard and witness tho
execution. But few, however, gained an
entrance. There werolthreo military COM
panies on duty around the prison to preserve
order.
On Friday morning at about six O'Clock
the condemned attempted to commit suicide.
| by cutting the veins on his wrist with a
piece of glass, which he procured somehow
for the purpose. lie blod pretty freely for
short time, but his attendants soon dis.
covered what he had done and bound IN
the wound and prevented any serious
result. lie was closely watched to prevent
any further attempt Of the kind. He had
prepared manuscript statement with the
view Of reading it on the gollows, but on
the morning of execution in ft of rage
he tore it to pieces. When lis attempted
suicide and the destroying Of this paper
became known among the people outside,
it created great sensation and tho excite
ment ran very high. 1t was generally
supposed the statement would contain an
admission of his guilt, and its destruction
occasionod much disappointment.
M'KIM was led out Of prison and asccn.
ded the scaifold at fftocn minutes before
ten o'clock. He assumed a hold and
hardened appearance, and exhibited but
little evidence of being at all seriously
affected.
The rope being adjusted by the Sheriff
and his deputies, the Rev. Dr.. Junkin
announced that McKin wished to address
the people present. The condemned folon
then turned around, faced the people in the
yard, and in u loud voice spoke as follows
| Well, my friends and fellow citizens,
stand before your eyes dying man, but
am innocent Of the murder Of Samuc
Townsend Norcross, or any human being
Before you NIL / say that men came here
from the West, and sworc away my lie.-
They took the Holy Bible from the homo
rahlc Court and sworc to tell the truth, bu
told everything else, as my soul will b,
launched into etcrni'y--as / am dyin;
man.
The first Of these men was Mr. httix -
Yes, fellow citizens Of the United States, .
am dying mani DO not expect yqu t
believe it--this Attx, fellow citizens, IN
here into court before the honor bic Judges
and there took the Holy Bible and swor
to tell the truth. and contend that he tol
ANYTHING but what was tho truth. Il
said that was OF his Office with Samut
Townsend Norcross. but, fellow. citizens,
was never there with Norcross. He sal
that told Norcross to take nothing br
American gold coin, ] was never in hi
, Office in my life, as I ain dying mn =
he also said that he asked me if IVES b
AGENT, t,e never spoke to NE, as am
dyiDc mon; b,it. I freely forgive him fc
) the injury he has done lne, my loving vii
= and child, my br thcr, and my four sister
c contend that ho is one If my murderer
! who, by his false evidence, succeeded
getting this rcpo about my neck. Whe
, he was in court he looked in my face ali
told these infamous lies. lie told fellow
f citizens, everything but the truth. Br
little did he think that he must answer fc
it before higher tribunal-n9t a commo
= court, but before God Almighty in hcavcr
If he docs not repent be will be damned
;, Now may God 4 mighty have mercy upo
lis soul. freely forgive him.
The ether man was Mr. Eaton, fro
Durlioth. lie said I shaved Norcross wit
> razor produced in Court, with which,
: is said l killed Norcrcss, never shave
+ Norcross in my life, neither was it my req
It they had. Ny razor is at Long Pond
y least I left it there, never shaved mysc
while there (mcaning Duulcith,) or en-.
where, until / was taken to the prison.
r May God Almighty have mercy on him.
}! Rumbold said here that there was n
ol much the matter with Norcross, but the
l.. he said that he was q dying man, as a MI
d now in this yard (Mr, Eaton, Postmast
ct Dunleith,) know. lie was not able
walk as sworn by Eaton, which was
: positive falschood.
- Another gentleman was here from son
-, mills down the country--I don't romcmb
~ his namo--tho sled man, | never saw hil
10 or rode upon his sled or on any bodys.
&c hope [ may never sec the kingdom
Heaven if ever rode on his sled, or al
sled, after / left Altoona until | got ont
i