Weekly Delaware State journal, statesman and blue hen's chicken. (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-18??, 1857-08-28

of paper to pieces, created an immense sensation
out OF doors, and the excitement went up to fever
heat.
AT fifteen minutes past ten O'clock the con-
demned man was led out Of the prison to the
galows. After mounting the scatiold, Mckm
proceeded to address the assembled crowd, and
he spoke for one hour and five minutes. He
denied his guilt most vehemently, and said that
he declared before God and with his last breath
that he died an innocent man.
Mckim said that he had never either com
mitted murder nor stole money or anything else.
lie also said that Atticks Feck and another wit
ness had sworn away his lie on his trial.
At twenty-five minutes before o'clock Sheriff
Fort pulled the drop, and the wretched criminal
was launched into eternity, declaring his inno-
cence until the last moment
There we're three military companies on duty
around the Jail, and Notwithstanding the i'm
mense crowds in 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 a handsome coffin for its reception
1t will be remembered that the crime for which
McKim has suffered the extreme penalty of the
law, was the murder, in January last, Of young
man named Samuel I. 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 re-
turned to Massachusetts, and borrowed $1,000
from his sisters. This money he returned with
to the West, anil invested it in lands in Dubuque,
Iowa, and Dunleith, Illinois. The property rose
50 rapidly in value, that he commenced the study
of medicine with DR.. Burnhold, relying upon the
interest of his money to support him
In the meantime an abscess formed on his left
side, which became painful and he determined
TO return home. McKim, whose acquaintance
he had formed, volunteered to accompany him
Noroross obtained his money in McKim's pre-
sence-the two started in company on th
, journey-McKim treated Norcross with grea
kindness until he had won his kindness and es
TEEN and finally killed and robbed him, on thu
morning of tho 10th of January lust, ON tn
Pennsylvania Railroad track, three miles west 0
Altoona, where the victim was found in a dyinl
,, condition by some laborers on the same morn
ing, probably two hours after tho commission o
the deed.
The murderer managed to evade the officers Q
the law for several weeks after the commissio
of the crime, and he was finally captured in
wild, mountainous spot in Columbia county by
J Mr.. Wolfe.
His trial commenced at Hollidaysburg the la,
> of April, and although the commission of tn
fendish crime was not directly proven, power
full chain Of circumstantial evidence was linke
together. The Commonwealth proved conclr
sively the departure Of MoKim from Dunleit
with Norcross-apparently having charge of hi
at the Eagle Hotel, in Pittsburgh, and the stor
, he told the landlord about Norcross insanity
, the departure from the hotel in company; til
testimony of a railroad employee to seeing tw
men get off the train at Altoona, and go up Ii
y track on the morning of the murder; the nc
l. appearance of McKim in Philadelphia TO clai
his baggage; his subsequent appearance in Pott
= Vile with two lewd women his reckless squai
y dering of money, and subsequent Disappearance
when suspicion was aroused, and number
I. other very suspicious circumstances.
. Against all these tremendous facts the defen'
!, offered no testimony, except some entirely u
u important negative evidence, and the result vi
l. conviction of murder in the first degree
After his conviction, he made unsuccessi
attempt to escape by saving off his hobble
u He persisted in declaring his innocence of Il
y murder until the last.