Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-02-20
From tho ritsbu-s Evening Chronicle
EXECUTION OF CHARLOTTE JONES, AND
tfENRY FIpy.

Prom the rii,sbu-s Evening Chronicle.
EXECUTION OF CHARLOTTE JONES, AMI
HENRY FIfg.
We give brief but connected history OF the
murder, review OF the chief features Of the
case, a description OF the murderers, and all
tbs circumstances which the limited facilities
accorded US have enabled us to gather.
TUE MURDER.
The crime for which lIeniy Fife and Char
lotts Jones paid the death penalty to- day, was
one Of the most atrccioSs ever committed ID
this county. George Wilson one Of the
parties murdered, was an old man whose hair
bad been silver With age, and who eked out a
lived by making coal boat pins for such as re.
quired them in the neighborhood His sister
the other victim, was but few years Lis Ju'
nior, and both occupied the same house-a
log cabin situated in the vicinity Of McKees-
port, and distant from the city some fourteen
miles On the night of the thirteenth oil
April, last, Fife and Charlotte visited their
tumble abode, and with a view Of obtaining
possession Of d sum OF money which the latter
knew the old man had laid aside, butchered
them in the most shocking manner.
TIE SCENE on InE scAFFoLD.
The scene on the scaffold was painful be-
yond comprehension aud drew tearsfrom many
attended, the first by the Rev. j. Il. Brown,
and the latter by the Revs. Mr.. Bell, aud Mr..
Williamson. They had religious services in
tho cell till within few minutes before their
removal to the scaflold. Shortly before two
o'clock they left their cell, and linking arms,
u procession was formed, which entered the
Jail yard.
rIrR's DYING DECLARATION.
During my confinement ] have suffered
more In mind O thousand times for the crime
! have committed than the fear Of this death
that is so rapidly approaching. Here is the
fatal rope, the scaffold, and the hand that is
to send my soul into eternity; but do not
fear | have made my peace with all tho world
and trust in God And now before these
witnesses, and in the presence Of Almighty
God, before whom iu moment Of time ex.
pect no appear, and with the last breath that
| am permitted to breathe on earth, with full
know ledge Of my awful situation and my ac-
countabi!ty l solemnly protest and declare
that Monroe Stewart is Innocent Of the mur-
der of Wilson and his sister, The deed was
planned and perpetrated by himselfand Char
lotte Jones, without any other human being to
aid or assist US. For our crime he has suf-
fered long imprisonment, but l pray God
that the last words OF dying man, with no
hopc or motive to declare anything but the
truth, while the just punishment Of God would
be visited by falsehcod, will be taken and re-
store him TO that liberty Of which he has been
SO long deprived. In whatever was honest
he was my friend, but DO partner Of mine in
crime. He has Suffered much for my crime
and beg his forgiveness. Monroe Stew
art is innocent. May God have mercy on my
soul. HENRY FIFE.
GCharotte Jones also made dying state
ment, expressing her penitence for her crimes
and csrroborating Flies statements in every
particular She also protests the innocense
Of Monroe Stewart, and says her charges
against him were induced by hatred of him
inspired by the fear that he was striving to
get Fife to leave her.
Immediately after Mr.. Williamson ceased
reading, the Rev. Mr.. Bell read chapter
from the Bible and offered up prayer, in
which the pri3cners joined. Fife, during this
trying scene maintained the most astonishing
composure, and when the time came, actually
adjusted the rope around bis neck apd stamped
on the platforn', 0s if to say he was prepared
to meet his fate Charlotte, on the other
hand seemed utterly broken down and bewl-
dered. She cried bitterly and every now and
then uttered incoherent sentenees--now sta
ting that shs desired 60 die, aud again declar-
ed that she was afraid Of death and wished
to live. Fife seeing her agony of soul and
utter prostration, put bis arm around her and
endeavored TO console and cheer her. Such
was the state oe mind Of both, aud such their
condition, when it was announced that their
hour had arrived, and that they must now
prepare for execution.
THE EXECUTION.
Everything was now ready for the compile.
ton of the final act Of the bloody tragedy, in
which the conyicts had played such terrible
part. The ropes had been adjusted around
the necks of the victims, and but few mo-
ments were to clapse ere their souls would be
ushered into eternity. Still Flies GOODNESS
forsook him not. lie called such Of them
around him as he knew on the scafiold, and
shook them ellaciiona,ey by the hands. He
then declared that, "with the help Of God. he
would die like o man." and with firm voice,
in which the slightest tremor was dscernable
exclaimed "Remember, ] die game" lie
then turned to his companion in guilt, who
at this time was scarcely conscious and put
ting his arm around her, kissed her. Both
then declared themselves ready to die, and
the signal being given, the Sheriff touched
the spring. and tie souls OF the guilty couple
were launched into eternity. Fife fell straight
down, and died without struggle, but Char
lottes death was lsss easy, and fully ten min
utes elapsed ere the pulsatons Of her heart
ceased. Flies heart ceased TO beat with
in five minutes from tho time the drop fell.