True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-17
ExscutiOn Of Henry Fife and Charlotte
From the Plttsburg Dispatch.


came more serious in his demeanor.
Ministers of various denominations waited
on him, and dnring the few days prior to
his execution Revs. John G. Brown, Wal
ter A. Bell, and Mr.. Williamson attended
both. They all express a conviction that
he was fully prepared to meet his Maker.
A few nights ago he acknowledged that
he had been married to Elizabeth Bennett
at Eden, near Buffalo, New York,-who,
in his published confession, he mentions
merely as having been seduced by him
and lived with her about three months.
He told her the day they were married
that he would not remain with her. A
three ounce bottle Of ether was in his cell
half of which he took at one draught
Sunday night last, rendering him quite
delirious. Otherwise his peace Of mind,
or frmness of nerve remained mistaken.
Rev. Mr.. Brown and Mr.. W. were with
him Thursday night, the former till one,
the latter till three in the morning, enga-
ged in religious devotions.
Charloue's demeanor was, at times,
equivocal, though it is the conviction Of
her spiritual attendants that she was pre-.
pared for the last sad act Of the drama,
and the realities beyond. An incident
related to us by a worthy gentleman
shows, that however much she may have
endeavored to be repentant and believing,
her religious convictions were not very
deep-as would be the case with SO un-
cultivated an intellect, clouded by life
of depravity. A day or two ago he call
ed on her, and as he was about leaving
said : Charlotte, | shall not see you again,
and now bid you farewell-may Heaven
have mercy on you. AS she took his
hand she sobbed, saying, "Well, D.
you have been good friend, and if |
must die, I shall endeavor to be prepared
won't you give me quarter !" Thurs
day night she engaged fervently in prayer
especially for Fife Rev. Mr.. Bell, and
Mr.. W. joined with her in devotions.-
She manifested good deal of excitement
and nervous agitation up TO her last mo-
ment.
Hangmon's Day.-A feverish anxiety
was visible throughout the city Friday
morning. Knots of men gathered around
and in che vicinity of the court house dis
cussing the event about to transpire. AS
the hours wore on the crowd increased
till, before one o'clock, it numbered sew.
eral thousand. The previous day ,hous-
ands visited The Jail yard to be gratiied
with sight Of the scaffold, but the throng
became so dense that the avenues leading
10 the Jail had to be closed.
At ten o'clock the Duquesne Gray s,
Capt. David Campbell; Washington In
fantry, Capt. T. F. Wright; and the In,
dependent Blues, Capt. A. Hay, met at
the armory of the Gray's and shortly af-
Ter marched, under command of Capt.
Campbell, to the court yard, the Grays
turning out six'y-four muskels, Infantry
fifty-eight, Blues twenty-nine. The bat
talon passed through the Diamond street
entrance, and guards were placed around
the entire court yard, being relieved every
half hour.
The Scene WIthin.-The spiritual ad.
visers of the condemned were with them
from eight o'clock TO the last. Religious
devotions, of most affecting character,
were held in their cells, up to the moment
of their removal to the scaffold. They
renewed their assurances of preparation
for death. About half past one the con-
demned left their cell, and proceeded to
The scaffold-the two linked arm in aim
-Revs. Messrs. Brown and Bell proceed
ing, and Sheriff Patterson and Jalor Phil.
lips following them. Fife was dressed in
his usual clothes, adjusted with much
care. Charlotte wore white tarton
dress, rufled at the sleeves, and drawn to
the wrist with slight cord-a worked
collarr-slippers--and over her shoulders
shawl which she requested and which
was given to her sister, Mrs. Wolf
They assembled the scaffold and took
chairs. Rev. Mr.. Brown offered in their
behalf a touching and earnest prayer, af-
ter which the following dying statements
were read, Flies by himself and Char
lotte's by Mr.. Williamson. While read
ing his statement, Fife was greatly affected
and frequently wept. Yet. with a resolute
nerve, rarely exhibited on the scaffold, be
spoke in firm unshaken voice:
Efe's Dying Declaration GENTLE
MEN I'm few short moments Of time, |
shall have answered with my lite for the
terrible crime | have committed, and
which | have already freely confessed
1t must not be supposed from what has
been published in the newspapers here
from lime to time since my arrest, that
| am Indifferent or.careless about the aw-
full fate | am now to suffer; nor must il
be supposed that ! have suffered no COM
junction of conscience for The deed thai
has brought me to a (elon's death. On,
no. | have already undergone more tor
ture of soul than a thousand deaths, and
oh, how often have wished that could
restore George Wilson and his sister back
to life. Vain thought. Maddened with
thirst for gold, and stimulated by drink,
gave them the fatal blow that robbed
them Of life, and sent their souls, without
warning, TO the bar of God. My fervent
PRAYER now is, and long has been, tha
they have been made happy by my wick
edness, and that their immortal souls are
among the redeemed of Christ, and | pray
Almighty God for his pardon, and that
may be permitted 10 hope that in the
world of spirits, may be there, and ther
beg there TO be forgiven.
Since my arrest, much has been done
of which Ihave right 10 complain; mo-
that was arrested, tried and convicted
because.that is a just penalty of my crime