True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-17

my confessions, that l did expect from
what Mr.. Phillips said that | would have
been cleared and taken as a wilhess for
the Commonwealth, and the reason that
| put Stewart in, was that / did notlike
him, because believed he tried I'd got
Fife to leave me, and l was afraid that
the morning after the murder vas COM
mitted, he might have seen something,
and been used as witness against Fife
and myself. Since | have been in the
Jail here, | have always been well treated
by Sheriff Patterson and Mr.. Phillips
Now | expect to die, and have made my
peace with everybody, and l hope to be
forgiven by God for my sins. l know
the awful situation in which am placed,
and know at this time shall tell nothing
but the truth, because fully believe that
| shall be accountable hereafter for what
| say. With this full knowledge, am
willing to state, before God, and before
man, that Monroe Stewart is not guilty
of the murder of my uncle and aunt, and
| believe him to be entirely innocent.
am sorry that ever put him in the situa.
ton that he is now in. l have been visi-
ted by clergymen and other religions
people, and I feel as though am prepa.
red to die. l fully confess my crime, and
admit that my punishment: is just.
In regard to the murder of Mr.. White
in Washington county. it is my wish to
say that l do not knoY anything about it.,
and the first time Fife ever saw my bro.
ther, William Jones to my knowledge,
was the next evening after Mr.. White
was killed. To my council, Mr., How.
ard, desire to return my sincere thanks,
for his services in my behalf. He has
done everything for me that counsel could
do, and now | bid the world and all nv
friends farewell. l trust in God and hope
TO be forgiven. Her ~.
CBARLoTTEb4 JONES.
mark.
The Erecution.-When Mr.. William.
son had concluded the reading, Rev. Mr..
Bell addressed The Throne Of Grace, the
prisoners joining in the prayer. ~ .,1a
Fife retained his composure to the
last. He stepped forward to The edge Of
the scafold, with one foot on the steps,
beckoned to those present whom he knew
and who ascended and shook hands with
m-taking solemn farewell, and re.
marking to one, 81 shall die happy, )" 10
another, "with the help of God, | shall
die like man. and as we are positively
assured by three eye-wilnesses-then con.
tradicted by another after he had shaken
hands with all who came forward, re.
marked generally "Gentlemen, | want
you to understand that l die game" "hav-
ing said which, he went back on to tile
platform. ".
During this time Charlotte sat on her
chair lamenting. hyslericalIy, praying au-
dibly and inleJectionally, and asserting
over and over The innocence Of Stewart.
1t was with the greatest effort that she
maintained anything like composure.--
The chairs had been removed and both
were standing up Immediately under the
ropes. Fife attempted to reassure her.
embracing and kissing her, and saying
that lie was there yet.
The moment for execution had arrived.
The caps were drawn over their faces, at
precisely two o'clock the signal was Civ
en--the Sheriff touched the spring-the
platform fell from under their feet-and
Henry Fife and Charlotte Jones were no
more. e..-.
Fife died without struggle, not mo-
wing a muscle. His heart continued
10 pulsae for ten minutes, Charlotte's
ceased beatingin three minutes and half
from the instant she fell. Her death was
less easy; as she fell, her hands clasped
on her breast, the shoulders were drawn
up, and the sentence Of tile law had been
fulfilled.
The bodies, after hanging thirty min
utes, were Gu: down, and laid in plain
cofins provided by Undertaken Williams.
Subsequently they we're removed to a
furniture Car. by the Ross street entrance
where mob Of several thousands made
progress almost impossible. If the mill.
tary were or could have been of any great
service, it was then needed; but having
been discharged from duty, the crowd
tumulluously gathered around it pressed
upon its wheels, and checked its progress.
With the sister of the dead woman seated
upon one of the coffins, this shameful
corlege proceeded up Wylie street, foil.
owed by an immense crowd Of men, wo-
men and children. The bodies were in
tered in the city grave yard-bet.er
known as the Second Presbyterian-Cen-
Ter avenue, Seventh ward. IA oa
Incidents Outside.-During the day
the streets surrounding the Court House
were filled with an excited, feverish peo-
ple-looking for and desiring TO be in all
sorts of impossible places, only to get
glimpse of the execution. "Where is
the scaffold 2" "Have they been brought
out ye, Z" "How do they appear Pr
"What have they to say 70 were ques-
tions continually asked but never answer
ed. Boyd's Hill was black with people.
who could get a glimpse Of the cross
beam of the scaffold. There was no
rowdyism or riot. One over-anxious
individual climbed over the Diamond
gate, but retreated at the point of several
bayonets, somewhat livelier than he got
over. The door of the Associate Re-
formed Church was beseiged by clam
orous crowds, who desired to mount to
the sieeple; few succeeded. The enc
frances to the yard were desperately
crowded. g.asGg 81 a0l
Those who had received permits from
The Commissioners for entrance, presented
their tickets OF the Diamond gate, and