Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-09-28

and the weeping, Of kind heated women
| Ills only confession on the gnlows was,
that he WAS gully OF the CRIME for which
he was in u few moments To be executed,
and that he deserved his punishment. lie
said he did not fear death---his hardened
heart had become sofJened---his prayers
had availed through the atonement-he
was prepared for the death that awaited
him. and hoped that if he had any enemies
they would forgive him, as he had for
given thcm-he was once minister of re-
ligion, but dissipation led him from the
path Of duty. "The love of that damnable
stuff, strychnine whisky, and the love Of
gain that it produced, has brought me TO
pthls." He then made AN eloquent appeal
TO those who used liquor to abandon the
habit at once, and goREvEk!l He related
incidents where he sold whisky to men for
money that he knew ought to be appropri-
ated for br' al for their starving clil1ren."
"lf had not ruined myself, | would have
ruined others" "If | had the power, 1
wonld destroy every dis:iIleiy in the United
States, and close every place where liquor
is sold, were his expressions, with many
others on the same subject, equally rs en-
phatic. lie said that he lal fully re-
pented, and that whisky bad made his
children cry, and brought him to the rope
| b,
whom I've recognized in the crowd and
urged upon them, in an eloquent appeal,
TO hold fast to their religion. He said it
was no time for hypocrisy or deception
now-death was certain, for there is the
reality, (pointing to the rope.) He did
not know what hardened heart lie had
until he 'pitched poor Susan, the com
! paniOn of his bosom, over the skiff into the
river, and God only knows the agony of
my soul at that moment" He had no fear
OF death-spoke calmly of it-sad that
death cures all disease. Again urged all
to repentance. Before he was converted,
he would have given the whole world irIt
was solid mass of gold, for freedom
for "What shall it profit man, if he gain
the whole world, and lose his ownsoul"
GLOW different eaid he, s'would have
been my feelings, had l been brought here
an unrepeDtant sinner; and how lily could
| bear up against the trials which | am in
Il few moment, compelled to undergo
He then earnestly appealed to the minis
ters to work faithfully for the salvation Of
mau-and asked all "not to forget Pres.
Turley, and what he says He then
asked all to JOIN him in singing two verses
of hymn, beginning:
IT'S Religion that can gvs
| Sweetest pleasure while We live;
Ills Religion must supply
Solid comforts when We die"
| While singing these verses, which he
! lid in clear and distinct voice, numbe
of his friends came up and bid him fare
we'll.
| Turely then knelt down, and prayed fof
some minutes i'll most fervent and elo-
quent manner-in fact, we be lieve no one
who was there heard more impressive
prayer than was then made. His voice
never faultered, only when he spoke of his
grey headed father and when he said,
ooh, Lord, have mercy on my three little
children, who are more than Orphans
AT the conclusion of the prayer, he
asked all to unite with HIM III singing
Jerusalem, my happy home"
| While singing this hymn, his friends
crowded to the scafold, and bade him
farewell tlls father went up the steps to
the top of the platform, and embraced
him. His mother handed him up his
youngest child, which he tendeily kissed,
and bid his mother farewell-also some
Of his near Relatives. Then turning to
8 leriff Slack he said, Nj. Slack, am now
eady to die" He then placed himself
under the rope, which was fastened to
the beam above. lie was dressed in a
light colored cashmere coat, cassimsre
pantaloons, and check shirt, without
any neckcloth. A black silk handkerchief
was placed over his face, and the rope
placed around his neck While this was
being done, he remarked, 'Mr. Slack,
draw ii little tighter He exclaimed
IN impassioned tones, ''Cut the rope quick,
want to go to my Jesusl'' "Oh,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" o,
Lord. Je-" at this moment-the time
being 10 minutes of twelve-the Sheriff
pulled the lever and Preston S. Turley was
in Eternity.
After hanging 40 minutes, the physi-
clans pronounced him dead, throug he
evidently was. in few minutes after he
fell. The body was taken down, placed
in neat coffin, and delivered to his
parents, who took it to their residence on
Coal River. The funeral services, and
burial took place ou Saturday. attended by
large number of his acquaintance and
relatives. His age was So.
The only remarke we have to make,
in concluding this sad account oc the last
moments Of one who has suffered so just
IA punishment for so horrid a crime, is,
that he had the talents and energy. had
he properly used them, to have been
prominen: aud useful member of society.
INTERESTING WILL CAsE.-On Tues
day night of last week, Inmias W. Craig,
of Helena, Arkansas, died at the Louisville
Hotel A short time previous to his de-
cease, he made a will bequeathing to Miss
". l 4 Il 80