Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-04-24
Execution of an ex-Minister in New Or
~ .--t -. 80 laanas

- - H..
The execution of George w, Stovall for
merly Of Virginia, and once Baptist min
lister, for the murder of Mary Ray Durand,
with whomhe was living at the time, took
place IN Now Orleans on Friday, the 17th
lust. The I'tcaya.re' gives the following
account of the execution ~ r
At quite an early hour all those who had
the open seslme TO the Parish Prison, be-
gan to assemble, there being general anx-
iety manifested to see how man of cduca,
tion and good intellectual powers would ap-
proach such q doom as that which had been
assigned to StoYall by tho, laws Of his coun-
try. RI
When we entered tho prison yard, our
ears were first greeted by tue sounds of sa-
cred music, which came from the doomed
mans cell, and Stoyall's own strong and
peculiar voice could easily be distinguished
by its earnest energy. In the cell with
/ him were the Rev, DIR. Palmer and other
I pastors of Protestant churches, and after
the hymn was over prayers were in success
sion offered to the throne of the Most High.
The Or sion was a solemn and impressive
one, aud all present seemed to sympathize
with the position of the unfol unite culprit.
Mingling freely among those who had
assembled, we ascertained that the general
wish WAS that the Governor would yield to
! the prayer of those who were endeavoring
to procure commutation of the prisoners s
sentence, aud hopes to that effect appeared
the more sanSuiuc as tho Governor arrived
in town last night, and could be the more
readily appealed to.
m ba Il |, a ,.>,> IL l. IN.
eeutive clemency would not be in vain, the
sheriff delayed the execution of the SEN
fence till after II o'clock, but at that hour
twas definitely 9scertained that the SEN
| tence would not be commuted, and prepar-
ations were Mt once commenced for yindicat-
ing the laws stcrnest Vengeance;
Shortly after Ill, the prisoner, dressed in
| white, and attended by his religious advis.
ers, WAS led to the spot where the fatal trap
had been prepared. His step was firm,
and his appearance venerable and imposing.
Directed oy a motion, he took his seat, aud
the executioner adjusted tho fatal moose.
The prisoner thcn, after making some re-
marks thanking the officers of the prison
| for their kindness to him. said
"Now, gentlemen, / must tel! you that I
have not been brought to this end because
didn't know better. ] was raised in ----
county, Va, by respectable parents, andre
| cciyed pious education. Indeed [ may
| say | occupied respectable position in so
ctoty. But fell, and for the last fifteen
years / have been led captive by the devil,
at his will ,5and now, by an ignoble death,
am about toreceive the wages of sin. L
have even held the position Of minister of
the gospel, and beloved. and respected as
SUCH but this only shows the height from
which have fallen, aad from which all are
liableto fall, if they yield to their baser
feelings ~ ,rt.l y q ~ = s.9a;@
! Foften years past have followed the
! path of rain in New Orleans, and hcret a
misfortune happened to me which darken-
ed all my, future life, butto which / do not
wish more particularly to refer / Irintend
to cast blame on no, one but lmyseF Af
forwards, [ went.to Nicaragua, but being
| forced to return again, gave loose rein to
my vile propensites, and in due course of
| time, became the murderer that I am to-
day.
Though late, / have returned from my
wanderings,tomy Sayiour-rto the merciful
Jes,is,,who to the dying thief said, "This
day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. -
feel that MY spirit is like a Gagged bird,
anxious to escape from its prison and seek
refuge in the Paradise Of God Oh that l
may have the happiness of meeting you all
there ( Lord, san6tify, this death, to the
| salvation of the SPECTATORS. Lot my prayer
and my words go forth to the lutterinost
parts: of the earth !N Oh gracious God,
make US penitept in thy presence ~ go
These remarks were made with firm
and npwayering voice, and after the priso-
ner closed, the Rev. Dr. Palmer offered up
an impressive prayer for the culprit. ~
| N3Whcntke prayerwas ended, the prisoner
| bade a last fareweif to DR., Uclcry, DR. Pal,
nncr and the officers Of the prison He then,
after the cap was pulled down over his eyes,
exclaimed in, q loud voice, 81 ord Jesus, re-
ceive = aspirit.n AS he uttered these
words sISe trap,feG, and his spirit took its
fight to the realms of the, Hereafter. ~
ST aLoUfa; Aprife 16, Yesterday she
rourains Of Col Benton were exposed In
state in Mereaptils Library Hal, which
was most apprpp ppgiately drapad in mourning.
They were yisited by at least 70, ,00G, per-
Ispns9 Th9 fpal rites of sepultire took
place this morning, and Yerc participated
in by the military and benevolent societies,
fremen, fnenibefs of the c;Sy councils, and
The citizens generally, Asa general thing
business was suspended, the stores and
houses were draped 10 mourning, and the
streets densely crowded with thousands of