The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-28
EXECUTION OF JAMES POWERS.
From the Washington Star. ]

From the Washington Star
Since the respite was read to James Powers on
last FRIDAY, up to the present time he has continued
10 pay the same strict attention devotional exer-
cses and keep himself in readiness to meet the SEN
tence passed upon him for the murder of E. A. Iutz
His spiritual adviser, Rev. T. S. O'Toole, has been
with him frequently during the week. and in COM
pany with numbers of the Sisters of Charity and
Iers OF Mercy, has held religious services in his
ne mas also been the recipient of unremittinp
a.h a.Ieh'oh from his mother and other female rela
numerous frienda ~
o,,d H. mas continued good during the week.
anu ne appears 10 be tranquil and easy as to the end
winch Is so quickly expected We oro toId +bat ba
e.taihs no nope OF a Communication or a further
tespte' anu expresses himself ready for the expia
uon OF his guilt, according to the nrovisions Of III.
law. In the mean time, strong efforts ba,,o hoa
made in his behalf by his friends and others whom
they have induced to active sympathy and tLn
President has been besieged almost constantly with
petitions for mercy. Last evening the friends of
the prisoner were sanguine that a commutatinn
would be granted; but, at hafpast nine O'Clock TO-
hope. SUIT"
The past week has been one of torture TO tba
prisoner, as he has been kept vibrating between
hope and despair continually: and that too, not
wlthstandng the efforts of MeSsrs. Reilly, King
and the other officers of the jail to prevent his be-
coming acquainted with the exerons of his friends
inns morning, the same preparation for death was
made by the prisoner that he made on last Friday
Mass was performed in his cell by Rev. DR.. O'Toole
above, and the friends receiving his last
requests.
From ten to halfpast eleven o'clock hopes were
entertained that the President would relent and ex-
tend Communication to the prisoner but at the lat
ter hour this expectation abandoned not only
by the friends of the prisoner but by all those pres
ent. The mother and other female relatives who
had been with him all the morning, bade him a
final adieu at the latter hour and his brother also
followed their example few minutes afterward
leaving him alone with his spiritual adviser
AT II o'clock the marine guard, who had been on
duty since yesterday morning, drawn up in
double column IN the yard near the ScalfCld, and at
Just twenty minutes after II the prisoner was
brought out and taken to the scaifold He walk
ed along with cOmposure of manner and firmness
of step which would have prevented any one from
recognizing III him the criminal who soon to
meet his death. He assembled the steps of the scaf-
Od without assistance and p, eserved his calmness
until the drop fell.
He was accompanied on the scaIold by Father o.
Toole, Marshal Seden, Deputy Marshal Phillips ex-
Mayor Walter Lenox, and by Messrs. King, Reilly,
Robinson, and Wilson. After reaching the platform
a short prayer was recited by the priest, and the
! prisoner counted prayer on his rosary. Marshal
Selden then addressed him as follows:
James Powers, it is my duty, as Marshal of this
! District to execute the sentence which consigns
you to the scaiod. 1t is painful to behold you in
| the morning of life standing where nothing but the
ignominy of the gallOws can atone for the murder
you committed on fellow man. The precepts OF
the Bible, the mandates Of the law, and the safety
blood by man shall his blood be she'd"
Reckless passions and atrOciOus misdeeds pervade
the land, and defy the sanctity of Justice. Unless
the career of crime be checked, our country will
exhibit a sanguinary aspect and become the abode
| of outlaws and assassins. Should your mournful
fate effect salutary change in the morals which
mised you, you will not have lived and died in
vain.
In the presence of the scaffold and with know.
ledge of the awful agony through which you are
about to pass, you stand erect and unmOved. This
| happy compOsure and recognition you derive from
the charities of the Gospel and the teachings of the
sacred book. Your pious friends, like ministering
angels, have sofened your Distress and blessed you
with the consolation of religion. Even now they
are sending up prayers to the Father of light anC
life to view your conduct in a charitable manner
and to be mild and merciful towards YOU in His
future dispensation of rewards and punishments
The highest in our land has sighed at the sorrow.
you have caused; and, to prepare your soul for
better world, stayed your execution till the present
hour. For myself feel the anguish which nature
shoots through your wrung bosom. This closing
scene is sadder to my heart than language can eX
press. But no trouble can befal us without mora
use. The wisdom of God is greater than ours. Ht
tempers punishment with mercy, and offers saliva
tiOn to cOntrte hearts.
And now, James Powers, your spark of life i
nearly out. You are going hence, and shal
behold you no more. But NAV the peace and hope
you lost on earth be found again in the realms o
heaven.
When the Marshal concluded, another PRAYER wa
reciteu Dy the priest accompanied by the prisoner
and on its conclusion he took his position on th
drop, when his arms and legs pinioned, ant
his head covered with white cap A final invo
cation to the great Father of all was then pro
nounced by the priest, after which the prisoner wa
allowed few moments time for communion with hi
Maker, when the block removed by Mr.. Phillip
ana the trap was Immediately afterwards sprung b.
the Marshal.
The prisoner was dressed in black Iustre pants am
coat and wore white vest. His hair is sandy y-col
ored and his face very pale though serenly com
posed, as though he was fully resigned. Immediate
ly after the execution, the Marshal hurried from tn
scene apparently overcome by his emotions. Th
spectators generally were very much affected, ant
several of them could not refrain from sheddin!
tears The most heart-rendng scene, however, wa
that of the parting of the criminal with his afflicted
mother andsister The cries of the latter awakene,
sympathy in the hardest-hearted of those present
After the drop fell the prisoner struggled yer,
little and died in few moments, apparently with
out pain. He was allowed to hang the usual time
and his body was then placed in a coffin and dev
cred to his friends by the officers of the Jail. /
he takp tn int