Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-18
Double Execution.

some time AGO, Charlotte 10. es,
Henry Fife and Monroe Stewart were
convicted at Pittsbure of the murdcr
OF George Wilson and wifc-thc ANGLE
and aunt OF Charlotte. On.Fridav last.
Charlotte and Fife were executed
The Pittsburgh Union says;
On Friday afternoon, Henry Fife and
Charlotte Jones, convicted Of the muir
der OF George Wilson and his sister
we've executed in the jail-yard Of the
county. They each had written state
ments prepared copies Of which we sub
JON. Fife read his statement from the
scatfold, while the minister attending
upon Charlotte read her dying decla-
ratlons. The main feature in them is
the reaflirmlnation of.the innocence of
Monroe Stewart.
The reporters of the CITY press were
not admitted, aud We have no DISPOSE
ton to detail contradictory and unsatis
factory secondhand statements.
In Flies statement, he said:
In few short moments of time. |
shall have answered with my life for
the terrible crime | have committed
and which | have already freely con-
fessed. 1t must not be supposed from
what has been published in the news
papers here from time to time since
my arrest, that am Indifferent to the
awful fate am now about to suffer,
nor must it be supposed that | have
suffered no computations of conscience
for the deed that has brought me to a
telons death. Oh, no, | have already
undergone more torture of soul than a
thousand deaths; and, oh, how often
have wished l could restore George
" ilson and his sister back to life
Vain thoughts.
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, that they have
been made happy by my wickedness.
and that their immortal souls are
among the redeemed OF Christ, and l
pray Almighty God for his pardon, and
that | may be permitted to hope that
in the world Of spirits, l may be there
and then beg them to be forgiven.
Charlotte Jones statement contains
the following explanation of her mo-
tives:
| have now but few moments to
i've, and wish to make statement
OF the truth. Since my arrest, have
been represented as person hardened
and destitute Of feeling, and without
penltencc for the crime in which have
been engaged. Any statements that |
was not sorry are untrue, because |
have suffered continually since the
Of that otfence-more
han tongue can tell +; and if had the
bower to retrace my steps, and restore
ny uncle and aunt to lite, there is no.
hing but what would be willing to
10 to accomplish it. The reason why
did this was, the great love l had for
henry Fife, and in order to get money
o 60 to house keeping with him. A
hort time before this crime was CON-
nitted Fife me against my earnest wish
giving me, as reason for leaving
ne, that he was too poor to support
ne, and that he was compelled to leave
ne and 90 and hunt work. He did
cave me, and was under some appre-
ension whether he would return. Du-
ing his absence suffered great deal,
nd | would have done anything in the I
'orld to have been with him. When +,
next saw him, it was at Columbia.
Co., Pa. l was not willing !
e should leave me again, and went
nth him-he going to McKeesport !
nd l to my uncle's. Then, when /
as at my uncle's house, l first formed :
ne idea of committing the crime, in .
rider to get the money, 70 that I could
W with F,fs, - VA afraid 10 would !
nave NJ again. Ia