The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1858-11-05

EXECUTION OF THE REV. PRESTON s 1uP-
LEY FOR THx MURDER OF HIS wfTE-HIs
Address uPoN THE scAfroLp-D.sraEss
ING SCENES. YrC

ne heE Preston :. Inrfev eSpiatci
to-day upon the scatiold the crime &C nrr.
dering bis wife, IN this county. in Jan.
uary last. The scene was one II UNUSUAL
sadness, rendered 80 10 less from the
high standing which the unfortunate cul.
pitt once occupied in this community.
than from the strange spectacle Of the
execution Of white man ia this region
II was the first occurrence Of the Kind
ever known to have taken place within
the county
From an early hour in the morning
the streets were crowded with pers IA.
VII had assembled to witness the sa1
scene Up 10 the hour 10 O'clock /, "
designated by the Sheriff. MIR slack. for
the transfer If the prisoner from the Jail
tl the sealal1. which was near by. be
seemed perfectly calm and collected
lie spent portion Of the previous nigh,
Ia company with the Rev Messrs smith
Clark, Dorsey AMI Brown. engaging with
lhem zcalnusly ia prayer lie shaved
and dressed himself with care, and seem
rd much ealmcr than those around him
I p To- the moment 81 his lcavIug the iail
his conduct rather rcscmblcd that # one
about To- start upon journey. than Il
an individual doomed soon tpSufer the
extreme penalty Of thelaw Whiic seine
were disposed la attribute his Goodness
10 spirit Of hraYado, he himself atiri.
butcd il 10 conviction that h. had made
his peace with God Many prrsumptu.
ously doubt the sincerity Of his cunvor.
sion, forgetting the nhnitnde Gods
mercy ia tho aggravated charac r oi the
crime for which he atoncd The murder
of wamaH--a wife. moreover-with
many here seems aH unpariunable Of
fence. and one which even that blnudless
mercy cannot compass In this Instance.
however. there j, reason 10 hope. from
the manifest sincerity nf the cupriis re-.
Z pcutauce. that b. has made his peace
with his Maker
The prisoner exhibited the greatest
anxiety that his father. mother api three
children, who arrived IN town last even.
NJ should accompany him to the scat.
illd aud with the execution ~ this
b. was gratiiird - "a, ms appcftaiucl to
his father. mother and the youngest OF
hs children The other two were not
permitted ny their friends tu be- present.
from an apprehension that the influence
ui SD awful a spectacle would leave iu-
prcssions uniaNorahle tu their future hap.
pucs- They had attained an age which
would enable theta fully g appreciale
memory. Not &C., however. with the
Youngest she was vet tou Young to
create any apprcheustms ot tins nature
BET go leaving his cell. hc took h.s last
farewell Of hi- fellow prisoners. and
-ayo>~ed his children. expressing his hil.
ter rnrr,t that h. could not hc gratifti
hv an wing his children 10 bc with him
n his last moments. Proceeding from
the ccll. be- entered an omnibus. arcnm-
naulrd by the sheriff Jailor. Vi NJ IL,
h'S night guard whlle w lau i'r Wat
ktns' Tue jan IhN~' IAN ana th' h'Ns.
Ncssrs brown. patterson 'iafk and
>m'th. The omnibus was escorted hy
a volunteer guard OF citizens. to regn-
larry organized MILITARY company being
IA The town. ~ iie Ionh, Inc prisoner
salu'ei many oid iuehas 81 ms whom he
recognized, "xhlhiting NE wHnie timc
remarkable degree 81 Se'iposScssi'n ana
roolncsS
~ lo;an O'Clock hf ascendcI the scat
told with a hrm step ana to'k MS scat
tie was accompanies ny me shefih ani
clergy already namisi Immediately
Wun ascending the seail"ld. the Rev
Mr Brown gave ont the hymn, ' W hen |
"a read my til" clrf, WIN a request
that ali present wobld rom ~ singing II
During this service the prisoners voice
was distinctly anditi" above all others
This part hcinS concluded, the kpv VI
smith read. from the 10Th chapter - -
Luke, the parable Of the prodlgai son
Prayer was then offered hy the Rev Nj
Brown, the prisoner meanwhile respond.
ius auiibly lie then engaged silently
iu prayer
Ata auerter mast II o'clock lee strprcd
&, the 'front.' of the platf,rn and with
much feeling proceeded ~ address, the
assembly Ne attributed the condition
Ia which be was brought t. whisky
while There were. Ne said. other addh.
fiaual causes al work t. produce It
Whisky. said he. was the cAnSr If his
committing The murder; whisky WAS the
.nn.e If MS navy being compelled III sep.
ar,ta from his three l,tlc ONES. ffnm his
at-e1 parcu;s from tho world il had in
generated him ia iail far eight months
and nine DAYS; and in few minutes, be
,voni5 ,braussh lis AGENCY he hurled