Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-10-30
Srum the Dunvfle Democtat Of last FIiday)
EXECUTION OF MARY TwuGGs FOR THE
MURDER OF CATHaRINE ANN CLARK.

EXECUTION OF MARY TwIGGs FOR THE
MURDER OF cATHaRISE ANN CLARK.
This wretched woman was executed be.
tween 10 aud II o'clock this morning, iu the
Jail yard, at this place, without making any
confession of her crime. and protesting her
Innocence up to the last moment.
Early in the morning our streets began TO
present quite lively appearance, indicating
that something unusual was about to take
place. Many people we're seen vending their
way to the Jail, and numbers of both sexes
were admitted to see the gallows, which was
tho same that had been used for the execu.
tion Of Clark, four weeks ago.
For two nights several kind hearted and
sympathising ladies remained with the un-
fortunate woman ia her lonely cell. comfort.
ing her bodily aud spiritually in the last
hours of her earthly trials Mrs Ware, Mrs
Unget and Mrs. Ephin spent the last night
with her, and from them We learn that she
slept from between IL and IL o'clock up to
this morning. apparently calmly and with
out showing any signs OF restlessness. In
the early part of the evening she rose from
her bed and voluntarily knelt down to engage
iu silent prayer, with apparent fervor and
true sincerity-calling audby at times upon
Jesus to save her immortal soul and when
Mrs. Ware engaged in loud prayer, she
joined with earnestness in her petitions to
the throne OF God.
Her two children-oue = little boy, about
Z years old, the other a girl OF about 10
years--were resting in her arms during the
whole night. The sight was affecting in the
extreme, as she pressed her little ones TO her
palpitating heart, kissed them lovingly and
carrssing them tenderly. Copious tears
flowed from her eyes, and her feelings can be
more easily imagined than described. Her
5,uuhtar o,ti RI enaua3 ipuph nnnctan
yet when her mother, at times sobbed and
cried aloud. the little girl broced herself up
and begged, in tender accents, TO be composed
and not cry SO much. On arising in the
morning, Mrs. Twggs dressed the children
carefully and fondled them with great emo
tion. And whom shortly afterwards, MRS.
Young, the SherGs lady, entered her cell
with u new and neat black dress that had
been made expressly for the occasion, she
patiently suffered herself to be dressed with
apparent composurs.
During the night Mrs. Ephn 90 stio'ed
her at one time pontedly US to her Innocence
or guilt of the crime for which she was SO
soon to suffer upon the scahold, when she
answered, in rather stern and sharp tone oil
vo ce, that she was innocent, quoting ut the
same time the words of the gospel, Judge
NOT lest ye be judged"
Atubout 9 o'clock her only brother, Sam
ue! McClintock, visited her for the last time.
She sat upon her bed when he entered, and
both fell into each Others arms, crying and
sobbing loud aud long. The sight was
touching in the extreme, ard brought the
Sympathetic, tear to the eyes of ths stoutest.
At irst none of them spoke, but occasionally
the words of dear, denr sistpr"--"dear, dear
brother" were heard from their lips. After
minute or two, Mrs Twggs uttered in
broken seutences-"l know, dear brother, 1t
is hard to part-my love shal! remniu with
you in .hs other world--it is hard to part,
We have been raised together anu always
loved each uther-My Saviour died for US
Don't fret about me, dear brother--l am
hsppy-l am going to suffer desth Tor 9TH
era SO did NY Saviour-go and love jesus
Don't believe that have ever done such u
tEing-I am inuoreut--my God knows it
He is the Judge os ali things aud knows all
thngs-theye will be no Justice in Heaven
.-thsre will be ~! love and joy--we all must
die might have died some other way aud
then you would have lost me--Dow am pre-
red-don't mourn, don't fret dear brother
-! hope God will watch over you aEd defend
you-donI grievc--I am well, well prepared
for Heaven"
After thu, unburdeung her heart to her
brother, bulh engaged more calmly IN pri-
yate talk about her two children, he prom.
10 ug her TO take care OF then, aun when he
cried out loud again she tried to comfort
him By again Saying, dear brother, you
must not grieve su much-msn does not see
as Jesus seps--f lie was ouly here now to
tell, he would tell you that AN isnocsnt--
don't srieve 80 much about me-"
during all this time they were sitting or
her bed, tightly locked into each other
arms, and resting their heads upon each
olher's shoulders. 1t WAS a most affecting
and hsart.reudng sight TO behold such n
We hope We sLall never have occasion TO se'
again.
The Rev. A 7. Shauafelt, Baptist minis
ter, of White Hall, in this county. then rea
ths 5lst Psalm, whrreupou the Rev. NJ.
Slower, who has been her principal spiritus
adviser during her impris,nmeut, engaged i
prayer 10 which sll participated. The playe
being hnished. the Rev. Mr.. Slower engage
with her ia some protracted private eIhort'
ton, after which hymn Of her own selection
'ioh that had some humble place,
Where Nigh: hide from AOrrow,"
was read and sang and the I'D psalm rcs
ut her request. by Rev. Mr.. Shanafrlt.
The Rev Mr.. Bacon. of the Method
church, also made q very iervea. prayer
the cell after which the Rev. Mr. Hurds
gave out tho hymn:
"There 10 a fountain filed with blood,
Drawn from lmmanuers veins" &c
During all this time Mrs. Twiggs and h'
brother were s:ill sitting on the bed in Il
same posture crying audlbly
Alter the singing OF the hymn, tho he
Mr.. Harden approached The prisoner, al
asked in an aifec lionate but earnest mnnne
whether she was guilty or innocent, wnrnir
her At the same tine Of the consequences
deceit and lying in this her last momeu
She disengaged herself from her brother
arms. and firmly said u did not tell
uniru,h during the whole time, and new
con,rsdicted anything have said. tappeali'
TO Mr.. Harden J am ready to abide by I
law, and believe my sins are ull forgiven
The Rev Mr. Champion then told her, th
if she spoke the truth now, she would be !
warded for it hereafter, and, in she
PRAYER, commended her soul TO God
The Sheriff then told her brother TO lea
the room, AS he was about TO perform
last duty, but the unfortunate man cri
loud. save my sister" c!;nging TO her, q
refusing to go. lie had finally to be TAX
away from her by force.
AT 10 minutes past 10 o'clock the prison
WAS taken from her cell, and linking arl
with the Rev Mr. Harden, accompanied
the Sheriif and her spiritual advisers, th
all proceeded in procession 10 the scauo