Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-07-01
observation-disclosures


Contrary to general expectation, the execu
tion of James Powers, for the murder of Ed
ward A. Lutz, took place at Washington, OF
.turday. The past week, which was one O
respite, does not appear to have been much
to bis spiritual advantage, as his mind, in
prospect Of a Communication of his sentence to
imprisonment for life, was kept vibrating be-
tween hope and despair continually; whilst the
singular limit Of executive clemency to the last
day of the week instead, as is usual to Friday,
gave rise to a reasonable expectation with the
friends of the criminal, that the President in
tended relenting. But his doom it seems had
come, and all was vain to thwart the purpose
Providence
Both victims Lutz and Powers,) were citi-
zens of Baltimore, and on an excursion, we be
1ieve, occurred the first act in this lamenta-
bic tragedy. Lutz, after wounding Powers in
fight, fed for security to Washington
whittier he was subsequently pursued by
Powers as an avenger. This execution, there
fore, is one of peculiar interest. Its details
will be looked for with eager eyes and de-
voured with avidity by every one acquainted
with either the murdered man or his muir
derer. The youth of Powers produced in his
behalf considerable sympathy, though in the
absence Of other mitigating circumstances such
pleas can never defeat the ends of justice.
In addition to other brief accounts we here
make up a full report from the Washington
papers:
SCENES IN THE MORNING.
There were very few people on the outside of
the Jail yard. The tops of a few houses on 4th
and G streets were covered with men, but 9TH
erwise there was no great number of persons a.
bout.
The mother sister, and brothers of the pris-
o1er were with him daily until noon, when they
took their final leave. His spiritual adviser,
Rev. Father O'Toole and Rev. Mr. Edelin,, con-
tinued the religious exercises since Friday last.
They were assisted by the Sisters of Mercy and
Charity, and the prisoner had arrived at that
religious state of mind in which he was fully
prepared TO meet his Maker.
1t was generally expected that his sentence
would be committed, but his relatives gave up
all hopes Of a Communication Friday evening"
At III A. NJ, he was notified that the execu-
ton would take place between IL and o'clock
At the hour of II he took a most affecting
and heart-rending leave of his mother and sisters
His brother wished to remain with him, but his
friends persuaded him to leave. The parting
was quite affecting. The prisoner kissed him
and as he was going said: EDO as told you,
and let liquor alone"
At quarter past twelve the soldiers were
drawn up in ranks in front of the scaffold, and
in five minutes, the prisoner, accompanied by
II ~: r. ;o;io III,
= Lcnox, and the guards, Messrs Robinson, Reil-
ley, and Wilson, marched to the scaffold.
THE EXECUTION.
The prisoner appeared pale and calm, and
assembled the scaffod with firm STEP He was
dressed in black pants, dark vest, and black
aIapaca coat. On the scaffold Father O'Toole
offered a lervent prayer, In which the prisoner
ioined lie then shook hands with them ALL
THE MARsHALs ADDRESS.
The Marshal addressed the prisoner on the
scaffold as follows:
James Powers AS Marshal of this District,
it is my duty to execute the sentence which
eonsigns you to the scafold. 1t grieves me to
= behold you in the morning of life, standing
where nothing but the ignominy of the gallows
can atone for the violated majesty of public JUS
tice, the precepts of the Bible, the mandates of
the law, and the safety of society, require that
tswhosoever shedeth mans blood, by man shall
his blood be she'd.
Reckless passions and violent misdeeds have
reached fearful point, and boldly war against
the rights Of the citizen and blessings of good
government. Unless the career of crime be
checked our country will exhibit sanguinary
aspect, and become the abode of brutal violence
and arbitrary power. Should your mournful
fate be salutary warning, and reform the NOR
ais which led you astray, you will not have liv-
ed and died in vain.
In the presence of that dreadful agony through
which you are about to pass, you stand erect
and tranquil. For this happy composure and
resignation you are mainly indebted to the char
ties of the Gospel The sacred volume has
Gheered you even through the gloom of despair.
Your spiritual advisers and pious friends, like
ministering angels, have softened your distress
and blessed you with the consultations of reli-
gion.
Q Even now they are sending up to heaven their
fervent prayers that the Great Being who pre-
sides over all will bestow upon your errors a
charitable Judgment, and be mild and mereiflA
towards you in his future dispensations of re-
wards and punishments. The highest in our
land has sighed at the sorrows you have caus-
ed and, to prepare your soul for better world,
delayed your execution till the present hour
For myself, l feel the anguish which nature
shoots through your wrung bosom; and this
closing scene is sadder to my heart than Ian
guage can express. But the wisdom of God is
greater than ours. No sorrow befalls us with
out a moral use. He knows what is best for
his fallibe creatures, and seasons his punish
ments with mercy.
g And now, James Powers, your lamp of life
is nearly out. You are going hence, and we
behold YOU no more; but may the peace and
hopes YOU lost on earth be found again in the
realms of heaven"
THE LAST AGONY.
Al ter the address Father O'Toole again pray