Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-20
EXECUTION OF
CHARLOTTE JONES'
AND
HEN RY FIFE,

which the law imposes for the crime Of
murder. The curtain has at length drop
ped upon the last scene of the bloody tra-
gedy which has for so long time excited
the horror, engaged the interests, or moved
the sympathics of all classes Of our COM
munity. "Whoso sboddcth mans blood,
by man shall his blood be shed," is the
scripture authority on which capital pun
ishment is based, and terrible and painful
as is the duty at times of carrying out the
laws decision, yet all admit that it some
times becomes necessary for the sake of
its appalling example, and for the prcven-
ton of these bloody crimes ut which all
mankind shudders.
We give q brief, but connected history
of the murder, o review of the chief fca-
lures of the case, description of tho mur
derers, and all the circumstances which
the limited facilities accorded Us have
enabled US to gather
THE MURDEN
The crime for which Henry Fife and
Charlotte Jones paid the death penalty to
day, was one of the most atrocous ever
committed in our county. George Wilson,
one of the parties murdered, was an old
man whose hair had been silvercd with
age, and who oked out living by making
coal boat pins for such as required them
in the neighborhood. His sister, the other
victim, was but few years his junior,
and both occupied the same house-a log
cabin, situated in the vicinity of McKeos-
port, and distant from the city some four
teen miles. On the night of the 18th Of
April last, Fife and Charlotte visited their
humble abode, and with view of obtain
ing possession of q sum of money which
the latter knew the old man had laid aside,
bu.chered them both in the most shocking
manner.
TIE SCENE rN THE scAPPoLD.
The scene on the scaffold was painful
beyond comprehension, and drew teari
from many of the spectators. Charlotte
and Fife wero attended, the first by the
Rev. j. G. Brown, and the latter by tho
Rcvs. Mr.. Bell and Mr.. williamson
They had religious services in the cell til
within few minutes before their romovo
to the scaffold. Shortly before 2 o'clock
they left their CELL and linking arms, {
procession was formed, which entered the
Jail yard.
rIPEs DYING DECLARATION.
GENTLEMEN-In few short moment
of time l shall have answered with my lif
for the terrible crime l have committed
and which have already freely confessed
1t must now be supposed from what ha
been published in the newspapers here from
time to time since my arrest that am in
different or careless about the awful fate
) am now to suffer, nor must it be sup oset
that have suffered no compunction O
,, conscience for the deed that has brough
me to felon's death. Oh, no. l hav
already undergone more torture than
t thousand d0aths, and oh how often have
> wished could restore George Wilson an
his sister back to life. Vain thought. =
, Maddened with thirst for gold, and stim
ulated by drink, gave them the fatal bio,
that robbed them of life, and sent thoi
souls, without warning to the bar of God
My fervent prayer now is and long ha
f been, that tboy have been made happy b
, my wiokedness, and that their immorta
souls are among the redeemed of Chris
: and l pray Almighty G cd Tor his pardon
o and that | may be permitted to hope tha
9 in the world of spirits l may be there, IN
J. then beg them to be forgiven.
During my confinement have suffere
more in mind thousand times for til
i crime have committed than tho fear {
S this death that is so rapidly approaching
Here is the fatal rope, the scatfold, and tt
hand thai is to send my soul into eternit,
. but l do not fear; | have made my peac
d with all the world, and l trust in God.-
@ And now, before these witnesses, and
10 the presence of Almighty God, bciol
whom in a moment Of time | expect
appear, and with the last breath that ] o.
permitted to breathe on earth, with q fu
|. knowledge Of my awful situation and ID
accountability, l sOlcmnly protest and d
o clare that Monroe Stewart is entirely il
h nocent of the murder of George Wilsc
II and his sister. The deed was planned ar
e perpetrated by myself and Charlotte JOno
10 without another human being to plan, ai
or assist US. For our crime he has suffe
j. ed long Imprisonment, but | pray &c
II that the last words of dying man, wi
= no hope or motive to declare anything b.
ot the truth, while the just punishment of &c
n would be visited by falsohood, will be take
and restore him to that liberty Of which
4. has been SO long deprived. In whatev
e was honest he was my friend, but no par
N ner of mine in crime. He has sufferc
ID much for my crime and beg his forgiv
III ness. Monroe Stewart is innocent. Nj
n God have mercy on my soul
llENRY FIFE.
D. GChaElotte Jones also made o dyil
Os - statement, expressing her penitenco
" her crimes, and corroborating Fifc's stat
ao monts in every particular. She also pl
tests 'Ao iaaq"cnrc of Nouro" S,owu