American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-02-19

my friends farewell. 1 trust in God,
and hope to be forgiven. Her
CHARLOTTE q JONES.
mark.
TIE EXECUTION.
During the reading of this state
ment, the prisoners manifested the
greatest tenderness for each other and
appeared to realize that they stood
each upon the verge of that eternity
from which now but few Aeeting mo-
ments separated them.
When Mr.. Williamson had conclu-
ded, Fife came forwards and made
several other incoherent statements
and Eexclamations, mostly purporting
reiteration of what he had already said
and protesting the innocence, entire
and complete of Monroe Stewart
MIR. Brown then offered a most fervent
and melting prayer. Then the pris-
oners sat down and Charlotte Jones
broke out into the most uncomfortable
fit of weeping and groaning; these sobs
and groans mixed with incohcrent
beseechings and prayers to the throne
OF grace, complaints and meanings
against those who had won from her as
she said in her frantic EXPLANATIONS an
acknowledgment of her crime with the
expectation on her part that she would
be used as a witness for the Common
wealth. The scene became inexpres-
sIbly painful. Strong men broke
down before the awful sight; men who
had been on battle fields turned their
backs or withdrew; those whose gen
tie ministrations as ambassadors for
God had lead the Maynard feet of
these poor criminals to the fold of
Christ, as they had sometimes dared
to hope, could scarcely bear the scene,
30 mixed of all that is awful and all
that is painful in life and on the verge
Of death. Rev. Brown suggested to
Rev. Bell that it might soothe the poor
creature if he (Mr. Belly would offer q
prayer, with which suggestion the lat
ter complied, and the effect was such
as he had supposed it would be. When
the prayer was over, then remained
the final scene. The clcrgymcn and
MIR. Williamson came down from the
ecaffold. Fife called Jailor Phillips to
him, babe him goodbye, and asked
him to forgive whatever he had against
him, if he had anything. The jailor
shook him by the hand, assured him
that he had nothing against him, and
babe him good bye. Fife shook hands
with almost every one in the jail yard.
There were perhaps forty persons pres
ent. Then the man whose place it
was to pinion the hands, adjust the
rope, ETC., came forward, wearing a
mask and dressed in fantastic sort of
garb, and performed his duty.
The last words Fife said before the
plank dropped from under his feet,
that ole died game" This he did not
say publicly but said it to a turnkey
who stood near by. 1t is said that he
assisted in adjusting the halter about
his own neck. The other poor wretch
had the fatal moose placed over her
head while she was yet grooming,
weeping and praying for mercy Of
heaven, to whose bar she has gone.
At from three to six minutes past
two o'clock, the fatal spring was touch
cd, and the Law was indicated. They
both fell at the same instant of time.
They had together planned and exccu-
ted murder that has scar cely paral.
lei in the criminal annals of this coun-
ty--murdcred two inoffensive and help
less old people, in the dead-hour Of
night, for few dollars. They had
been arrested together, been tried to.
gcther, convicted and sentenced to,
gether, and sent at tho same moment
of time to stand before that dread tri.
bunal to the eyes Of whose Judge all
things are open and cannot be hid
The bodies hung some 35 minutes.
Fife dropped like lead, and scarcely
moved muscle of his body. In eight
minutes his heart had ceased its beat.
ing, and he had passed into eternity
beyond even the faintest sensation OF
present being. Charlotte Jones was
dead in four minutes after she FELL
Their remains were put decently into
collins, and it was the understanding
that Mrs. Wolf, q sister Of Charlotte s
was to take charge Of them, and have
then Inferred in Washington county.