Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-23

ter Friday, the fifth of November, tnc uay Vi
your crime, was sitting at mine own hreslde,
my wife near me, my little children, their IA
ces bright and bean1ing with joy and gladness,
around ME. Ny owt heart was full-overfiow-
ing-with the happiness Of that hour, and, L
trust, with deep gratitude to God for all His
goodness. Some one, l do not know who,
handed me package of newspapers from the
post-office. l picked up the Baltimore Sun of
that morning and opened it. One of my chill
dren playfully pulled it away: put her little
hand aside and took it again.
In looking over the paper, the first thing
that attracted my notice was an editorial ar
ticle which appeared in the paper of that day,
announcing the murder of Rigdon. l had
been familiar with the details of crime, of ey-
cry haze, bat this article riveted my attention.
As read, held my breath. felt thrill
through every nerve. My right arm grew hard
and strong. 1t was with an effort that pre-
vented myself from springing to my feet.
was never before moved by the recital OF
deed of crime. 1t was not fear-it was not
terror-no, nothing like it. / will frankly tell
You what 1t was. felt that dark spirit of
vengeance had. uningited, entered my soul.
To lie sure, in a moment it was gone; bat q
shadow was left belinda dark sbsdow, as
from the wing of a raven, and the happiness
and brightness which had just filled my heart
was changed, as by the wand of an enchanter,
into sadness and gloom.
L MINK, therefore,, aitnOnGn aldT OH, tneH
felt and understood something of the deep feel
ing which pervaded that city. You may thank
your God that this deed of yours was not done
in some communities in this land. Had 1t
been, Lynch law, that very hour, and at the
very next lamp-post, would have been your
certain doom.
1 rejoice to know that the people of Balti-
more at that trying moment, although greatly
excited and deeply stricken with horror at
your crime, did not lose their presence of
mind, or reverence for the law of the land.
rejoice to know that you had ample time to
prepare for your defense, and that you have
had patient, separate, impartial and legal
trial. l well know there is point beyond
which human forbearance cannot easily go,
and that point you and your associates had
passed.
l believe that thousands of people in this
State, outside of the city of Baltimore, felt as
l did-first, the dark spirit of wrath and ven-
geance, and then gloomy sadness shroud the
soul. For it is truly and expressively sad TO
know that such cold d-blooded and brutal muir
der could have been done by one reared in a
Christian land-among Christian people, and
in the city of Baltimore, too-the centre of
civilization of the State-where public schools
and Sunday schools abound, and churches
without number, from the humble and uDpre-
tending little chapel or meeting house TO the
lofty cathedral.
one OF these sacred edifces, nor heard the
preachers voice, nor the deep tones of the or
gan, nor the solemn chant, nor the simple
hymn of praise, yet you must have seen the
outside OF these church structureS-their lofty
spires pointing to the skies, and ever inviting
you to lift your eyes-to look upward. And
you must also have oftentimcs seen your fel-
lowe creatures crowding the courts of these
sanctuaries, and must have known their object
and purpose. This fact alone might, one
would suppose, have been sufficient to have ar
rested your attention and caused you to STOP
and think. And on Gods holy day, if at no
other time, you must have heard the church
bells resounding from every steeple and revcr-
berating throughout every street, alley and
house in that city, summoning all to worship
Him-to offer the sacrifice OF praise and OF
prayer and thank sgiyiDg.
You must have heard these church bells. In
your choking den'' you must have heard
them-in your 'sgambing help you must have
heard them-in the filthy brothel, in the har-
lots embrace, you must have heard them, ev
erywhere you must have heard them-sum-
moning you from the road to hell to the way
to heaven! And that human heart of yours
for in spite of all contrary appearances, you
must at least have a human heart in your bo-
som. My reason tells ME so. 1t cannot be of
stone-for you could not live if it were OF
stone. Then this human heart of yours must
of your life, the "stings and arrows of gull
ty conscience" And the spirit of God, too,
must have, time and again, made its power
felt in the deepest recesses of that heart of
yours. To be sure, God has said, ssMy spirit
shall not always strive with man, whose breath
is in his nostrils." He does some times say,
.sLet him alone, He is joined to his idols
let him alone This may be your case-it
may be that this is the secret of the whole
matter-the key that unlocks the mystery OF
your iniquity, and that we have at last found
'sthe true theory of this case" God grant
that 1t may not be so
You and 1 are about TO part to meet no more
until we both shall stand at the last day before
the same Judgment seattle throne of God.
And before we part 1 would say to you one
thing more, you need not expect mercy in
| this world, You will not receive it. Do not
hope for it. The sooner you abandon all hope
or expectation of it the better for you. You
must turn for mercy from man to God and
you cannot even expect it there till that iron
heart of yours melts as the iron melts in the
furnace of fire.
A prophet of God once spoke to King
these words: "Se: thine house in order, fol-
thou shalt die, and not live.'' And we are
| told the King esturned his face to the wall and
prayed" These words, Marion Cropp, now
| solemnly speak to you. .sSet fhine house In
order, for thou shalt die and not live" And
| let me beg you, for your own sake, do as the
king did, ssturn your face to the wall AID
pray" unto God. would entreat you, would
implore You. o, do not, for your fathers
sake, whose gray hairs are now bowed III sor-
row-for your fathers sake, whose heart Is
now rent with anguish-for your own souiSs
sake, o, do not die as the brute dies.
The Judgment of the Court is that you Ma
rion Cropp, be returned to the city of Balti-
more where this murder by you was commit
| ted and this indictment found, and to the Jail
| of that city from whence YOU came that you
| be taken from thence to the place of execu-
| tiop, at such time as shall be duly appointed BY