Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-12
9aiIp Gnipn& amtritan
Affecting scene af KnoxvIIle--YOung Nc
mahou senseneea to be Hung.
From he Knorvllle Register, March 10.

From the AncANailc nc9sAletI AAaIeLA w. #
On Saturday evening last, when the Circuit Court
vas drawing 70 close, most affecting scene
red quite beyoni the descriptive powers Of this
humble pen. John Mcmahon, whose Trial and con
viotion for the murder Of Stephen 0veTbey, We nos
ed in the last Register, sentenced TO be hing,
With a irmness and feeling, alike honorable and
cOmmendabls, in the Judge who performed The sor>
roWful duty imposed by the law. Judge Brown calf
ed the case and proceeded 10 review the arguments
for a new trial asked foI the prisoner aud to give
reasons for disohsrging the rule, and pronounsing
the seleuce Of DEATH The evidence sgalnst the ce-
PENDANT was recapitulsted showing most conclusive
ly the premeditatsd felOI OEs purpose Of McMahon,
10 take the life eff OVerber without cause. without
proyocation. 0gerbey was in umbleciTcamstances
in life wife and three daughters, his only fortune
McMahon is alsO Of the poorer class and not of the
most chaste feelings and proper views Of property
He had forced himself upon the family of Overbsy,
and vas decoyiDg his daughters into forbidden
Maths threatening to do with them as he pleased
Overbey repeatedly forbid his visits to his house. and
his daughters association with Mcmahon. McMa
hon persisted, often abusing Mrs. 0Verbey and the
children, when the husband and father not at
home o. one occasion, McMahou in company with
others, stole The girls sway from home, ard took
tn to the mountains, there debsuched his favoFiie
and afterwards boasted Of her previous virtue aud
his triumph over it,
McAshOn not content with this, armed himself
with long knife, and often threatened TO kill Over
hey if he ever dared 20 resent the injury he also
said be would sggravste the old man until be struck
him aud then he would 'eut his CUTS out " One day
OVerbey saw Mcmahon with his daughter at Al e
spring, the sight was much, with stick in ha d
he went 10 McMshOn, charged him with abusing
his fanily and prosecuting his daughter; to which
the reply, 'you sre damned liar pitch in" Over
hey struck him with an oak stick about four feet
long, inch in diameter, which did but little dams
age MeMahon drew his kuiie cut at 0Verbey, who
attempted TO strike sgain but the stick was knocks
I'D hfe hon 49, 4 a.
hon pursued, cut him in the abdomen, evisceraiing
him as he had threatened to do. oVerbey cried for
mercy told John he had killed him Mcmahon cut
him in two other places causing his death in few
moments after.
In view Of these facts and the verdict Of the Jury
upon them, Judge Brown thought it improper &c
grant a new trial With eyes swimming in tears,
and voice choked with emotion, the Judge said: John
MeMshon, you have been charged by bill Of in
dictment with the murder Of Stephen 0geI hey, and
sjury Of your eountrymen, elected by you TO Try
the case, have returned 9 verdict of guilty Of muir
der in the first degree, without any mitigating cir
cumstanoes in the ofeBse. Il becomes my painful
duty to pronounce upon you the senteree Of death
Nor is 1t the that demands your life, il is vic
LATED law that condemns you TO expiate your gull
upon the gallOWs You must die. On the twenty
seventh day Of Msy next, between the hours o
twelve and two O'Clock the sheriff of Knox count
Fhall hang you by the neck until you are dead AnC
now, my prayer for you is that the Lord msy have
mercy on your soul, and yet save you from yOul
doom. also commend you to the prayers Of THU
christian community.
McMahoR listened unmOved until death was pro
nouneed then gave way to food of tears, and loud
Waiing Of despair. A considerable crowd had gath
cred around the bar, and listened to the Judge il
seem awe. All hearts seemed moved with sympathy
and all eyes bedimmed with tear-drops. Th'
writer gazed with moisiened eyes and mingled
emotions of sorToW snd admiration, on the HOnOra
bic Judge, who had administered infcxible law
but showed that under head that could reason anC
in feeling bosom, he had the heart of man and {
father.
An appeal was prayed and granted to the Supreme
Court, which vsostes the Judgement Of death.