The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-09
THE DAY BOOK.
Singular Statement in Regard to
James stephens.

Inc TWO lerEy1nen-meSSfs. hnapP anu
Skinner-who were with Jas. Stephens 4 the
man who was executed in New York last
week, in his dying hours, publish the an
nexed statement /:
Wednesday was set apart to endeavor to
get him to confess who brought, and for
what object, the pistol discovered upon him.
In this, on that day, we were thwarted.-
On Thursday, by an agreement with him,
our entire attention was directed to his spir-
itual and eternal welfare, embracing, OF
course, every effort to lead him to confess
the murder OF his wife, if guilty. His mind
was entirely different from anything we had
seen in him for months past. An awful and
realizing sense of his condition was evident
ly experienced. He proposed early in the
interview season OF prayer, and asked Us
especially to ask for grace that he might
unburden his heart, at the close OF which he
most earnestly besought God to give him
that strength which in soul he required to
discharge his duty. Rising from his knees
he desired hymn to be sung, and then, OF
mis- own will, and at no suggestion OF ours,
to say few words about the pistol. he
said it was brought for him to commit sui
eide; that it would do no good to repeat
names, as they who gave it were misguided,
and knew not what was for own good
He most solemnly appealed to God, and de-
MED any intent to use it on keeper or war
den, or other than the object stated; that he
even at one time knelt, and determined to
use it upon himself, when he felt as it it
were the hand OF God that stayed him. Con-
Guiding this, he stated, al know nothing OF
any means used to produce nay wife's DEATH"
OF this he begged US to believe, as, he said,
his mind must dwell on other things, and bid
us ask him, at the last moment, when he had
but a second to live, and he would repeat it.
Having thus spoken, he again desired pray
err. His confession OF sin before God was
marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit;
he abjured all merit in himself, and plead
alone that righteousness which is OF Christ.
For the first time since the pistol develop
ment on Monday we realized market change
in the man. No disposition to dwell on the
trial, the peculiar and mysterious circum-
stances of which be had continually spoken
before, or the THOUSAND things rumOr had
ascribed to him,o that peculiar arguRenta-
tive disposition which had painfully to US
prevailed with him.
He thus continued in almost uninterrupt-
ed prayer, singing, and earnestly iuquiring
upon spiritual things until about P. M At
this time we left him.
At half-past IL O'Clock P. M. we return
ed, and found him sitting in the corridor by
the stove, and upon our entrance expressed
the most unteigned joy. He said he had been
reading and rejecting upon the moment
when the suffering Jesus,i Gethsemane,wlth
soul Borrowing unto death looking upon, the
sleepy chosen ones, asked, "What, could ys
not watch with me one hoHr?" He express
ed the lonely anguish of his soul in bitter
weeping, but soon changed to subject OF
Joy, now that he knew that we were not to
be separated no more until half past o.
clock A. M.
After reading portions of the Word OF
God selected from the seventy first and thir-
ty seventh Psalms, he desired to return to
the cell and pour out our souls in prayer. 1t
was a season, at that midnight hour, in that
fearful place, and under those awfal circum-
stances, that will never be forgotten by
those who passed their watch that night.
Other ewes than those used to weeping can
bear testimony to the earnest, pleading sup
plications that we trust were heard in hea-
ven. The house OF the felon was as quiet as
the house OF death, and even the wretchea
inebriate gave no token of his madness.
From this moment heaven seemed open to
him. His longing gaze was ever upward as
we paced with him in the corridor his ex.
pressions of anxiety to be at home sta dwell
with Christ" were approximate to David's
'thirsting for God;' yea, for the living God
We were astonished; had sorrOwfully Jour
neyed to the place, expecting soul agony as
we should attempt to give him consolation.
But his frame OF mind was far beyond ours,
for he was already enjoying that grace
promised sufficient for him. He endeavored
to comfort US; begged US to be satisfied when
God had thus poured out the rich means OF
his grace. He sang joyously sRock OF Ages,
Jesus, Lover of my SOUL 'heaven rs my
Home many times-speke OF many iriends
touched for moment on his'lsland Home,
loha vi fri fatn.
er's love and careful training. he spoke
most aftectonately of the Governor, Mr..
Morgan and trusted God would reveal 10
him his innocence-of Judge Roosevelt, and
begged that we should say his dying prayer
should bear testimony before God OF MS tree
dom from malice, and he bore this testi mo-
ny. His anxiety for day-dawn amounted to
almost impatience. He begged us with tears
in his eyes to have missionary appointed
exclusively for the Tombs. He pleaded that
when the last sad office was done tor him
we would visit Shepard, Sanchez, Quimbo
Apo, and, indeed, all in prison. His earnest
pleading for labor to other souls was ihdica-
tive OF that unseIishness which marks the
new born AS the hour approached, in
lowly humility he pleaded to God for
strength. He wished stone at his grave,
and requested us to select verse OF Scrip.
ture, so that his tomb might preach Christ.
Toward the moment OF preparation, amid
freanent entreates of friends that he would
confess, his mind was somewhat disturbed,
but he regained his composure and cheerful
ness. When the sheriff led him forth, as he
made the rapid passage from the cell to the
gallows, he repeated "rhis is naught to
me; am going home"
At the moment before the death he answer
edthe question proposed, liam innocent ofthe
death or of any knowledge concerning the
death of nv wife by poison" This was
as he had promised-and he has gone to bis
Sod.
We are pressing on to the Judgment seat
of Christ. 1t will be known In that Gay
how much has been done for. the praise OF
man and how little for the glory OF tod
We solemnly believe-and not without just
ground-that James Stephens was guiltless
OF his wife's death.
MThe Great Eastern.-A most stormy and