The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-04
Public Execution I'm Virginia.
NATHANIEL HARrES HUNG FOR THE MURDER OF MISS
MELISSA MORRIS, A GIRL ONLY FIFTEEN YSAKs


MELISSA MORRIS, GIRL ONLY FIFTEEN ySAEs
From the Wheeling In.slligsucsr, June sol !,
The execution Of Nathaniel HArten for the murder OF
Miss Melissa Norris took place at Moandsvle Marshall
county yesterday As usual at al public executions the
and anxiety were felt to witness the tragic scene At
very early hour in the morning the people began TO foc
IN from az parts Of the country on foot by ran by
thousand people pressed about the jail and the place OF
execution.
nifty Of crime in contemplating the awful punishment
Of the perpctIa but the present not
and desperate deed as il was wicked and malicious
and no signs OF sympathy were felt Tor the perpe'
traitor On tho ga Of July last according 70 ,,e ey
shop and Immediately started in the same direction, and
very soon afterwards seen running towards her at
disappeared. Search instituted for the GIRL who had
not been since Harten observed following her,
and on the 27h four days afterwards her feless body
found deep ravine, Ear from the spot where
the neghbors lost sight OF her Marks OF fearful strug
was per6spSe where sIs sr had been
dragged down steep embanknent into secluded part
Of the ravne. Her skull beaten and fractured into
Shapeess mass and large blood covered rock lying
near, as a silent witness Of how the dreadful deed
done Suspicion attached TO Harten, and he
county.
Various rumors we're sioat a. 10 the motive which
e 10 & 30 ss . Mas
sessed the knowledge OF naneess inhuman crime into
the commission Of which Hsrtens brutal sensaality had
secret Others say that Miss Morris, who Is only about
fifteen years or bad received some attentions from
s WAS U SsssS b.
~ Il may he bad fair and impartial trial and crcum
shadow Of reasonable doubt the minds Of jury Of
his countryincn. was shown that Harten had threat
encd her with ey and about the spot where the CHASTITY
corse was found tracks were by
shoe which allowed the great impress the ground
Haren known TO have worn such shoe on the day OF
r,urde ri lcsa mont r
cumstances tending 10 show his guilt but readers
already familiar with the case deem It unnecessa
For several weeks efforts have been made by prayer
and rcrsua to induce the condemned to confess the
murder aud hope for mercy and forgiveness in God but
either from ignorance or stubbornness, all entrcstes
seemed to make little impression upon him. Fear
ing tina, he might make an attempt upon his life or
upon the prisoner Thursday night and strange
may SEEM he rolled into his bed at the usual hour with
utterpg word and slept sOundly all night and was
still EMO, ing sweet slumber after daylight yesterday
morning when the eager and curious country folks
crowding the villa from all directions him
executed He very hearty breakfast and seemed 10
be in as good spirits Ms usual since his confinement
years IF spe with DARK hair and eyes Slightly built, and
locked like slow mooncd sluggard, but one whom we
should not like to meet in the woods under any circam
but duh, and looked as If they might have once
belonged to some sort OF snake When
questioned upon the subject OF the murder he neither de-
MED confessed his guilt, but answered evasvey,
turned away with moody reserve us much as to say
that he did not like TO be talked TO- Early Yesterday
into his CELL as annoyed him excessively He also
quested day two ago that his execution might take
place al ten O'Clock in the day, which is much earlier
hour than the Sheriff had all along designed.
In ancipation Of the great event the citizen soldiery
and raw militia Of the town and vicinity seemed to be
parent unanmity Of purpose. We heard the 'raws up
stairs in the Court House, going through sort Of single
footed rack ~ the command Of "mark time" which
seemed 10 attract the prisoners attention and which he
did not regard as altogether BETTING the soemnity Of the
occasion.
About ten O'Clock, wagon driven up to the jail
door, and Captain israes company Of volunteers march
ed up and dispersed the crowd The prisoner was then
brought forth In his shroud and assisted into the wagon
by jsor Smith, or this city Sheriff Reed Others
Immediately the immense mass OF people made grand
rush for the place of execution
eligible places When the wagon containing the prisoner
arrived, the crowd sgan scattered 70 make room,
slowly but firmly, accompanied BY Rev. Mr.. Richmond
and other cicrgymrn. When the condemned man beheld
the scaod the little blood In his fscc disappeared, his
eyes seemed sink suddenly deeper into his head and
he seemed almost instantly TO lose thnd OF his flesh
This lasted but short time, and becoming seated upon
the scafold he assumed the old dull, morose APP
peaance, which has characterized him ever since
the nrst day Of his arrest Rev Mr. Richmond theu o.
which he ntimated that he arten) had experienced
change Of heart and hoped for Divine forgiveness. The
rope adjusted about his neck the drawn his
eyes, and Sheriff Reed stopped TO pull the trigger Of
the trap, nearly all eyes were turned away. dull
IIartcn sw ngng In the agones OF DEATH suspended be-
tween heaven and earth. lie drew himself up two
three tmce IN violent struggles but was soon motons
and lfclees
AMER banging exactly thirty inmates, the body was
lowered into walnut coffin, placed In a wagon and cor
yeycd slowly back 10 the jail followed by large num-
Der OF people The scafold then torn down aud
mittcd 10 the fames and number Of and boys put
pieces Of II in their pockets
Among the many persons who pressed prominently
upon the line Of soldiers surrounding the scaod before
the drop fe the father Of the murdered GIRL Norris
who much intoxicated and ciarorocsy
for the awful scene that II with difficulty he
restrsincd by his neighbors.
None of the members OF Harten's family manifested
interest IN his fate We learned that q messenger
sent 10 his father Ia know IL he wished TO take
charge Of the corpse The father replied that he would
have nothing 10 do with IT, stating that his ought 10
have been hanged long for causing the violent death
of his sister.
As about leaving the ground, we learned from
the most reliable authority, that Haren days ago,
made confession 20 his jaor which corresponds very
nearly with the evidence elected upon his trial The
fact Of this confession purposcly kept quiet for
other reason that guess, except with view Off
publication hereafter in pamphlet form. He confessed
70 the aior and others that he committed the murder
nearly already described and that his motive the
nsmeless secret which the girl possessed and the
iaton of which would have brought upon him the shame
and contempt of the community lie also confessed that
he would have murdered Mrs. Coheld for asmilar
son, bad he not been prevented by accident. We
also told that he admitted participation In the
death Of his sister 80 which ausion Is reported TO have
been made by his father when solicited TO take charge
Of the body