Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-21
Execution Of Thos ]. Armstrong in
PhilAdnlnhia.

HlAduJlpHld'
On Monday last Thomas j. Armstrong,
a young man not twenty one years olage,
was executed in Philadelphia for the pre-.
medItated killing Of Robert Crawford. -
The deceased was an old man, who kent
a small shop and Gea.t in yarn Arm
strong was a lad Of dishonest habits, but
attached to 3 most respectable family and
connected with one OF the leading Pres
! byIerian churches in the North. lie
maintained his association With this
church up to the time OF the murder.
lie had agreed to meet the old man on
n certain Friday evening and drive hin to
spot where a large quantity of stolen
yarn had been concealed. Crawford was
TO trng one hundred dollars upon his
person, and mutual transfer of gold ard
merchandise would take place. Arm
strong hired q wagon took in the old man,
drove him over clrcuitous route, and fl,
nally struck him from his seat in .he ve-
ry heart of the cityand secured the mon
cy upon his person. He then continued
on up town until he reached a lonesome
| place 10 the suburbs called Norris square,
where he topped out the body, lie then
returned the wagon, with the cushions
and floor soaked with blood and sucwn
/ with fragments Of hair lie accounted
| for this ate: his arrest by saying that Il
man and woman carrying freshly killed
chickens, had ridden in his team; but the
blood was submitted to chemical analysis,
and the size of the corpuscleS at once de-
termincd It's true character. Moreover
the prisoner failed to account for him
self on the fatal evening, and prevorica.
ted until his guilt was made man!Iestand
he was sentenced to be hung.
] he hanging took place in the prison
yard, where the gallows was overlooked
/ by upwards of hundred prisoners, The
other spectators were limited in number
/ to thirty, including the jury, the report
ers and the deputy sheriff Tickets we're
at q premium Of fifty dollars, and Il thous-
and people walked out Of the city and
surrounded the Jail for three hours.
Armstrong WAS dressed in plain suit
OF black, with % irock coat, lie wore no
nccliic, and bis head was bare. lie was
/ very pale AMI he wore scriols counten.
ance but he was as firm rs at any period
of his trial, and his step betrayed no
symptom of fear or ialtering. On arriving
at the scatfod he mounted the steps
without any appearance OF fear and he
took his place under the fatal moose with
an unnerved form.
During the prayer offered Icy the Rev.
Mr. NJ AulCJ, Armstrong listened calmly,
AID then advancing spoke in firm voice,
as follows:
"My friends, let me say in passing, |
die IN peace with my Maker, and if at this
moment pardon were offered to me on
condition Of giving up my Maker would
not take it. To the few people here, |
would advise them to take warning 10y my
fate. Sabbath breaking was the first
cause. bid YOU farewell. To the priS-
on keepers, to Mr.. Perkins, to Sheriff
KEN, and to my spiritual adviser, Mr..
/ McAuIev, bid farewell gentlemen b'd
YOU all farewell; | ow die in peace with
everybody
4 There was much disappointment that
the dying man had made no allCsion to
! the crime for which he VAS abou. to sut-
d fer; and at the last moment lie showed
the same rrtcence in this respect as at
the time of his sentence. At the ccnclu,
sion of his remarks the fatal rope was pla-
! ced about his neck, and all except the
sheriff and the condemned left the scat
fold. lie shook hands with them all,and
when Mr. McAuley was about to leave
him he whispered something in his ear,
and then kissed him.
The moose was fixed, the ghastly white
cap was drawn down over the face of the
condemned, the sheriff took his ieave,and
the murderer of Roje ert Crawford was LETT
standing alone. As the cap was being
drawn down Armstrong said 'Goodobye,
people." After these preliminarics he
stood as firm as man ever stood while in
the same uo,iliOn. There were no signs
Of tremor, even the hands, which we're
thrust forward Of his breast, did not move,
and there was no clutching of fingers du'
ring this terrible moment There was a
momentarv delay before the prop was
drawn, This over, the sheriff dropped a
white handkerchief, the signal was seen
by the Jack Ketch concealed in an adja-
cent stable, the cord was drawn, and the
mortal part of Thomas j. Armstrong was
! dancling between heaven and earth. The
condemned had fall of about three aud
halt feet and his death was almost IN
Simultaneous.
Arrest OF 4 CLERGYMAN-The Washing
ton correspondent Of the New York EX-
press relates the following as an amusing
incident;
The Rev. Mr.. Itppitt, Of the Episcopal
Church, native Of R. l., and formerly q
nrofessor in the Episcopal Theological
Seminary Of Virginia resides near Alex
andria. and about three weeks ago oticla>
ted at Christ Church in that city. His
sermon was regarded by the officer in
command as a secession discourse, and he
was accordingly iacarcerated in the Wash
inrton jail. Being required by the Sccre-
taTy orState to produce his sermon, he
sent for it, when il appeared by note on
the margin that it was first preached
twelve years ago The Secretary read it
carefully over and pronounced it good,
sound Christian doctrine, and forthwith
ordered Mr. Lippi:t to be discharged
This incident, which has just trarspired,
caused not a little amusement among the
| ! .,,t1,p,op'c C,inpls and ,,rpvpC