Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-05


He ReDipgfcdtionac of young Joseph TAILOR,
t0ho t7aS Supposed to haze been Hanged to
Death, I'm Company tvitis that Notorious
AlIght7ayRqhli L'iekpOcket and 9ousebreak-
'er, -ATctibdid Taylor on .IROsioH Neck, ot,
JhursdGy, thc sth of Nay, lTss, for
Violent ASsduH and BGttery on khe Hiqh,
t7dy, Committed on the Perso1 aud Proper
ty cfAir.;RdthGniel Cunningham, Butcher.
IN October, IN 1887.
from the Vermont Journal of Nov. Z, 1881
Ina letter from snid Joseph Taylor to
his kind friend and countryman, Mr. Phelin
DolHnce, in Boston;
Eco uGEBoR, Mouth of the Delaware,(
May 12, 1859.
My DEAR FRIEND:-You will, no doubt,
be greatly astOnishcd at receiving letter
from one whom you so lately saw, to all
appearance, numbered with the dead, with
nll the ignominy of public and shameful
execution. But though strpnge as it may
appear, it is no less strange than true,
that, blessed be God for his iufinite good
ness, am now. among the living to praise
him. 1t was my fervcut desire that YOU
should have been made acquainted with
tue steps which were taken to restore me
TO life Immediately after my iseiig hanged.
But the Doctor who managed the affair
would not admit Of more th1ni Eve persons
In the secret, MS he feared discovery, and
said u crowd around me would be fatal,
and prevent the air getting into my lungs,
and O'DOnnell and Teetor had been told
of il before saw you, and they, with the
doctor, his yonng mHn, aud person he
brought with him, made the Eve. / there
fore take this. early opportunity to let you
know of my being aliYe, and in ilie6lth,
blessed be God, as hope that these lines
Rad ,y-,6n sto, Ill. III.
which attepded my execution ald, ,recoyegy
TO -Iifo. as-aiso my pfesedt frane, Of mini
and resolution, through the grace of God,
to sin no more, but endeaYor after ncw
obedience.
You remember that you, among other
friends, had great hopes of my being par-
doned on account of my youth; but when
their honors sut, soon found ] must be
made an example Of, us they were deter
mined never to pardon highwaymen.
then begun to prepare for death, ,but must
needs say, though had many affecting
conferences with the reverend parsons who
visited me in Jail, / never, even after my
condemnation, realized that was sudden
Is to die in so awful manner, until gen.
tleman, who afterwards found was a doc
tor came and talked privately with the
late unhappy sufferer, ana my fellow con-
yict, Archibald Taylor, who, when tile
gentleman WAS gone, came to me with
money il his hand, and so smiling a coun-
tenance, that tltouglitche had reccfveii Ii
in charity. But he soon undeceived me,
telling mo with an air of gdety, that It
was the price of his body, and then added
shocking speech, which sincerely hope
is blotted out of the book of Gods remem-
brRnce against his poor soul 9H 17ise
This was the first time since my con-
idemnstion that thought what it was to
die The shock was terrible, aud Taylor
increased 1t, saying that the doctor had
desired himG bargain WITH me for my
body also. The thoughts of my homes not
being permitted to remain in the gave in
peace, aud my body, which my poor moth
cr had so often caressed and handled upon
her knee, and which had, ibeeRts9 Pamper-
ed by my friends in my better days, being
slashed and manglcd by the doctors, was
too much for me. ] had been deaf to the
pious exhortAtions of the priests, but now
my conscience was awakened, and hell
seemed to yawn tor me! z 20
What n night of horror was the next
nightl When the doctor came in the
morning to bargain for my body, was in
a cold. sweat; my. knees sm0te together,
and my tongue seemed to cleave to the
roof Of my mouth. he perceived the
agony of my soul, and asked me some
questions of the state of my mind
found ltternnee, aud poured tout-my heart
to him. He seemed affected at my dis
trcss, especially as my conduct was 50 diff
ferent from that of a. Taylor's; and after
pausing, he left me without mentioning
the sale of my body, aud said he would
call again the next day. BE came and
asked me privately whether had two or
fhRaA friAn6l I ConlH. danalnd .nnNy fa.nRsfas