Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-21

On Monday last Thomas j. Armstrong,
a young man not twenty one years OF age,
was executed in Philadelphia for the pre-.
meditated killing of Robert Craw ford
The deceased was an old man, who kept
a small shop and oealt in yarn. Arm.
strong was lad of dishonest habits, but
attached to7a most respectable family and
connected with one OF the leading Pres
by'erian churches in the North. lie
maintained his association with this
church up to the time of the murder.
He had agreed TO meet the old man on
a certain Friday evening and drive hin, to
a spot wlinNta large quantity of stolen
yarn had been concealed. Crawford was
TO tring one hundred dollars upon his
person, and a mutual transfer of gold ard
merchandise would take place. ARM
stong hired wagon took in the old man,
drove him oN er n circuitous route, and fl,
nally struck him from his seat in the ve-
ry heart of the city and secured the mon
ey upon his rerson. lie then continued
on up town until he reach 1d a lonesome
place IN the suburbs, called Norris square,
where he toppled out the body. He then
returned the wagon, With the cushions
and floor soaked with blood and strewn
with fragments OF hair. He accounted
for this afte: his arrest by saying that a
man and woman carrying freshly killed
chickens, had ridden in MS team; but the
blood was submitted to chemical analysis,
and the size of the corpuscles at once de-
terminod lis true character. Moreover
the prisoner failed to account for him
self on the fatal evening, and prev0rcao
al I "A, 4 al
he was sentenced to be hung.
he hanging took place in the prison
yard, where the gallows was overlooked
by upwards of a 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 premium of fifty dollars, and a thouS~
and people walked out of the city and
surrounded the Jail for three hours.
Armstrong was dressed in plain suit
of black, with frock coat. lie wore no
necktie, and his head was bare. He was
very pale AMI he wore scriols counten.
ance 4; but he was as firm rs at any period
of his trial, and his step betrayed no
symptom of fear or faltering. On arriving
at the scatlold lie mounted the steps
without any appearance of fear and lie
took his place under the fatal moose with
an unnerved form.
During the prayer offered by the Rev.
Mr.. MtAuley, Armstrong listened calmly,
AID then advancing spoke in a 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. 10 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.,
McAulev, lid farewell gentlemen, b.d
you all farewell; ow die in peace with
everybody"
There was much disappointment that
the dying man had made no allCsioh TO
the crime for which he was about TO sui
fer and at the last moment he showed
the same retcence in this respect rs at
the time of his sentence At the conclue
sion of his remarks the fatal rope was pla-
ccd about his neck, and all except the
sheriff and the condemned left the scat
field. lie shook haEds with them all,and
when Mr.. McAuley was about to leave
him he whispered something in his car,
: 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 eaye,and
the murderer of Rotert Crawford was let
p standing alone. As the cap was being
drawn down Armstrong said "Good>bye,
people," After these prelminaries he
stool as firm as man ever stood while in
the same position. There were no signs
IoC tremor, even tho 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
Imomentary 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 ada -
cent stable. the cord was drawn, and the
mortal part of Thomas j. Armstrong was
dangling between heaven and earth. The
condemned had fall of about three and
a hall feet, and his death was almost in~
stantaneous.
ARREST OF CLERGYMAN.-The Washing
ton correspondent Of the New York EX-
press relates the following as an amusing
incidents