Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-02-27


JonN CArHcART COMMITS SU,cIDE.--This
unhappy man closed his earthly career on
Sunday night last, in his cell, by hanging
himself
This individual has fully demonstrated
that the way OF the transgrcssor is hard.
A man Of accumulated british habits, and
guilty Of the highest and most awful
crimes known to the laws Of God and man
murder and suicide he has been made
to suffer all the pangs that mortal flesh
could endure in this world, and his reward
lin the next is better imagined than ex-
pressed. The decay of his physical ap-
|pearcnce since he had learned the decision
|of the Supreme Court in his case, shows
|that he must have endured the most ex>
mental agony. His appear
ance was ghastly in the extreme, and
should be lasting warning to all trans
|gressors.
II seems that he must have contemplas
tied suicide for some time. He had torn
ibis undershirt into narrow strips, and had
|sewcd them together, with which he had
Tied his hands together, which he must
have done after he had tied the handker-
chief to the bar Of iron and around his
neck which ne done b. standing on the !
aide OF bis bed. lie had run his one leg !
Through bis arms. which brought him to
d STOPPING position. His other leg was
chained TO the floor, the chain being long
enough TO permit him 10 be in bed. After
being thus prepared, he undoubtedly
Jumped of the bed. His hands and wrists
were Of the same purple color Of his neck,
knd must have suffered great pain. The
foot upon which the chain was fastened
was resting on the floor,
The following is the finding Of the 10.
quest;
f'ouHoswEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
CleqrtsA County, Sc.
An ipquisition indented and taken AT
Clear6eld, in said county, this 25th day of
February, 1861, before me, NJ. A. Frank,
Pne of the Justices of the Peace in and for
Paid COZ nty, in the jail Of said county,
bpon the view of the body of John Cath
Fart, then and there lying dead, upon the
Folemn oaths and atirmations of A. K.
Wright, /. R. Merrell II. II. Morrow,
saac Johnson, VIM. r. Brown, ana VIM.
OF said county, who, being
|worn and sfiirmed to inquire on the part
bf the Commonw ealth, wher,, where, how,
Ind afte: what manner the said John
|Jatheart came to his death, do say, upon
their paths and affirmatious: that the said
J John Cathcart, not having the fear of God
before his eyes, on the day Of :he taking
Pf this inqaisition, being prisoner in the
ali AZ Cieartield, in the county aforesaid,
hnd then and there imprisoned in a cell
herein, and fastened to the floor thereof,
IN said cell in the Jail aforesaid, on the
hight OF the 24th Of February, A. d. 1861,
|siih q certain cotton handkerchief then
hnd there bad and held in his hands, and
Pne end thereof put about his neck by
him, and tied about a bar of iron upon
he wal Of said cell, with the handker-
fhief Aforesaid, voluntarily and fsloniously
fnd of his malice aforethought, hanged
fnd suifocated and so the jurors afore-
Faid, upon their oaths and affirmations
Hforesaid, do say, that the said John |
Cathcart, then and there in manner and .
form aforesaid, feloniously, voluntarily,
hnd of his malice aforethought, himself
Hid kill, strangle, and murder, against the
peace and dignity of the Commonwealth
Pf pennsylvania.
In witness whereof as well The said JUS
|ice as the jurors aforesaid have hereto
but their hands I'd seals, on the day and
Year and at the place mentioned.
M. a. FRANK, L. r. MERRELL,
A. K WRIGHT, Isaac JOHNSON,
WV. RADEBAUGH. II. II. Morrow,
ns WN. II. Brown.