Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19
Execution of Robert G. Pool for the
Murder OF Adam Buch-Full Re-
port Ofthe Proceedings Yesterday.

Ifrom the Wheeling In,elligencer, OF sa,nriay.l
Robert g.. Pool yesterday paid the pen.
atty which the outraged law demanded of
him for taking the life of fellow citizen. -
A prayer-meeting was held in his cell until
ten O'Clock on Tuesday night, af er whn h
Mr.. Downs, who has been actin. us guard
at the jail since th' 8 ntcnce OF The criminal,
wrote several letters at Pools dictation-
one to his brother Alexander, now confined
in the Parkersburg Jail for the murder of a
fellow soldier, and another to Christian
lady, Miss Mckee, who has been unremit
ting in her attentions to the spiritul require
men,s Of the condemned He requested
this letter to be sealed, and yesterday
morning, when the lady called upon him.
as usual, and prayed for him, he handed
her the letter, with the request that she
would read il after his death. The letter
merely thanked the kind lady for the inter.
est she had token in guilty and unworthy
subject like himself, and expressed the
hope that she might be rewarded in heaven.
After the letter was written, Pool retired to
his bunk and slept, or appea, ed to sleep,
very soundly for two or three hours In
reference to his approaching execution, he
spoke about Us usual, saying that he thought
he should be able to meet his fate firmly.
Pool has grown somewhat pale and ner-
vous IN the last month or so, but those who
saw him upon the occasion of his trial would
not observe any particular change in his
personal appearance. We do not think he
has what most people would describe as a
bad eonntenance.' His hair, like his
complexion, is light, and his eye are blue,
ana rather mud IN their expression than
otherwise. His face is round, and, taken
no n w fhar L
tule. he is somewhat below the medium
height, closely knit, and well shaped. H.
was % years Of age in September last.
Rev Mr.. Barnes, of the Fourth Street
NJ. + Church. ami Rev. Barnitz, of the
English Lutheran Church, have devoted a
great deal oftine IN devotional exercises,
with view of preparing Pool to appear
before the ju,lgmeut seat of tod. Pool
spoke very kindly and gratefully of these
gentlemen yesterday morning, an | also o;
the ministers and Christians who have visi
ted him for similar purpose.
AT an early hour in the morning il was
observed that the everywhere wore "A
holiday appearance People sauntered
idly along the streets as they do upon holi
day mornings, As the day advanced few
persons lingcred curiOu'ly about the Jail
door, aud the crowd g,adu lily increased in
numbers until they might have been coun
ted by the hundreds. A guar,i was
stationed in front of the door to keen off
the eager crowd which still continued tn
Increase and 10 sway to and fro, all anxious
tn get a look at the prisoner
In the meantime religious services were
being held within by Revs Barnes, Barniiz
and McLure, O.her persons participating. Il
After services were over the prisoner was
dressed for the grave and the rnpe was ad
justed about his neck. Pool seemed to
bear up under the operation with more
firmness and deliberatiQp than we had ever
seen him manifest. His hands being Sc
curely tied, his hat placed upon his head,
the shroud, rope and all things properly ad
justed, he asked for a chew of tot aoco, and
being supplied with that article, asked ifI
he might be permitted to bid the prisoners
on the lower floor good bye saying that a
sight of him might operate as q warning
aud induce them to turn to God. No OBJ
lection being made he walked briskly to
the different cell doors, followed by jailor
Toliver. saying to each prisoner, some dozen
or more in number, as they put their hands
through tho iron doors, II can I shake
hands with you--nay hands are tied. Good
bye. hope to meet you in heaven--you
will all have TO follow me some day and |
hope you L be prepared" The prisoners,
the female portion, bads the
good bye with tears in their
eyes, and all seemed to be much affected.
The prisoners on'the first floor, most ofI
whom were young womeroft the town, we're
allowed TO come out into the hall, and they
thus had view Of the prisoner through |
large iron grating as he went the rounds Of
the lower cells. These prisoners shed tears
profasely, crying Good bye, Robert, God
bless you" Pool looked up through the
grating and bade the girls good bye in |
return, telling them that his trust was in |
God and he hoped to meet them in Heaven.
He eyinced more emotion ut this point than
ut any other time. He then walked up the |
steps into the front portion Of the Jail and
moved quickly about the rooms occupied
by the jailors family bidding them all good /
bye, and repeated that he believed God
had forgiven his many sins aud that be put
his whole trust In His divine mercy. 1
The unfortunate man was then conduct
ed to the omnibus standing in front Of the |
Jail, into which he was followed BY Revs. |
Barnes and Basuits, Dt& Hupp' and, Hil-