Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-21
Execution at Hagerstown, Maryland.

On Friday, the l0!h inst, FREDERICK SMITH
was hung at Hsgerstown, Nd, for the murder
of Miss AGNES TRACY. 1t ia estimated that
from six to eight thousand persons were pres
ent. From the TOrehligh we take the follow
ing particulars: lj ia-
At IL O'Clock the sheriff q guard Of citizens,
numbering about one hundred hprsemen and
two hundred footmen, the former under the
command of Blackstone Lynch, of this town,
aud the latter under that of Captain Richard
son, OF the army, were armed and formed Into
line. The horsemen were assigned to duty in
front Of the jail, and the iootmen, together
with the very efficient company of the Seventh
MAJ yland regiment, now and for some ime past
on provost duty In this town, under the com
mand OF Captain McKechney, proceeded to
the place of execution and maintained order
there. tsrt Up
There was nothing very remarkable in the
last hours of the doomed man. On Thu, sday
night he slept some four or five hours, and on
Friday morning he arose and ate hearty
breakfast, but notwithstanding these evidences
OF seeming indifference to his fate, he was iu-
tensely agitated, and wept as if the very faun-
tains of his heart had been broken up.
He was visited during the morning by the
Rev. Mr.. Evans, Rev Mr.. Wagner, Rev. Mr..
Stitt. Rev. Mr.. Markwood, Rev. Mr.. HYDE and
the Rev. Mr.. vinton. These gentlemen sang
and prayed with him, and gave him such spirit.
ual advice as one In his situation required Be.
tween ii and l2 O'Clock he again psrtook Of
food, and at twenty minutes of o'clock, having
been previously arrayed in suit of black
clothes, which the sheriff purchased for him, and
otherwise prepared for the last terrible scene in
ha "a lad frnu hia aau h. H. -. n
and his deputies to oneof three carriages drawn
up in front OF the jail. Seated in this with the
officers of the law, the other two carriages be-
ing occupied by the clergy and medical examip.
ers, and accompanied by the mounted guard, he
was taken to the place of execution. As the
solemn procession moved onward be buried his
face In his handkerchief, and exhibited intense
agony, trembling, weeping and sobbing inces-
sanity. He raised his head but once or twice on
the way to look upon what was to him the last
OF earth, and made but single remark, and
that was an appeal to the sheriff to lose no
time. at.t
10 very short space of time the vehicles
reached the gAlloWs, which was erected at the
base of q hill near the railroad Just beyond the
northeastern suburbs Of the town. Smith Inn
mediately aIighted, aud accompanied by the
sheriff, his deputies, and the clergy, ascended
the ecaffold, where no time was lost In, ,execut-
ing the stern mandate Of the law. He took an
affectionate leave of the clergy, who deserve
much credit for their attentions to him, BY
shaking hands and kissing each one of them,
and In like manner bade adieu to the sheriff
and his deputies, after which Rev Mr.. Slit
made BRIEF buI very appropriate aud beautiful
prayer. The sheriff then adjusted the rope, led
the doomed man upon the fatal trap, who con.
tinued deeply moved, weeping and shaking like
an aspen leaf. In On instant the rope was at
taohed to the beam above, the cap drawn, and
the sheriff on his way down the steps. AZ hs
descended he touched with the heel of his boot
o leyer or treadle, which caused the trap to fall
and at precisely ten minutes past one o'clocl
the unfortunate man was launched into eternity
Smith was about thirty -one years Of age; wa
Exceedingly illiterate, and wholly destitute O