The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-11-02


The Execution or DR.. Wright at Nor
folk..Farther Particulars.
! A correspondent Of the Philadelphia Iaq.i,xs
furnishes that paper with detailed account Of the
execu,lon of DR.. D. NJ. Wright, Of Norfolk, Va,
on the a3d ait. II appears that At one time DR..
w. had nearly effected his escape ffou, prison. -
The letter says
On Wednesday DR.. Wright made request sha,
a light should be furnished him In his cell thai
evening. Strange the request was no one re-
garded Il with any suspicion. Late that evening
be was visited, n usual, by portion of his fami
~, which on this occasion consisted Of his wife,
their fathers cell, aid after remaining shor,
time, the whole party, apparently, retired. To
gain the street they had to pass through little an
teroon IN the prison. which is occupied by its Off.
Gers for the transaction of business. Hcre one Of
the party, entering thToash door, slightly stnnl
bIed. his was noticed ty one Of the turkeys.
who, after they had just cleveriy reached the
street, exclaimed, "By -, I believe that was DR..
Wright In dissnise." Lieut.. Cook, who was sill
ting among those present In the room, rushed out.
aud intercepted the party before they had gotten
claimed, 'That's played out; know you, Or.
Wright" atthe same time lifting up two. heavy
wells that concealed the face.
II proved to be as the Lieutenant had asserted.
II was DR.. Wright, and he appeared to be but little
surprised cmbarra ssed at the detection, and
being conducted inside the jail remarked that odes
peTate means were plfdOn1OiC under desperate
circumstances" and thea walked back 10 his cell
unconcernedly az II nothing had occurred. The
sequel Of how he WAS disguised can now be
, readily shown. When he left the place Of his con
fnemont he was clad in the garments Of one o. his
daughters, who remained behind. As her father
was re entering his cell, she was found reclining
upon the bed fully equipped in her fathers ciothes
the boots peering beneath the covering. She wa
much chagrined at being found in this position, but
was more deeply surprised and pained to find that
her scheme for her fathers escape had been frus-
trated. For her imprudent act restraint was
placed upon her, but she was escorted home Oy
one of the officers of the prison. 1t Is asserted,
but we know not with what truth, that the doctor
had everything in readiness to facilitate his escape
and that his friends were not slow to aid him in it,
Ii was through a mere accident that he rccOg-
| niZed. Being taller than the women, he stopped
| much as he dare to make himself appear small,
and in doing this he stumbled while passing through
l. n door. This caused his detection, a. ii more
clearly revealed the shape and size Of his body,
which the keen eye Of the turnkey was quick To
detect.
| 1t having been rumored pretty freely Throughout,
the city for several days past that ATTEMPT would
be made to rescue the prisoner, the Eighth and
Fifteenth Connecticut and Fourth Rhode Island
regiments were brought across the river to pre-
vent any such demonstration. One regiment was
stationed around the prison, while the other two
were in good supporting distance. No surprise
rescue was attempted, and the night passed qui
city by.
The Doctor throughout yesterday appeared "a.
cheerful usual In the afternoon the Lords sa-
ROdinan, of Christ's Church. His family remained
with him all night and up to four O'Clock this
morning. portion of the time was spent in
versaton, and the rest was devoted to religious
services Upon their departure they took their
last farewell. They all appeared to be deeply
moved, and it was truly Il solemn and touching
scene. Almost up to the hour Of execution there
fingered ray of hope. Yesterday, and even this
morning, telegrams were sent to the President
asking for a further reprieve. All that friends
could do for him was done. His counsel even
used personal influence iu his behalf. but all this
was of no avail.
Eary this morning the exterior OF the prison was
surrounded by glistening bavonets and the interior
filed by officials who were preparing everything
for the execution. At O'Clock, DIR. Wright was
taken from his cell and conducted through the
prison to the street. To those who We're present
he bowed, and several he addressed with few
words. He was supported on either side by -ier
gyman. After viewing the procession, which was
drawn up into line ,he advanced towards the Aearse
and requested that the lid Of his coffin might be
remove d, so that lie could take last view OF his
family, whose portraits were arranged all along
the sides just above the head.
He seemed to realize his awful position, though
he seemed to be little detected, and marched with
firm step. He entered his carriage in company
with Capt. Sheppard. Assistant Provost Marshal,
Rev: Messrs KOdman and Overson. The process
sion, under command of Col. kcese, moved for
wad in the following order: A small detac hment
Of mOuhted men, martial corps and infantry guard,
hearse, carriage containing DIR. Wright and clergy
men, carriage containing other ciergymen. The
brought up the rear.
There were few to be seen on the thoroughfares
through which the procession passed, except ne
proes. But the solemn line was viewed from the
houses b many In number of instances women
were observed crying. .
The spot selected for the cite of execution was
the old Fair Grounds. In the centre Of them the
saiIOWs was erected.
AT Il few minutes before ten O'Clock the process
sion reached here. Already the Eighth and Fiji
nth Connecticut regiments, the Fourth Rhode
Island regiment and llegan's battery, were drawn
up in hollow square around the galows. The
procession passing inside of 1t, Or. Wright's car
rage was halted before the scaffOd which he
mounted without any apparent nervousness,
sisted by Dr. ROdman and another Clergyman
From the scaffold Captain Sheppard now read the
charges, finding and sentence Of the court by
which the condemned was tried The order for
execution was also read. The Doctor listened TO
them calmly, and without evincing any emotion.
DR.. Rodman now offeredup prayer, at the con
cluson of which DIR. Wright advanced a few steps
forward, and in tremulOus voice said, t'Gentle-
men, the act which / committed was done with
out the slightest malice.' Ills hands were now
tied. Bending on his knees, he prayed most fer
vently for few minutes. Upon arising, the cap
was adjusted his face, and the executioner,
Mr.. John Armstrong, of Co. Il, 2lst Connecticut re-
giment, stepped from the platform and pulled the
rope attached to the bar which supported the
drop. - .
All this tine breathess stiffness prevailed and
as the doctor descended through the trap shud-
der appeared to run through every one present.
bee II as not motion was perceived.
II was few minutes after 10 when the sgaal to
lower the trap was given. The body after hang
ing halt hour, was examined by DIR. ConOver, the
Medical Director, DIR. J. II. Lee, of the 2lst Con
necticut, and several other surgeons, who pro
nounced life extinct. The body was then cut
down and placed in the coffin, to be delivered 10
his family.
Thus has Dr. David NJ. Wright paid the forfeit
of his life for shooting, in cold blood, Lieut.. San
born of the United States cUlOred troops, in the
early part of July last. Since the commission Of
the deed he has endeavOred to justify himself In II.
He was man Of strong Southern Il elinss, and
this, In meusure may have prompted him to coni-
nit the act. He came to the city from Edenton,
N. c., about twenty-five years ago, and com
menced the practice of medicine, In which he was
very succ. ssu until the occupation OF this city
by our troops. In appearance he may be dcscriDed
as being rather tall slightly bent in the shoulders,
with large frame, though somewhat lean; his eyes
dark, with heavy brOws, long hair, which extend
ed to the shoulders, Of the same color as his NOUS
tache and gOatse, " hich were iron gray, but evil
IDENTIFY In his younger days very black. The family
which he leaves IL LARGE but IN aftiuent eireum-
stances.
tbs MOVEMENT THE ENEMY AT CHATTA-
NoeaA.-The telegraph has announced that a
movement, on the part Of Grants army, has com