Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-26
LOCAL NEWS.
n Execution at the Old Capitol.

CHARLES FENToN BEAVERS, OF MosBY's auRR.
RILLAs, HUNG FOR VIOLATING THE OATH OF
MISUNDERSTANDING AND INCIDENTS OF
THE EXECUTION.
Charles Fenton Beavers, OF Loudoun coun
ty, Va, late a private in Mosby's guerrills
band, was executed in the yard of the Ole
Capitol prison few minutes of 12 O'Clock to
day, by hanging, in pursuance of sentence
of court-martial. Beavers, about the 22a o.
February last, came into our lines at Vienns
and gave himself up as deserter from Mos
by's force. He took the oath OF allegiance, and
lurked within our lines for some time, and in
March was sent to this city and committed 70
the Old Capitol prison, whence he was re.
,ased shortly afterwards, upon again taking
the oath. After he was released he applied to
Mr.. w. p. Wood, in charge OF the prison, to
get him pass IL cross the river. Mr.. Wood
advised him not to cross the Potomac, telling
him he would go right to his 2io Iriends and
companions again, and that he woulGs De Ger.
tainly caught again, and if caught would 10
doubt be hanged. Beavers insisted that he
determination to keep the oath OF allegiance
tnviolate. Beavers left, and in June was re-
committed to the Old Capitol, having been cap
tured with arms in his hands and with Mos
by's guerrillas. On July Goth, by special or
ders, No. III, Court Martial, of which Col.
Il. w. Cartright was president was convened
tor the trial Of this and similar cases. The
charges against Beavers were lurking about
our camp at Vienna as a spy, and violating the
oath Of allegiance by taking up arms in aid of
the Rebellion, after having voluntarily taken
the oath. The court acquitted him of the
charge OF being spy, but onvicted him of
the violation of the oath, and sentenced him to
be hanged on Friday, August both, between
the hours of 10 and II o'clock. The sentence
was approved, and Col. Ingraham, Provost
Marshal, ID. O., was charged with the execu-
ton Of the sentence.
afternoon, and during the night the scaffold
was erected In the southwest corner Of the
yard of the Old Capitol Prison. The scaffold
has already been used several times; having
served for the execution of no less than g. We
noted criminals:-Woodward hung some years
ago TOR the murder Of his wife; James Power,
hung for the murder of young LutZ; John Con-
rad Kessler, q soldier, hung in the Old Capitol
prison yard December S, 1862, for the murder
OF Lieut.. Fernando LinZy; Augustus Ford
colored, hung on the Sd OF March of last year,
for the murder of George Adams, colored; and
Cornelius Tueu, who was hung on July Sth OF
this year, for the murder of his wife.
The dimensions of the gallows are as fol-
lows:-Height of upright supporting the beam,
feet from the ground, and twelve feet square.
One foot higher than the level OF the platform
is the fatal trap, which was formerly five feet
by five, but has been enlarged to eleven feet
by five, making it of a size to allow the execu-
ton of four persons at the same time. The rope
is Ofthe best manila, procured from the Navy
Yard, after several pieces of rope from the
stores Of this city had been broken under the
test weight Of 225 pounds. The rope is made
fast TO a elect on either upright, and passing
over the beam the moose hangs about the CEN
ter, and has a fall of four feet
AS soon as Beavers was aware of his fate he
asked for spiritual adviser, and Rev. 0. 2.
Pitcher, missionary of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, was called, and remained
with the condemned man until o'clock this
morning, and engaged in prayer with him. Mr..
Pitcher again visited him at o'clock this
morning, and remained with him until he was
The arrangements for the execution made by
Superintendent Wood, the keeper of the prison,
were exceedingly good, and were admirably
carried out. Dit. Wood and Mr.. Clark (who is
in immediate charge Of the prisoners in the
Old Capitol building) were present the entire
morning, attending to the preliminary details
OF the execution. But few persons were ad-
mitted to witness the solemn scene, and, in
order thatthe officers Of the prison might not
be interrupted in conducting the tragedy,
orders were issued excluding visitors.
About IL o'clock Colonel Ingraham arrived
at the prison. and few moments afterwards
the prisoner was called across the yard and
taken to room up. stairs to be prepared for
execution. He walked with firm tread. He
was clad in the butternut pants of the Confed-
eracy and pair of dilapidated boots.
While Beavers was being prepared for exc
cutior, Lieut.. Bordwell Of the 9th V. r. O.,
posted a strong guard on all sides of the scat
fold, except the side on which were the steps
mounting to the trap. A corporal and two or
three men were also posted upon the scaffold
itself. At 11h o'clock Beavers was brought
down stairs leaning upon the shoulder OF a
friend, also prisoner. Beavers was by this
time clothed in the black shroud, and he was
evidently nervous as he approached the scat
fold. Just before mounting the scaffold he took
off his boots and pants, having donned a clean
pair of socks, drawers and shirt. As he mount
ed the scaffold he looked toward the windows
where number Of Rebel prisoners were eager
ly gazing upon the scene before them, and said
in a loud voice, 8. Oh, men, let this be a warn
around the prisoners neck and his arms and
legs were tied, after which Colonel Ingraham
in clear voice read the proceedings of the
court martial that had tried Beavers, and also
the order for the execution. Colonel /. then re-
marked to the prisoner that it was his painful
duty to see the order executed.
MIR. Pitcher then read the Goth psalm and af-
made fervent prayer. Beavers did
not appear to pay much attention to the devo-
tioIal exercises and he moved his head in Gif-
ferent directions, and looked out upon the
DESTROYS of seeing as much as he could of the
world he was SO soon TO leave. Indeed he two
or three times as the arrangements Of tying
him. &c. ] asked asa TO be permitted TO
Beavers STEP father and step brother (named
Hatton) are also confined in the prison, and
they We're permitted to be in the yard and to
bid him goodbye upon the scatfold. Beavers
asked to see Mr.. Wood, and upon the appear
ance Of that gentleman he asked HIM to have
his body and his old clothes sent to his mother,
who lives seven miles west of Evansville. He
also remarked to Mr.. Wood that he wished to
God that he had taken his advice at the time of
his release. He then babe Mr.. Wood goodbye,
and shook hands with Col. Ingraham, Mr.
Pitcher, and the executioners, and as the cap
was being drawn over his face he called out to
his relatives and others: "Good-bye, father;
good bye, boys" This latter remark was ad-
dressed to the prisoners, large numbers Of
whom witnessed the execution from the VIM
dows looking out upon the yard.
At Is minutes of IL o'clock the cap had been
adjusted; the bolts were drawn, slight click,
followed by 6 dull sound, was heard, and the
body of the prisoner was seen dangling in the
air. For nearly five minutes after the fall
there was contraction of the muscles Of the
lower limbs painful to witness; and at times
the legs would be perceptbly drawn up. The
body was allowed to hang Is minutes, when it
was lowered little, and DIR. @. M. Ford, SUR
geon in charge at the prison, made an examin-
alton, and said he noticed a very slight and
feeble throb of the heart. The body was al
lowed to hang 3 or minutes longer, and then
DR. Ford pronounced him dead The body
was cut down and carried to the hospital of
the prison, where q further examination re-
veaied the fact that the neck had been dislo-
Gated by the fall.
Beavers was young man not more than 2l
wears of age He w3s nearly six feet tall, and