Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-26

believed he would not wear it,
At this point, vest found in young Mark
ley's bundle when arrested was handed to her.
and before unrolltig it she described the
manner in which the patches were cut, and
with what kind of dark and coarse thread
they were inserted. She was nearly over
como when she unrolled the vest and here,
as she had described was the identical vest,
patched as she had described. 1t was the
vest that she had hung on the bed.post. and
with it came crowd of associations too great
for the poor heart broken girl. She sobbed
aloud, aud every eye in that Court House but
the prisoners and neighbor P-'s eYas be-
dcwed with tears. 1t was in prcof that it
was found in small bundle of clothes i n the
possession of Markley when he was arrested
This, with his having been seen near the
house two days before; his many and reiter-
ated threats; his knowledge of the house,
DC, confirmed the opinions of all that he was
the guilty ouc. In answer to his attorney
where he got the vest, he could only say s.Le
did not know" To have carried vest not
worth i've cents for three years and hundreds
OF mlIcs-ncvcr to have worn it. Cnor could
he-it was too large) was alleged by all as
special directions of Providence, leading to
his conviction and punishment for the crime
OF ''murder most foul"
Susan was rcCallcd-t'Wherew were vcu dur.
ing the remainder Of the night that Won o.
capped the fre?" She answered: After
placing the vest on the bed-post, 1 assisted
aunt to do some mcnding, and after we had
finished everything, and sitting bv the fire,
talking and laughing over uncle's surprise.
when lie would see the vest in the morning,
we heard raPPing at the front door, and we
went with the candle to see who were there.
e found sou and daughter Of our next
nelu HI hOr tir p ko
get me me to stay with them. They said their
father sent them, as he had just heard that
his Iather Giving some ten miles distanO YVES
taken suddenly i'll and he must 90 Gown to
see him, and requested them to 90 over and
have ME stay with them during the night
lad Cttcn done so, and throwing on Il bon>
not and shawl went with them During the
night we were awakened by old Mr.. p.
who had returned, as he said, from his fathers,
and saw then the house on ire-hurried over:
but never saw any one Of the family alive
Several men were there, but so thoroughly on
lire was the house that none of us dare ven
ture within it." The testimony of the coro-
ner and the party arresting young Markley,
closed the case, and resulted as have already
saLd-and Markley was executed; dcnying
any acknowledge of the murder but con fs.sed
seeing the house on fire, and Icayino tho
country, because of the house being burnt
fearing he might be accused of it. and solemn
~ asserting that he never knew a murder had
been committed or that the house had been
set On fire until after his arrest lie admitted
he had been in the neighborhood several davs;
had slept around on Lay lofts, and was anxious
to return to his unc!e's, but feared to do so
had little money and got some slaves to
purchase him whiskey and spent his time in
the negro quarters, afraid or ashamed to re-
turn to his uncle's. He often hoped lie could
meet some of the family. either his aunt or
Susan, and feared his uncle All that he re-
GREETED was that he did not 90 to his unc!e's
and stay with him. He went to Baltimore
after seeing the house on fire, travelling by
nights only; got aboard coasting vessel, went
South rs fisherman and that was all he knew
about it until his arrest
Before his execution he became very fat
ana up to the last moment denied knowing
anything Of the murder or arson-scemed
sorry Tor his uncle's and aunt's death-ac
knowIcdgcd he had made threats confessed
to having stolen the money for which he was
convicted and asserted he had no i'll feelings
against the aged members of the family. and
dearly loved the children. He could easiIv
be brought to tears when. spoken to about the
horrible tragedy, and manifested but little
fear or anxiety about the future The gem
eral impression was he would confess under
the gallows, and that he was hardened Grim
lnal indifferent to his fatc-but at the last.
when he saw no hope Of pardon, would con-
less the entire crime, and not till he saw no
means OF escape would he confess. All were
disappointed, and to this moment. thousands
regard him as the most debascd, hardened
wretch known to crime. The clergyman who
visited him urged hiri in the strongest terms
to make his full confession, aud was rained
after cach visit to report no progress in his
moral condition. He heard but the same
statements; could not break the thread of
the denial, could not etnbarrass him by oues-
t1ons, and felt fully convinced the poor mis-
ernDie creature died with ''lie in his mouth"
l ills accounts for his frequent return to the
trap door Immediately before tile execution.
L doubt not he felt more anguish and sorrow
than poor Markley, and on his knees he could
but pray for forgiveness Of the guilt. vet could
not but be satisfied at the instico of the nun
lshment. He 1eIt-he knew he was guilty.
yet failed to reach the recess of the soul of
the dying man, and believed with all the de-
nials Of the guilt, that Narklcv added bolJ
lmpuGent lies to crime without parallel in
the history of that State: He was Chris
tan and knew the power of confession arl
contntlon. lie could make no promise to
one who could no: contcss-who showed 70
contritlon-tor there is none for such lie
could only say ''God be nerciful to him
sinner" without any assurance that his b5;ayer
could be heard or would be answered lie
hoped on until the last moment, and left him
with his God, without one assurance cf fu-
tuTe bliss or Que hope of pardon. He knew
II he could but open the secret recesscs of his
guilty heart. could but melt down his stub
born soul could but get linn to feel that he
had committed crime against humanity and
the Supreme Being, that there were prom
1se5 Tor even Markley. with the blood of sew
en- souls upon his skirts /; but to hear his de-
nlal and 1nck l..