Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-09-05


dates Of the offended law. Shortl,
aiterward Chase, with his spir;tua
adviser, repaired to his cell 60 max,
the last preparations for death, viz
the clothing Of the condemned in hil
final winding sheet. The sheriff, will
his assistants, dressed the criminal il
black.
AT minutes past o'clock the sol
emn procession left the cell of tho
condemned in the following order
HIS Counsel, G. A. jerks, W. +. Stew
art, Capt. w. S. and John Barr, Chase
ard his spiritual advisers, the Sheriff
and the reporters of the press and
several other gentlemen.
After taking his seat on the scoffold
he said
Gentlemen, / have a few words Ia
say to you l am uneducated, and
wish TO correct wrong impression
that is existing in the minds of some
of the people of this place. They say
the religion ] have now was forced
upon me, but it was not. The young
lady who came to my cell has saved
me from hell, and if it had not been
for her | would have been lost. ] am
Innocent of the crime which is alleged
| committed, and / die an innocent
man; if am not, | hope TO be damn
ed. The next time a stranger comes
to your town, give him chance for
his life and do not seek after his life.
i had good instruction until 4 was
about fourteen years of age You
think, gentlemen, this is hard, but
look at what our poor soldiers en-
dured. / die forgiving all against
whom / have any enmity with, and
have prayed for them. Gentlemen,
want your prayers on my behalf, and
| hope TO meet you all in Heaven.
Again, gentlemen, / say ! am inno-
cent of the murder for which i am
about to suffer.
AT fifteen minutes after one Chase
arose and took down the moose from
its support on one of the uprights,
tried it little and then knclt in
prayer with his confessor.
After the prayer was ended the
final leave-taking at once commenced,
and in bidding them farewell he ex-
pressed desire TO meet them all in
Heaven. Attwenty-fve minutes after
one his arms were pinioned behind
his back, but before they were fully
fastened he bid farewell, by kissing
and hand shaking OF his legal adviser,
the Sheriff and deputy, the guards and
his friends. While being pinioncd he
held an earnest conversation with his
spiritual adviser on religious matters
After being pinionod he sat sometime
in conversation with those around
him, and upon rising TO take his place
upon the fatal drop, he exclaimed,
"God have mercy on my soul" Just
after the black cap was drawn over
his face, he asked for drink of water,
after which the moose was placed over
him, and Charles Chase was left
standing on the brink of eternity, the
fatal spring was touched, and the
victim fell--to the ground. After re-
covering himself, he said, "its hard"
At 2:ls the drop again fell, this time
with moro success, however, the neck
being broken. After the drop had
fallen the Sheriff took his scat, over
come with the intense excitement of
the hour. Chase struggled but little
for a hanging man, for about seven
minutes, when he ceasod, aud In
few moments the motionless form of
Charles Chase was all that was left
Of him on earth.
After being suspended for 80 min
utes, he was pronounced dead by the
attending surgeons. Drs. Brown,
of Troy, Hunt, Sweeny, Mcknight,
Heichhold and Bennett, of Brookville,
were there.
Irwin Mcfarland, David Haney,
Stephen Oaks, N. Carrier, sr., James
Taylor, David McGarcy, VIM. Bell,
J. T. Dickey, e. II. Darrah, DIR. John
NJ Thompson, DR.. G. M. Matson, DR..
Hugh Bowling, composed the jury.
When in tho coffin tho expression
of his countenance assumed its wonted
appearance, little palcr perhaps, but
still the general lineaments of his
countenance were preserved, showing
none of the distorted features gener-
ally attendant upon an execution of
this kind.