Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-11-21

prisoner, commencing her to the mel
cy of God.
"Mr. Archer then said THE pris
oner wishes, through me, TO expires
publicly her thanks TO the Sheriff an,
MS wife tor their kindness TO her du,
ing her imprisonment, and also I
say that she confesses this great sil
for which she snffers, and trusting /
the forgiveness of God she is willin
10 die
After this statement, the Sheriff
and those who assembled the scaffol,
with him, took their leave of the con
demned, and all retired except Sheriff
Faust.
"The Sheriff, after having pinionec
the prisoners feet, directed her Il
arise; whom he tied her hands behind
her back, and then adjusted the noos,
with the knot on the left side of tn,
head, and the cap over her face. Al
lO minutes past one o'clock, every
thing being in readiness, the Sheriff
descended from the scatfold, and al
he reached the foot of the steps, h,
touched the fatal spring, the droI
fell, and the prisoner was suspended
between heaven and earth. There
were but a few convnlsive movement is
which did not last more than three
minutes, when the spirit of the con-
demned had fed to the presence of
its God.
"ln the fall, the knot of the moose
drew around TO the back of her head
and after remaining suspended in this
mannerfo for25 minutes, the physicians,
Doctors Hartswick, Burchfeld and
Fetzer, examined the body and pro
nounced life extinct, and ten minutes
thereafter the body was taken down
and placed in neat coffin, having re-
mained suspended 35 minutes. Upon
examination it was found her face
was not at all distorted, and presen-
ted perfectly natural appearance
except n slight discoloration of the
lips"
The Sheriff, Mr. Faust, manfully
discharged every duty devolving upon
him during these trying circumstances.
He had this woman under his care
and keeping for over sixteen months,
and as escapes from this imitation Of a
jail had been frequent heretofore, it
took no little time and attention to
detain her. She made several attempts
to escape latterly, but was always de-
tccted in time to frustrato her schemes.
The labors of attending to this prison
or, it must be recollected, were twice
that of a male, always being kept by
herself, and half the time waited
upon by females
But few persons, besides the twelve
Jurors and the physicians, were ad-
mitted into the jail-yard. The execu-
ton passed offvery orderly and quietly.
But few citizens of the county came
TO town on that day, and those of tho
community attended to their business.
The presence of cavalry company
rom Lumber City prevented the curl
'us from scaling the surrounding
besides a little snow made
{ uncomfortable and dangerous for
Iuch amusement.
Of the former life and habits of this
woman, we know nothing; bat as
charity covereth multitude of sins,
We dare not say to her children and
he world, that "she was addicted to
vulgarity, profane swearing,
nd possessed slavish appetite for
trong drink" We are not in pos
ession of the proof to establish such |
acts, nor do we deem it necessary to
id additional reproach to this unfor-
innate woman aud her friends, other
han has been established in legal
'ay. But we will allow her to speak
'r herself, through her counsel.
She was strong, robust, well-de-
eloped woman, and could endure
lore fatigue and hard labor than half
or male neighbors.
The following confession was made
her attorneys, in the presence of
beriff Faust and other witnesses, for
le purpose of publication, but she
psired that il be withheld until 81 am
cad and gone" (as she remarked.
was written in her presence, read
her three times, and signed by her.
sveral days before the execution she
mt for one of her counsel, to whom
10 remarked that she had forgotten
me things, and was mistaken in
hers, and requested that it be read
yain. While being read, she made
veral immaterial alterations. 1t ,
as submitted to her the day be- .
re her execution, and she remarked ,
at it was call right"
CONFESSION.
| was born ia Hanover. Germany, ,
'out the year 1928 or 1929. Ny '
alden name was Lena Fedden. My Q
collections of my early life are not 3
ry distinct and | have nothing but /
poor memory on which TO depend q
making up this brief statement. | {
n the youngest of family of four
ildren, the rest of whom-two sis 3
RS and one halfbrother-I suppose {